At the Mok-dong stadium, on the 26th of July, even though the weather was poor, the Hanwha Eagles were in training. At the end of training, a charismatic pitcher talked with Post reporter. He had accomplished 200 career wins and 2000 strike-out, a first in Korean baseball history. He is also a medalist from the 2000 Sydney Olympic and the oldest baseball players in Korea. His name is Song Jin-woo, and he is proud of DongGuk University(DGU).
Mr.Song looked very tired because of training. But he smiled as soon as he heared that the DGU baseball club won the national title this year. He said "I think that it has been a long time since DGU baseball club has won the national title. When I was a DGU baseball club player, our team won the title every year(laugh)" he added with a smile. He also said "I'm so glad to hear the news as a senior, and I am proud of my juniors." The Post listened to his story about his life as a baseball player and university student.
The Post : Why did you choose the Trade department in DGU?
Song : Should I speak in frankly(laugh)?. In fact, senior‘s adviced me to choose the Trade Department. At that time, many athletes including my friends choose a major which was related to physical exercise, but many senior said that athletes should learn a variety of things not just physical exercise. So I entered the Trade Department at DGU.
The Post : How was your campus life in DGU?
Song : I think my university life was good. During that time, I was happy because I could learn a variety of things thanks to my Trade Department friends. It was hard for me to both study and play baseball. However the DGU baseball club's standards were very good, in those days, so many professors and the people of DGU gave us a lot of support and confidence. Therefore, I could achieve both at the same time. Of course we also tried harder than any other students. I think that time is precious above all things.
The Post : You achieved many things as a pitcher. What made you the best pitcher in the Korea?
Song : I could achieve a lot of things as a pitcher for my school(laugh). My answer is "Positive thinking". I have always thought that I can do it, so this thinking made me achieve good results. Many people thought I had a splendid record but in my case, I experienced many hardships and injuries. I always thought "Positive thinking." So that makes me achieve many things.
I want to say "Positive thinking" is not everything, Practicing is also important. Just positive thinking can't achieve my goal. If I want to achieve my goal, I should do more training. This is most important, I have always praticed more than other atheltes and praticed continuously. I think that such a effect developed my confidence and this confidence has always made me overcome many trials. As a result, I have achieved many things as a pitchers.
The Post : You achieved many things, and you will also pitched your 3,000 innings as a Korean baseball player? What's your feeling about this?
Song : Many difficult challenge existed during my life as a player. Especially, acheiving 200 career wins was very difficults, because this record is related to team effort. That means good pitching alone can't achieve this record. In terms of that record, this challenge effort is easier because it doesn't rely on team effort. Maybe when there were about 30 innings left, I started to believe that I could achieve my goal. I also want to achieve this record on this season."
The Post : Do you want to say something to your juniors?
Song : When I was a DGU student, I really liked DGU student's good attitude. Many juniors feel university life is short. But juniors can also feel that it's a long time as well. University life is never short, so junior should feel more than other students a positive attitude for the duration of thier university life. DGU students can achieve their goals and become useful people in the society. Maybe Nam mountain's energy helps juniors.
He always think of DGU and DGU junior should be truly be proud of this DGU senior who is now the best pitcher in the Korea. When he contracted with Hanwha-Eagles team in 2006, he requested "Please, estimate my ground age not truth age. I can pitch for a long time." Like his hope, The Post expects that he will continue as a baseball player for a long time and achieve the record of pitching 3000 inning in this season.
Kim Ji-heon kim556@dongguk.edu
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