Wang Shutout Cheers Taiwan
Wang Chien-ming 王建民, a Taiwanese pitcher helped the New York Yankees rout the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-0 with a complete game two hit shutout on Friday last week, July 28th in New York and his popularity is soaring not only among US fans, he cheers and moves Taiwanese all over the world. He is one of the few Taiwanese players who made scenes on baseball fields in the US and is one who is most promising to become great there in the future. Most of the players who made good before were mostly in Japan.
Different ball games got introduced to Taiwan since arround mid-19 centuries. Tennis, volleyball and rugby were the earliest brought by British missionaries to schools they started. With colonization by Japan in 1895 and after came baseball playing like schools in Japan proper. There were some basketballs played also after it’s invention. But with the coming of Chinese government after the WW II in 1945, basketballs became the most popular games everywhere as if it were the “Chinese” sport. Modern schools in China were but mostly started by American missionaries and basketballs were the favorite game. (Succer is picking up but American football is not played here almost.)
But baseball playing did not disappear in Taiwan, and when an unknown team from a little aboriginal village that beaten a Japanese team to represent Far East and won Little League Championship in the World Game decades ago, it cought the eyes of goverment officials. With official encouragement and support, Taiwan won many championships in world baseball games since. But Taiwan, a nation without membership in the UN, is often mistreated. Last week, the team that represent Taiwan played against Japanese team in Hongkong for the Far East Championship, the game was holted because of rain, but without resuming to complete the game, the officials ruled for Japan to represent in this year’s World Game. It was most pity to see the wronged grim little faces at the airport as they returned home. The country that made it purpose to block Taiwan’s UN entry is China. Their hands are everywhere to undermine Taiwan gain her rightful place under the sun.
August 13th, 2006 at 6:31 am
I don’t follow baseball, but now I”ll have to pay attention! I wasn’t aware that there was a Taiwanese player making waves. Robert was telling us about it today, and how you had commented here on your blog! Of course, here in Boston, the Yankees are very much despised, but we won’t hold that against Wang. I wish him success!