This past week I heard comments or had conversations with some students about Canada's victory over Taiwan last Monday night in Taichung.
Background - in the 8th both benches cleared after a Canadian baserunner bowled over the Taiwanese catcher in a not so close play at the plate. He was called out and Taiwan took a 5-4 lead into the 9th. It was a legitimate hit and well within the rules of baseball though a lot of Taiwanese I've spoken to about it have been horrified at the sudden and brutal violence of the collision. And the Taiwanese media has had a field day sensationalizing the supposed "unfair" play of the Canadian squad, especially after they blew the lead with 2 out in the 9th.
"Canada very bad." - said Fat Phil, 11th grade
"Canada is very rude." - said Lascivious Darren, 7th grade
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And then this conversation with an 11th grader about Canada's style of play:
Student: They (Canada) have small hits too much.
Me: You mean bunts?
Student: Yeah. Bunts.
Me: So?
Student: That's not good baseball. You supposed to hit the ball.
Me: It's called 'small ball'. It's tried and true strategy.
Student: It's wrong.
Me: Why? It's not against the rules.
Student: Yeah, but it's bad baseball.
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And then another student, also grade 11, definitely in denial:
Student: Canada can't beat Chinese Taipei.
Me: But they did.
Student: But they can't.
Me: But they did. It happened. Taiwan blew it in the 9th. You had a one run lead with 2 out and nobody on in the 9th.
Student: Yes. They can't win.
Me: Who?
Student: Canada.
Me: Are you trying to say that Chinese Taipei is a better team than Canada?
Student: Yes.
Me: So why did they lose?
Student: They can't. Canada so bad.
Me: Canada won. Taiwan lost. On this day Canada was the better team.
Student: No.
Me: (sigh)
And on and on in this fashion til we had to go to class...
Sour grapes, that's what I says, sour grapes...
1 comment:
I smiled when Korea beat Taiwan. 'cause that moves Canada to Number 1. I hoped to put some cork, or some distance between the Canadian team and the taiwan nation.
The rules of baseball do not apply for the taiwan nation(WWE). It is all about national pride, not a game.
The Taiwan nation turned a baseball game into a rally. They cheered for foul balls and pop flys.
They seemed to give the pretty grounders a forced smile.
The irony of the Great Taiwan Nation's Baseball Weekend... is that the homerun reel running every evening on ch.72 spends a lot of time on the 8th inning Canadian /catcher contact.. in slow mo. The HR's replays are dwarfed by the alien contact.
k
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