Yahoo Sports’ Steve Henson on one of the fundamental differences between American baseball fans and those overseas. For one thing, when the latter gang up to meet Chan Ho Park, they have no intent to pelt him with rocks and garbage.
Less than an hour after the Dodgers and San Diego Padres played to a 3-3 tie at Wukesong Stadium on Saturday in the first Major League game in China, a group of about 40 fans of Korean descent converged at the door of the Dodgers clubhouse as Park exited, wanting their longtime national hero and countryman to sign balls, jerseys and caps.
Park, who started for the Dodgers and allowed one run in five innings, tried to oblige but was blocked by a string of green-clad guards, who locked arms and would not allow the pitcher to greet the fans. The boisterous fans pressed against the officers and Park became visibly upset, for several minutes refusing to board the Dodgers bus until having a chance to sign the items.
œThese Korean people came a long way to see me and to get my autograph, Park said. œI™m not leaving without signing at least a few things.
The officers were not aggressive, but they wouldn™t budge, either. Park was just as stubborn, behaving as if national pride was at stake. Like the game, it was a stalemate.
œThe guards were being instructed by plainclothes police officers, said a major league baseball official who was present. œThe police officers were telling the guards to stand their ground and push into the fans.
Security officials convinced Park to return to the clubhouse, saying they would bring items there for him to sign. But the Chinese police officers did not go along with the plan, and Park emerged again, shouting to his fans to back up and disperse.
Another MLB official said the incident might have occurred because of a key cultural difference: The Chinese aren™t accustomed to aggressive autograph seeking, and the guards might have believed they were protecting Park.
Dude, fuck the police. Seriously.
Anyone who’s lived overseas knows the regard in which native athletes succeeding in American professional leagues are held in their countries. You think American athletes are respected here? Not compared to Yao in China, or Varejao/Barbosa in Brazil or Dirk in Germany or Hakeem in Nigeria or Parker in France. Americans truly take their athletes for granted, building them up and then knocking them down at will. Not nearly as common elsewhere. And the same is perhaps more true for Olympic gold medal winners in small, and even industrialized countries (such as Britain where I’m from). They can absolutely do no wrong in the eyes of much greater percentages than are well-regarded here.
your general point is well taken, but even the most star-struck Chan Ho Park fan wouldn’t dare compare his career accomplishments with those of some of the players you’ve name checked. Well, perhaps Anderson Varejao.