Chapter 395 – Episode 387. That’s a Controversy.

After the slightly excited press conference, the seniors were generally in the mood of ‘Ugh, you idiot.’ Perhaps because we won big against Cuba, the mood didn’t get any worse.

Most of the domestic reactions were similar. Jia, who is well-versed in community opinion probably because she runs iTube, told me that half the people were cheering and half were criticizing her, but her popularity increased significantly and the number of views of the video I appeared on also increased a lot, so it seemed like they liked it.

It was cute when he said that he was creating public opinion on the Internet without others knowing.

Well, there were opinions that there should be a hearing after the Olympics and that I should be permanently expelled from the national team, but it didn’t seem to be a particularly mainstream public opinion.

The problem is…

“I’m sorry, Meng Hao. But you and Jia are close… “It’s not like that, is it?”

I wonder if Joo Seung-cheol felt a little uncomfortable when he said he was sorry but doubted my relationship with Jia? In addition, it was even more uncomfortable because Joo Hyung-jin, Jia’s father, was on the team as a batting coach at this Olympics. Before the article broke, Joo Hyung-jin, who looked at me with warm eyes and told me about his major league experience, was looking at me with suspicion.

I wanted to say that we were in that kind of relationship, but my conscience pricked me a little… ? To be honest, I didn’t mind if it was known, but I couldn’t help but worry about Jia.

‘You also had a conscience.’

‘Do you think I’m like Mr. Rossby?’

Moreover, besides Joo Seung-cheol, who was looking at me with suspicious eyes, there was one more strange bastard.

“Brother, we decided to have fun together.”

“Let’s enjoy something together.”

“I was just waiting for you…”

“Fuck you! Aren’t you telling me straight? Disgusting.”

“It’s true…”

“Stop talking nonsense, brat! That’s creepy, damn. And you’re an adult too, so figure it out on your own.”

That strange bastard was today’s starting pitcher, Jang Woo-joo. When the article broke, there were some seniors on the team, so I was quietly watching them, but when I got back to the dorm, they kept whining at me, so much so that I wanted to punch them.

‘If it wasn’t for today’s selection, I would have been really upset.’

Another reaction was from my high school classmates. Some of them, who found out that I was dating Hyuna, were worried that I might be beaten to death by Hyuna. In particular, Wonho showed such a reaction,

“Are you okay. Because I’m holding on tight.”

“I told you to do it in moderation. I thought you would catch it someday. “What does Hyuna say?”

“What are you saying? I guess that’s just the case. Instead, she laughed and thought I was screwed.”

“You are you, and Hyuna is also Hyuna. “Did she know that Hyuna was doing that to you?”

“Uh. “I’m the type of person who can’t lie.”

“Hyuna is a bodhisattva. She is a bodhisattva.”

Wonho just shook his head in admiration. Still, what made it clear that he was very worried about me was that his expression brightened when I told him I was okay. Wonho used to like Hyuna, so he could have been disappointed, but I felt like he was genuinely worried as a friend, so I thought I had a good friend.

‘After all, I should protect Wonho as he is my close friend, right?’

The only way for me to repay Wonho, who is such a friend, is to thoroughly defend the slut-like bitches who will likely block Wonho’s path in the future.

Anyway, compared to how the seniors made a fuss after the game yesterday, it feels like it went by without much incident. It may be that I couldn’t feel it because I was in the U.S. And I wasn’t on social media, but it seemed like nothing much would happen when I returned to Korea.

My worry was that the article would make it difficult for me to date other women. In particular, I really wanted to see Joohee again, but now it seemed like there was little chance. Joohee’s agency also denied the dating rumors as unfounded.

‘Tsk, I’ll have to ask Lia to introduce me to another celebrity later.’

Since celebrities are also people, they will wonder if the promotion of national prestige is real.

“Meng Hao, the director is calling you.”

“Yes. “I’ll go.”

As I was sitting in the dugout thinking about various things before the game, the coach called me. Since yesterday, I was even more thankful because I noticed that they were paying attention to me.

Director Lee Geum-hyeon… He was a very grateful person to me. In the WBC, even though Cheol Young-i, who was the starting player at the time, was injured, he was a grateful person who used me as the starting second baseman even though he had not yet made his professional debut and tacitly allowed me to play in the Asian Games.

‘I heard you’re retiring after this Olympics…’ .’

It would be perfect to bring the coach an Olympic victory as a retirement gift… In baseball, it seemed like it would be difficult because it wasn’t like I could win the championship or win the game just because I was good at it.

If one person could change the game, the Angels with Ohtani and Trout would have won the championship, or even if they hadn’t won, they would have made it through the postseason, but that didn’t happen, so they needed some luck. Our victory last year was also thanks to the good work my teammates did while I was on purpose. I confidently said in front of the coach and reporters that I would win, but I couldn’t help but feel a little scared.

“Yes, Meng Hao. How are you feeling?”

“Hey, it’s always good.”

“Meng Hao. As you know, it’s not for nothing that our country’s players are interviewed conservatively. If you give a provocative interview, it will become a hot topic and increase your popularity right away, but later on, it will become your enemy.”

“Actually, all nine clubs are enemies to me.”

Whether the interview was provocative, I wasn’t particularly concerned because as a professional, I was bound to get criticized by fans who weren’t on my team.

“But it will be quicker for the fans who originally supported us to turn around. “The more provocative the interview is.”

“Are you okay. All I have to do is do better and not disappoint the fans.”

“Okay. That’s the mindset. “It’s Meng Hao.”

“… Yes?”

“If your skills are good, you get interviews and controversies. This is the nature of this sport. No matter what their personality or dedication, in the end, fans will embrace criminals as long as the team they support can win. Well, it may vary depending on the severity of the crime.”

I thought they called me to give me a lesson that I couldn’t do yesterday, but that didn’t seem to be the case. As expected, director.

“Meng Hao. In the end, this game is all about skill. “I have been a director for over 30 years now, but that has always been an immutable truth in this game.”

“… “I guess so, right?”

“Win. Like now. “Continue to overcome not only in this Olympics, but also in baseball in the future.”

Director Lee Gi-ra’s words. Of course, it meant winning the game, but it was definitely talking about something bigger than that.

“If we look at it that way, the current controversy will simply become an unusual anecdote of a genius player. Babe Ruth, known as the God of Baseball, was also famous for his promiscuous relationships with women, and after Mickey Mantle retired, it became a famous anecdote that he said that his most memorable experience at Yankee Stadium was receiving fellatio next to the bullpen, and Derek Jeter “I met many women and was called the lover of New York.”

Oh, by the bullpen… ? I still wasn’t good enough. At most, I was in the locker room.

“It’s not just baseball. Shaquille O’Neal, revered as a legend in the basketball world, also had promiscuous relationships with women, and Magic Johnson even had AIDS. Soccer is the same. South American players like Romario and Ronaldinho and players like Ronaldo and Giggs were also famous for their promiscuous private lives, but eventually became legends.”

“Oh… Actually, I don’t know who it is. “Director, how do you know so well?”

Excluding baseball players, I only knew Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, but it was a bit surprising that the coach knew those players.

“Hmm, if you’re going to coach at this age, it’s good to watch a variety of sports. You may get new inspiration. Anyway, what I want to say is that if you do well, all the controversy is meaningless.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“In that sense, you can do well today, right? “Without being discouraged.”

“… Of course. Director, this is Ji Maeng-ho.”

“Yes, Ji Maeng-ho. Do your best. “It is the same today and in the future.”

“… I understand.”

Director Lee Geum-hyeon’s words are like a grandfather who cares about his grandson. … As expected, I wanted to give the director a gold medal as a retirement gift.

*

[Game between Korea and Panama, Korea with 1 win and 1 loss faces Panama with 2 losses.]

[Actually, Ji Maeng-ho was in a lot of trouble yesterday, and he is in the lineup today as well. As coach Lee Geum-hyeon said yesterday, missing a player like Ji Maeng-ho is a national loss. However, since he is still a young player, there is a possibility that he may not be able to display his skills in today’s game.]

[Yesterday’s interview was quite bold, wasn’t it?]

[Should I say this is the confidence typical of a young player? The only way to prove that confidence is to show your skills in front of the public. Ji Maeng-ho.]

[The public is paying great attention to what kind of performance Ji Maeng-ho will show today.]

-Should we see a player like that in the national team? It’s disgusting just to look at it.

┗But my skills are clear.

-It’s not a place where the national team can talk about dogs or sona. I wish they were permanently expelled.

┗Well, maybe it’s because they’re from the MZ generation, but it’s ridiculous that they’re confident enough to do something like that.

┗┗What is that? What sin have you committed?

┗┗As a member of the national team, I have to behave properly.

┗┗ㅉㅉ They’re going to kill young players. If we don’t win this time, it’s all the fault of old guys like you.

[Choi Joo-tae hits a hit! Korea has the opportunity to reach first base with no outs, and Ji Maeng-ho comes to the plate.]

[Ji Maeng-ho, what kind of performance will he show today? I was in good shape yesterday, but I am worried whether I will be able to overcome the controversy and show a good performance.]

[Ji Maeng-ho hit! Hit this ball high! Fence! Direct hit! Ji Maeng-ho’s 1 RBI double! Ji Maeng-ho is still the same!]

-You have skills. Still, am I the only one who hates seeing this?

┗Skill isn’t everything. The position of national representative.

┗That’s right. No matter how good his skills are, a player like that should be permanently expelled from the national team.

┗┗If anyone sees it, it looks like he was drunk driving haha

[In the top of the third inning, leadoff hitter Ji Maeng-ho comes in. Ji Maeng-ho’s second at-bat. First pitch hit! The batted ball was pushed to the right! The right fielder can’t catch it! I tried diving, but I couldn’t catch the ball! Ji Maeng-ho returns to second base and reaches third base! He runs all the way to third base! Leadoff hitter Ji Maeng-ho’s triple!]

-Wow, this is Ji-maeng-ho haha. Curse me for a hundred days. Korean baseball is just Ji-maeng-ho.

┗Because there is a bastard who sucks like this, he must be like that.

┗┗What does it matter if you’re young? I suck it because I’m good at it.

[Top of the 5th inning, 2 outs, 1st and 2nd bases. Ji Maeng-ho, who recorded a double and a triple in his previous at-bats today, comes to the plate. … A game that reaches full count! You hit it! This batted ball! High! Fence! Let’s go! Ji Maeng-ho’s three-run home run drives the wedge! The score is 6:3! The balance being maintained is broken here! Ji Maeng-ho’s three runs!]

-Wow… You’re good at it…

-Is it a crime to have sex? Haha. If you put it that way, an orgy can be cheap.

-Ji Maeng-ho You can have sex with my daughter! Ji Maeng-ho, you can have sex with my daughter! Ji Maeng-ho, you can have sex with my daughter! Ji Maeng-ho, you can have sex with my daughter! Ji Maeng-ho, you can have sex with my daughter!

-Why did a player like that give an interview like that? Honestly, I’m good at baseball.

┗I guess you don’t know much about baseball? Ji Maeng-ho has been the best hitter in the league since last year.

┗┗Yes, actually, I only see it at the Olympics, but I didn’t know he would do that well.

-Ha… Why did the sky give such skills to such a piece of trash..? Really…

┗Baseball fans don’t suck at it for nothing. Ji Maeng-ho’s skills are real.

-Actually, when I just read the article, I felt bad thinking there was such a guy, but I feel good because I won like this haha. I guess I’m a Korean who can’t help it. Fighting national baseball team!

-Just memorize it. Baseball = Ji Maeng-ho.

[Game over! South Korea wins 9:3 over Panama. Oh, the match between the Netherlands and Cuba has also ended. With the Netherlands losing 2:1 to Cuba, South Korea rises to first place. Korea advances to the next round in first place!]

[Ji Maeng-ho showed great performance today, right? 3 hits in 5 at-bats and 4 RBIs, including the game-winning RBI. In addition, he had one double, one triple, and one home run, one hit short of the cycling hit, but it was a truly incredible performance.]

[Yes. I was worried that he might not be in good condition, but fortunately, Ji Maeng-ho was in his original condition. Then he was LA until now.]

-Ji Maeng-ho carry!

-Those who want to be ‘promoted to national prestige’ by the fierce god of defense are screwed!

-All those ignorant bastards who were swearing at the fierce god of defense, hehe

-I worship you. GOAT.