[外電] Wang's World

看板CMWang作者yyhong68 (come every now and then)時間16年前 (2008/04/25 11:32)推噓13(13推 0噓 6→)

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這一篇是從Jtrain的blog http://jtrain-tpmbny.blogspot.com看到的作者有訪問他... Wang's world Thursday, April 24, 2008 Last updated: Thursday April 24, 2008, EDT 8:34 AM BY PETE CALDERASTAFF WRITER CHICAGO — At an hour when many of his countrymen were just rising, Taiwan's most famous son poured himself another cup of coffee in the Yankees' clubhouse Wednesday afternoon, and broke into an amused grin. Had Chien-Ming Wang heard anything new about the Taiwan Stock Exchange after he improved his record to 4-0 Tuesday night? "When I win, the stock market goes up," Wang said, smiling broadly and giving a thumb's up for emphasis. "When I lose, the stock market goes down." Isn't that crazy? "It is," Wang said. But that's part of life in a nation fully engaged in Wang-mania. A recent Sports Illustrated article underlined Wang's massive popularity in Taiwan – and how he can't appear in public without causing a mild uproar. All of it runs directly counter to Wang's reserved personality. "Here is better," Wang said of a less-exposed lifestyle in the U.S., and his in-season home in Edgewater. Because in Taiwan, "in terms of popularity, he's even more popular than Britney Spears in the U.S.," said Joseph Liao, a Taiwanese sportswriter based in New York for the World Journal. "When he loses a game, it's like, 'Why did he lose? What happened? What's wrong? "He can never lose," Liao said. "I tell my friends, 'Guys, stay calm. You don't win every single game.' '' And yet, the 28-year-old Wang has won more games over the last three seasons than any pitcher in the majors. Tuesday night, the Yankees' 9-5 victory over the White Sox was Wang's 50th career win. With just 85 career starts, Wang became just the third pitcher in the last 50 years to achieve 50 wins that quickly – joining Dwight Gooden and Ron Guidry, his former pitching coach with the Yanks. As usual, many Taiwanese were tuned to the game; Wang's starts are broadcast live, and the usual night game in the States is an early-morning start in Taiwan. "People watch the games on computers in their office," Liao said. "One of my friends watches the games, and his boss actually watches with him." It's a wonder such a dip in productivity doesn't have a negative economical effect. The SI story noted a 25 percent index rise in June and July, when Wang posted a 9-1 mark. At the hour that Wang gave up two runs in Tuesday night's second inning, which tied the game, the Taiwan Stock Exchange dipped to its daily low, only to rebound as the Yankees rallied. However, the exchange finished slightly lower for the day. Actually, "I think it's a little exaggerated," Liao said of Wang's link to the stock exchange. "But the newspapers do sell more on the days after he pitches." Following Wang's 50th victory, Taiwan's Apple Daily ran a huge cover story with photos from each of the right-hander's 50 career wins. It is an instant collector's item. Then again, anything with Wang's image or name sells (and sells) in his country. "Especially bobble heads," Liao said. Whenever a new shipment arrives, "they're usually gone in a couple of days. They love the bobble heads." The latest must-have Wang item is a laptop computer in the Yankees' navy blue, with Wang's autograph superimposed on the cover. "It sells like crazy," Liao said. When a special limited edition subway Metrocard was issued with Wang's photo, it was sold out in minutes, according to Liao. "The people aren't going to use it, either," he said. Another collector's item. No. 40 pinstriped Yankees shirts can be spotted all around the streets of Taipei. "They don't know the other teams," Liao said. "But they know every single player on the Yankees." Even Guidry became a folk hero in Taiwan, based on stories like Liao's on the pitching coach's admiration for Wang. When he heads back to Taiwan, usually in December, "people follow him everywhere," Liao said. "I wouldn't call them stalkers, but they do stay around his place. People know where he lives." Mariano Rivera is an icon in Panama, and Hideki Matsui is a megastar in Japan, but even they admit they can't touch Wang when it comes to nationwide popularity. "He's very big," Matsui said, adding, "stocks must be high today." When also told of the possible connection to Taiwan stocks and Wang wins, Rivera said, "We're going to try to help him keep it up." http://www.northjersey.com/sports/Wangs_world.html -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 140.109.23.119

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04/25 11:38, , 1^F

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