Posted November. 05, 2002 23:00,
The way they train and lead their teams are as different as the lives they have been through. Coach Kim Eung-ryong called 0.1-ton elephant is a father figure who is stern but considerate. In contrast, coach Kim Sung-geun is like a caring and meticulous mother.
While Kim Eung-ryong hardly hesitates to make a big move when it comes to a decisive moment, Kim Sung-geun likes to refer to detailed data that even tells habits of players.
The former Kim has won the Korean League championship nine times leading Haitae for 18 years, but the latter Kim had to move from a team to another six times without winning the championship ever.
The contrasting track records date back to the late 1960s. Kim Sung-geun, who was a Korean Japanese left-hander, flew over to his motherland after graduating high school wishing to join a Korean baseball team. Yet, the young pitcher from Japan, who spoke poor Korean, met with cold reception and had to soon give up playing due to a severe injury. Then, he began to study the game of baseball in earnest.
Kim Eung-ryong, as one of the best right-handed sluggers, had always been on the top - from his days at Busan Commerce High School through the time he took on his first coaching job with Hanil Bank. He was always the best and people admired him as he led teams to the top.
Despite these differences, however, they share one common denominator, love for baseball. They both have charisma. They unite a team comprising various kinds of players as one. While Kim Eung-ryong uses carrots and sticks tactfully, Kim Sung-geun encourages each player to work harder.
There is only one champion cup, however, for a final winner. Its time to duel. Will Kim Eung-ryong score his tenth victory, or Kim Sung-geun have the taste of victory after throwing the gauntlet to the strong foe? We will see the result as this years Korean Series unfolds.