<Issue 4 ～　Luo Yu-Bin, Tianjin Lions>

Chinese Japanese

The first half of this CBL season was highlighted by young players that rose to the occasion. However, while more and more young stars continue to emerge, there are also some veterans, who, with their polished skills and years of experience, have put up some individual numbers that are among the league leaders. Tianjin Lions captain Luo Yu-Bin is one such player. We recently had the opportunity to chat with the veteran, whom the die-hard fans in Tianjin call "Black Brother".

【The Tenacious Shot/Taken at Tianjin Dodgers Baseball Stadium】

- You're one of the top players in China, both in terms of your popularity and baseball skills. How did you get into playing baseball?

Luo Yu-Bin: When I was a child, soccer was the first sport that I played. I think it was when I was ten or so, when I got an invitation from the Sports Academy and I decided to play baseball. Once I began playing, I really thought it was a fun game, but I never imagined myself playing baseball for as long as I have. In China, baseball has been a minor sport from the time I began to play. But for me, baseball is a great sport that I can’t live without.

- You've been playing baseball for about 20 years. Were there any experiences or games that were the most memorable?

Luo Yu-Bin: Every game that I have been a part of has been memorable. If I were to choose one, it would probably be the final game of the last (2005 10th) All China Games. We won the game and became the champions, so that was definitely memorable. But the game that had the biggest impact on me and influenced the rest of my baseball career happened when I was young. That game was in the 8th All China Games in 1997. I played in the game as an outfielder. I botched a relay play with one of the other outfielders and committed an error. I was really upset. It came at a critical point in the game, so I was really hard on myself, thinking that I was a low level player without any skills. (Did you go back to your hometown and practice your butt off?) I only had two options left. It was either to quit or work hard. I of course chose to go back home and worked hard to improve my game. (laughter)

- How do you feel about the way you played in the first half of the season this year?

Luo Yu-Bin: I can't say that I am completely satisfied.

- Now, that’s being a little modest. You had a .408 batting average which was good for third in the league.

Luo Yu-Bin: Individual stats are nothing more than just numbers. Also, the best players in our league did not play in the first half because they were training with the Olympic team. I think you should always set high goals for yourself. Once you reach a certain age, the opportunity to play in games will begin to diminish. But I always set high goals for myself, anyway. Doing this motivates me to play harder.

- Your clutch hitting this year was very impressive. While playing in many games, you only struck out twice. What goes through your mind as you go into the batter's box?

Lu Yu-Bin: (Looks surprised about the strikeout numbers) I always try to remain calm. There are probably some players who, as they get older, do a lot of thinking when they go into the batter's box. But for me, that really doesn't work. I just try to hit the ball that is pitched to me as hard as I can to help my team win.

- Now, let's talk about this year's league games. There were many young players that put up some good numbers. From your perspective, what do you think are the differences between you and the young players? Also, what do you think are their strengths?

Luo Yu-Bin: Young players improve very quickly. The only thing that I have that they lack is experience. However, experience isn't everything in baseball. I definitely think that players lose their physical strength as they get older. That holds true for me as well. The young players have much more physical strength than I do. But I really enjoy playing with young players because they make me feel younger.

- We are getting closer to the Beijing Olympics. What is your outlook on the national team?

Luo Yu-Bin: The Olympics Games are a very important event. I really hope that the Chinese national team will be successful in the Olympics. I’ve heard that the national team had a great experience on their trip to the United States till the end of June and were able to do some great training and play some great games. I understand that the team was able to win some of the friendly games that they played over there and got the taste of victory, but I wonder if they’ll be able to do it on the big stage. There isn't much time left, but all they can do right now is to take a look at their weaknesses and work as hard as they can to improve upon those areas.

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