Baseball: A Two-Way Player-Chapter 551 - 124: The Curse of Colonel Sanders (Part 2)

Hanshin fans will undoubtedly use the most violent and filthy language to vent at Lin Guanglai; and this disciple of his is not someone who is willing to swallow his anger—if a direct conflict occurs between the two parties, he is truly afraid that things might spiral out of control.

"In any case, remember to hold back a bit when competing at Koshien—I just hope we can leave Hyogo healthy and victorious, and win the championship at our home ground!" Akiyama Koji glared at Lin Guanglai somewhat irritably but did not say much more.

Before Lin Guanglai left, Akiyama Koji reminded him of one more thing: "Oh right—remember to join me at tomorrow's official press conference before the Japan Series begins. The organizers specifically requested your presence. It's good for your publicity, so I didn't turn it down."

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On October 24, 2014, there was only one day left before the start of the Japan Series.

With the year's most important series about to commence, the atmosphere at the pre-game joint official press conference was extraordinary from the start. The long lenses and focus of the media were almost invariably aimed at Lin Guanglai, who sat in the center on the SoftBank side.

The reason why journalists placed so much importance on this young player was simple: given his personal performance and the SoftBank Team's showing this season, Lin Guanglai had already locked in the 2014 Pacific League MVP and the Eiji Sawamura Award, with the Gold Glove and Best Nine awarded without a doubt, nearly achieving a grand slam of personal honors.

And if the SoftBank Team could reclaim the title of Japan's Number One after 3 years, then as the core player, Lin Guanglai would achieve something unprecedented in the history of Nippon Professional Baseball: in a single season, MVP, Sawamura Award, Gold Glove, Best Nine, league championship, Japan's Number One...completely dominating all personal and team honors, completing the "Golden Road" that 99.99% of professional baseball players cannot finish in a lifetime.

Of course, the journalists from Kansai were not among those people: rather than praising the achievements Lin Guanglai was about to secure, they preferred to focus their time and energy on sharp provocations—in the hope that by inciting him, they might affect the opponent's state and wrest a "tiny" advantage for their own team.

After the routine opening questions, a male reporter with black-framed glasses and meticulously combed hair picked up the microphone—according to the press officer, he was from a fairly influential Kansai sports newspaper.

As the interview segment began, this reporter immediately turned his attention to Lin Guanglai, who was wearing a suit and sitting upright.

"Mr. Lin, it's well-known that the Hanshin Tigers have been riding a wave of momentum this year, with balanced pitching and hitting, sweeping through Hiroshima Toyo and Yomiuri Giants from a lower position in the league and remaining unbeaten in the playoffs thus far, full of determination to claim 'Japan's Number One'; whereas the SoftBank Team, though victorious, did not live up to expectations in the climax matches…"

The reporter's voice carried the distinctive rhythm of a Kansai accent, but his tone was anything but courteous.

"Many experts predict that with their tenacious spirit and home advantage at Koshien, the Hanshin Tigers have a strong chance to claim their first Japan's Number One since 1985—what is your take on this prediction?"

Upon hearing this question, Akiyama Koji frowned slightly; the venue instantly fell silent as all eyes turned to Lin Guanglai, awaiting his response.

Facing a question that could almost be considered a direct provocation, Lin Guanglai merely raised his eyebrows, displaying a peculiar smile. Bringing the microphone to his lips, he slowly began to reply, "Mr. Reporter, I believe this question shouldn't be directed at me…"

Just as the reporter was poised to press further with his questioning, Lin Guanglai, the person in question, continued on: "I think, rather than me, an outsider, Colonel Sanders of Dotonbori would be more suited to answer this question."

"Boom——!"

After a short-lived dead silence came the irrepressible stir and whispers from the audience! All the Japanese reporters, especially those from Kansai, immediately showed varied expressions of astonishment, anger, and utter embarrassment as their sore spot was precisely hit!

It's widely known that as one of the few teams among the twelve in Nippon Professional Baseball able to stand toe-to-toe with the Yomiuri Giants in terms of popularity, the honors of the Hanshin Tigers glaringly fail to match their fame: since their establishment in 1935, they've won only 9 league championships and 1 Japan's Number One; particularly the last 20 years of the previous century, they were perennial bottom dwellers, with the situation only improving since the new century.

In which, involved is the so-called "Curse of Colonel Sanders," a long-circulated urban legend within the Nippon Professional Baseball fanbase.

In the 1985 Japan Series, led by the American slugger Randy Bass, the Hanshin Tigers defeated the then-dominant Seibu Lions, claiming their first and only Japan's Number One in franchise history, throwing the entire Kansai into a frenzy.

Some Hanshin fans gathered on the Ebisubashi Bridge in Osaka's Dotonbori district to celebrate: at the time, onlookers would shout each Hanshin Tigers player's name, and a fan dressed as that player would jump into the river when called.

However, when it came to calling out Randy Bass, the MVP, due to the lack of foreigners present, the raucous Hanshin fans threw the Colonel Sanders statue from outside a Dotonbori KFC into the river (since both Colonel Sanders and Randy Bass sport beards and are American)—who would have thought that this impulsive celebration would usher in a 17-year-long dark era for the Hanshin Tigers.

Since their 1985 Japan Series victory, the Hanshin Tigers featured in the A-class only once in the following 15 years, ending up at the bottom of the Central League a daunting 10 times, rendering them utterly uncompetitive.

Hence, the "Curse of Colonel Sanders" urban myth was born: according to the curse, the impulsive celebration of Hanshin fans disgraced Colonel Sanders, leading the Colonel to curse the Hanshin Tigers, preventing them from claiming another Japan's Number One until they recover his statue.

Over the years, many Hanshin Tigers fans have tried to retrieve the Colonel Sanders statue from Dotonbori, but could never locate it; that was until 2007, when the Japanese government, whilst dredging wartime unexploded ordnance, unexpectedly discovered the Colonel Sanders statue submerged in Dotonbori—however, the problem was the Colonel's left hand was missing and hasn't been restored to this day.

Just like the "Curse of the Bambino" that haunted the Boston Red Sox for 85 years, the "Curse of Colonel Sanders" has become the deepest wound in the hearts of Hanshin Tigers fans, one they are most averse to being touched.

And now, at the Japan Series press conference, in front of all Japanese media, Lin Guanglai mercilessly and precisely tore open this wound, exposing it to everyone.

Without allowing the Hanshin faction journalists in the audience time to react, Lin Guanglai continued in his calm yet sharp tone:

"The SoftBank Team does not need external validation to increase our chances of winning—the gloves and bats are in our own hands, and we will demonstrate our strength through our performance on the field; and my personal responsibility is to do everything I can on the field, using my pitching and hitting to secure victory for the team."

"As for the outcome…" Lin Guanglai slightly lifted his chin, showcasing his unreserved genius-level confidence, "I believe everyone can rest assured—SoftBank will not lose."

Having said that, he leaned back slightly into his chair, no longer looking at the reporter whose face alternated between red and white, as if he had just stated the simplest of facts.