August 13, 2014

Winning Lee

The Royals getting hot appears to coincide with a visit with their biggest fan from South Korea:

How do I begin this story? How can I convince you that the greatest story for Royals fans in 29 years is unfolding before our eyes, and its protagonist lives a hemisphere away, speaks imperfect (but diligent) English and had never set foot in Kauffman Stadium until last Thursday?

I first became aware of Lee Sung-woo eight or nine years ago. I didn’t know his name; I just knew there was someone with the handle KoreanFan who posted on a site named Royals Corner. He wrote as if English was his second language, and he was eternally optimistic at a time when 70-victory seasons were something the Royals could only aspire to. I thought it was impressive that someone from South Korea followed the Royals, but didn’t think too much more of it.

This summer, Lee, 38, finally took the plunge. Taking advantage of a change to a new job as a merchandise manager, he took 10 days to visit Kansas City, watch the Royals play and maybe do a little sightseeing and eat some barbecue.

He emailed Kamler and another Royals fan, Dave Darby, about his plans; they told him they would pick him up and drive him to the ballpark and show him around town.

If the story had ended there, it would have been enough: three people who have never met, and can barely communicate with one another, bonding like long-lost friends over a shared interest in a long-frustrated baseball team. Movies have been made with flimsier plots.

But Kamler decided to publicize the fact that Lee was finally coming to Kansas City. He had no idea what he was getting himself into. None of us did.

The Royals embraced their far off fan, and pushed into first place at the same time. If Kansas City wins the World Series, there will no doubt be a movie about this.

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