Comments on: Korea wins Asian Games, Choo exempt from military service?

By: The Baseball Idiot

The Baseball Idiot — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:58:05 +0000

“And don’t overstate it. They don’t get shot at in the DMZ every day. Incidents between the Koreas are far more likely at sea than in the DMZ”

Time changes everything, but when I was there 15 years ago, it was pretty much a free-fire zone. That’s my experience. Lots of ‘training accidents’.

It might be safer now than it was, but those bullet throwers they carry get a lot of use. Way more than the public ever hears.

By: Reflex

Reflex — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:21:30 +0000

Hey, if they’d lost and he didn’t get the exemption, then he’d gone and abandoned his country rather than serve, I would be right there with you. But the fact is that this is well established, its full of precedent, and he took a gamble by not serving right away at 18 and hoping he could earn this exemption and the gamble paid off.

I’ve been on this issue from the beginning, because I feel many americans do not understand what its like to have a truly hostile neighbor on our borders and as such see something like this as akin to the draft during Vietnam. But at the same time, taking advantage of a loophole specificially designed by the government for these situations, one with a high chance of failure, does not bother me at all.

And don’t overstate it. They don’t get shot at in the DMZ every day. Incidents between the Koreas are far more likely at sea than in the DMZ.

By: The Baseball Idiot

The Baseball Idiot — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 20:26:32 +0000

Has anyone bothered to ask Choo’s fellow countrymen what they think of this? You know, the guys that have to give two years of thier lives or go to jail because their country is still in a state of war with an aggressive neighbor who has repeatedly vowed to crush and enslave them.

Have you ever wondered what the guys living 50 to a hall, sleeping on wooden slabs, eating less food than they would get at home, and getting paid about $50 a month, while undergoing corporal punishment for the slightest offense actually think of this? Bet they’re having a lot of fun getting shot at up in the DMZ every day.

By: hackerjay

hackerjay — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:24:49 +0000

That’s a pretty darn good ceiling if it is his. Throw in his great fielding, and he’s easily one of the five best outfielders in the AL.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:16:31 +0000

It was a pivotal point in history when the Brazilians cast off the oppression of the Nazis.

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:07:13 +0000

Victory was amazing[ly hilarious]. Michael Caine as a [terrible] soccer player, Stallone as an even worse one. Pele in his glory, beating the Nazis, cliche’s abound. And the stupidity of not escaping a war camp to continue a soccer game….

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:49:13 +0000

Rambo vs. Terminator

By: BC

BC — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:33:14 +0000

“Tango and Cash” was a vastly underrated movie, as was “Cobra”.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:30:28 +0000

DUDE! Demolition Man! Murder death kill!

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:22:32 +0000

Wait…that guy made movies other than Rocky?

By: BC

BC — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:19:03 +0000

Makes me think of that Stallone movie, “Victory”…

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:17:59 +0000

The consistency is impressive. I hope that it does not mean that he has reached his ceiling.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:16:57 +0000

Fightin’ for freedom. Seems pretty American to me! We should make him a citizen just for being so awesome.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:16:39 +0000

It looks as if “Gregor Chisholm” is now covering the Jays on MLB.com.

By: Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward

Mr. Jason "El Bravo" Heyward — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:16:05 +0000

Another reason I love baseball: cool statistical anomalies. Although, for Choo, I’m guessing this is hardly an anomaly.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:12:31 +0000

2010: .300/.401/.484 with 22 home runs, 90 RBI and 22 stolen bases
2009: .300/.394/.489 with 20 homers, 86 RBI and 20 steals

How about some damn consistency?

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:12:18 +0000

So Bastien has now been demoted and has to cover the Indians rather than the Jays! It would be nice if the Toronto Sun got rid of Elliot as often makes stuff up, but I suspect that we will be stuck with him. I do not read the Sun, but sometimes, Elliot’s dumbest stories are picked up on US sites such as this one.

By: fuggles7

fuggles7 — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:42:25 +0000

Of course now Indian fans will be subject to Bastian as well.. now if we could only get rid of Elliot and get a few GOOD baseball writers to cover the Jays.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:41:42 +0000

Too cool. So when’s Cleveland going to trade him?

By: Lukehart80

Lukehart80 — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:34:04 +0000

As an Indians’ fan, this is likely to be the biggest victory I get to celebrate for quite some time…