<윈글리쉬 영어 원고>
Playing Baseball for Dad
Michael Jordan won the MVP trophy six times from the NBA. He also led the Chicago Bulls, a team that always used to (1)be on the bottom, to the top. But during his heyday in 1993, he suddenly left the basketball court and shocked everybody by (2)putting on a baseball uniform. He did it for his father. on August 3, 1993, Jordan’s father was shot to death by a robber. Michael Jordan’s father was his hero. His father supported him by playing basketball with him before he became the best player in the country. Still in shock from his father’s sudden death, Jordan announced his departure from the NBA two months later.
“I have gone as far as I can go with basketball.”
In December of that year, Jordan started baseball training, to honor his father’s wish that he become a baseball player rather than a basketball player. When Jordan was young, he would play baseball with his Dad, who believed that his son (3)was more cut out for baseball than basketball.
But Jordan’s life as a baseball player was not easy. Early in the season of 1994, he recorded consecutive hits for 12 games, but when his weak points were exposed to pitchers, Jordan started to struggle.
“I think of my Dad every day. He’s always with me when I wake up early in the morning to practice, when I play in the field, and when I swing my bat in the dark by myself. I am doing this for my Dad.”
Because he felt his Dad was watching him, Jordan didn’t give up baseball even though his scores were not the best. He returned to the basketball court (4)in the wake of the Major League strike that occurred in the summer of 1995, preventing him from being able to play baseball.
Michael Jordan willingly gave up wealth and fame for his Dad. Isn’t this a testament to the power of the family? The origin of one’s existence?
Key ｅxpression
1) He also led the Chicago Bulls, a team that always used to be on the bottom, to the top.
2) But during his heyday in 1993, he suddenly left the basketball court and shocked everybody by putting on a baseball uniform.
3) When Jordan was young, he would play baseball with his Dad, who believed that his son was more cut out for baseball than basketball.
4) He returned to the basketball court in the wake of the Major League strike that occurred in the summer of 1995, preventing him from being able to play baseball.
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<한글 원고>
아버지를 위해 입은 야구 유니폼
미국 NBA에서 MVP 트로피를 여섯 번이나 거머쥐고, 만년 꼴찌팀이었던 시카고 불스를 정상의 자리로 끌어올린 마이클 조던. 절정의 인기를 누리고 있던 1993년, 돌연 농구 코트를 떠난 그는 야구 유니폼을 입어 사람들을 놀라게 했다.
1993년 8월 3일, 조던의 아버지는 강도에게 총을 맞아 세상을 떠났다. 아버지와 운동을 하면서 최고의 농구선수로 성장한 그에게 아버지는 삶의 기둥이었다. 충격을 받은 그는 두 달 뒤, 갑자기 NBA를 떠난다고 발표했다.
“더 이상 보여 줄 게 아무것도 없습니다.”
그해 12월 조던은 야구 훈련을 시작했다. 생전에 아들이 농구보다 야구선수가 되기를 바랐던 아버지 때문이었다. 조던이 어렸을 때 부자는 곧잘 함께 야구를 했는데, 아버지는 조던이 야구에 더 소질이 있다고 믿었다.
그러나 조던의 야구선수 생활은 순탄하지 않았다. 1994년 그는 초반에 12게임 연속 안타를 친 뒤, 투수들에게 약점이 노출돼 고전을 면치 못했다.
“나는 날마다 아버지를 생각합니다. 아침 일찍 일어나 연습하러 갈 때, 야구장에서 경기를 할 때, 어둠 속에서 혼자 방망이를 휘두를 때 아버지는 항상 나와 함께 있었어요. 아버지를 위해 나는 여기 있는 것입니다.”
아버지가 자신을 지켜보고 있다고 느낀 조던은 부진한 성적에도 불구하고 야구를 포기하지 않았다. 그러나 1995년 여름 메이저리그에 파업 사태가 발생해 더 이상 야구를 할 수 없게 되자 그는 농구 코트로 복귀했다.
아버지를 위해 부와 명예를 기꺼이 내려놓았던 마이클 조던. 자신의 존재를 있게 한 가족의 힘은 바로 이런 것이 아닐까.
글 : 좋은 생각살람들 편집부
