My, oh my, what a difference four years can make. I saw Korea play in France during the '98 World Cup, so my hat's off to their recent successful team play and organization. Where did all this 'calm, cool, and collected' soccer play come from? Well, let's give credit where credit is due. Hiddink's the man.

 

     I'm not much of a soccer buff. However, it didn't take a genius to see, prior to the Hiddink era, that Korean soccer was probably synonymous to chickens playing with their heads cut off. They were high on effort, but a little low on results. This kind of outcome might be tolerable for countries where soccer is low on the totem pole of interest and national image, and doesn't have the collective temperament of a teenager. But this is absolutely inappropriate in Korea where soccer and Olympic event outcomes determine how Koreans feel about themselves each and every morning they wake up. Of course, no one could ever accuse Koreans of being low on passion and effort. However, as we can now see, it really helps to have a strategy in mind before running up and down the soccer pitch for 90+ minutes with nothing to show for it but good intentions and lots of sweat. One might think that a nation that prides itself on its 5,000 year history couldn't have come up with a more imaginative game plan than that. Nevertheless, it better to be late than never. Gone are the days, it seems, of seeing overly enthusiastic Korean soccer players, drenched in sweat and eye balls bulging, with no goals to show for their troubles while the opposing team is already thinking about their next win before the time clock has run out. So, I have to say again-Hiddink's the man.

 

     Koreans should also be proud of their globalization effort made here. To come to the realization that the answer to this problem didn't reside within the gene pool of its own country was an uncharacteristic, but nevertheless, innovative step forward. Then again, Rome wasn't built in a day, was it? Fresh blood and new approaches can sometimes be the antidote for the blind leading the blind.

 

     Yes, Hiddink's the man. But this wasn't always the case, was it? After losing meekly at the Concap Confederations Cup in North America and badly to Croatia within this past year, some players and most of the fans doubted Hiddink and wanted Korea going to the pitch against powerhouses like Vietnam, Malaysia, and quite possibly the women's geriatric squad from China. Hey, a win's a win, right? After all, saving face is much more important than developing world class soccer skills and a much needed game face, isn't it? Fortunately, for Korea, Hiddink didn't think so. I applaud him. Now Korea is so touchy, feely good about itself. And what's wrong with that?

 

     So, Korea, jump on that bandwagon while the going is good! Taste and enjoy the fruits of victory, for you've known the agony of defeat. You deserve this time. Korea can say it loud and be proud and down a soju or two. Hiddink's the man. Everybody is kung-fu fighting.....

 

 

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