國發會與ICRT共同製播的時事英語廣播“The World in Brief”固定於每周三在雙語資源網更新，與大家一起聽時事學英文。

本周主題：亞洲棒球錦標賽

第30屆亞洲棒球錦標賽(The 30th BFA Baseball Championship)於12月3日至12月10日在臺灣舉行。臺灣風靡棒球的熱潮起源於1931年臺灣棒球隊打入了冠軍賽的佳績，此後也培養出許多國際棒球好手，像是「人間機關車」吳昌征、臺灣首位在美國大聯盟出賽的陳金鋒、「臺灣之光」王建民、效力於波士頓紅襪隊的張育成等。 想知道更多嗎？讓我們用3分鐘的時間一起來聽聽記者Max McGrath怎麼說吧！

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Transcript

Nora: The biggest news …the best guests the boldest events …This is ‘The World in Brief’ with Max McGrath.

Nora: Sportsmen from across the continent arrive in Taiwan this week, to compete in the 30^th BFA Asian Baseball Championship, from December 3^rd to 10^th. Roving reporter Max McGrath joins us live from Nishinomiya, Japan, where he’s been meeting the locals and leading the cheers! Max?

Max: Thanks Nora. I’m visiting the place where, according to some, Taiwan’s love of baseball began. I’m at the Hanshin Koshien Stadium, once the largest stadium in Asia, now home of the Hanshin Tigers. Local cheerleading duo Yoko Chan and Hana Chan join me. Ladies, welcome to the show!

Yoko & Hana: Thanks Max!

Max: You know, Japan’s national baseball team is the best in the world right now! You must be very proud.

Yoko & Hana: Uh-huh!

Max: What do you make of Taiwan’s team? Chinese Taipei …

Yoko & Hana: They’re great! “Goooooooo TAIWAN!”

Max: Hang on … you follow Taiwanese baseball? Who do you support?

Yoko / Hana: Wei Chuan Dragons! / Rakuten Monkeys!

Max: Different teams?! Why do you like Taiwan’s Major League so much?

Yoko & Hana: Kano, duh!

Max: You mean, the Taiwanese sports film?

Yoko & Hana: Yeah!

Max: That’s one of my favorite movies! It’s inspiring, and it’s based on a true story. It’s all about a famous Taiwanese team, back in 1931. They made it through all the rounds of this massive Japanese baseball tournament. The final was held right here, at this stadium!

Yoko & Hana: Yep!

Max: They didn’t win, but their passionate style of play inspired legions of fans all over Taiwan. And, they had one of my favorite Taiwanese players ever, can you guess who?

Yoko & Hana: Shosei Go?

Max: Of course! He was so fast that fans would call him the “human locomotive!” Hey, you both know so much about Taiwanese baseball! How about a test?

Yoko & Hana: OK.

Max: OK. Here goes. Name the first Taiwan-born US Major Leaguer …

Yoko & Hana: Chin-Feng Chen!

Max: Wow! So fast! Alright, let’s make it a little harder this time … Ooo! I know! Can you name the most decorated Taiwan-born US Major Leaguer in history?

Yoko & Hana: Chien-Ming Wang!

Max: Damn, right again! He was the best. They would show his starts on big screens in Taiwan when I was a kid. Time Magazine named him one of 2007’s People of the Year!

Yoko & Hana: Next question, please!

Max: OK, one more … who is the only current Taiwan-born US Major Leaguer?

Yoko & Hana: Yu Chang!

Max: Correct! Three for three. He’s signed with the Boston Red Sox this year. Well done girls, you win!

Yoko & Hana: Yay!

Max: Who do you think will win the 30^th BFA Asian Baseball Championship?

Yoko & Hana: Japan!

Max: Apart from Japan, of course …

Yoko & Hana: Umm …

Max: This is when you say “Taiwan.”

Yoko & Hana: Taiwan?

Max: Agreed! I think Taiwan will win too …

Yoko & Hana: Hey!

Max: Yoko Chan, Hana Chan, thank you so much!

Yoko & Hana: You’re welcome, Max!

Max: This is Max McGrath, live from the Hanshin Koshien Stadium. Nora?

Nora: Thanks, Max! Go Taiwan! I’m Nora Yu.

 

Vocabulary

cheer 歡呼 (v.)

In stadiums, baseball fans cheer, chant, and sing together, becoming closer as a group, adding to their happiness and well-being, and maybe helping their team to win! 

 

duo 二人組 (n.)

Kuo-Hui Kao and Guo-Long Luo, a sibling duo at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, have two more brothers who play pro baseball: Kuo-Hua Luo and Kuo-Lin Kao.

 

round 一回合 (n.)

Taiwan fell in love with baseball when an underdog high school team played all the way up to the final round in an annual high school baseball tournament at Koshien Stadium.

 

passionate 熱情的 (adj.)

Some people who are passionate about baseball can recite player statistics like ERA, RBI, and WAR, but it’s all alphabet soup to me!

(ERA: earned run average; RBI: run batted in; WAR: wins above replacement) 

 

locomotive 火車頭 (n.)

Shosei Go, a two-way player who won two batting titles and pitched a no-hitter, ran so fast - barefoot! - that he was nicknamed the “human locomotive.”