Taipei, March 29 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian shared his recollections of baseball with his countrymen in his weekly TV address to the nation Sunday.
Recalling when the country was enthralled by baseball in the 1970s and 1980s because its teams prevailed in various international tournaments, Chen said the whole country would go wild when one of the country's teams won a game, with people lighting firecrackers and strangers hugging in jubilation.
The pleasure brought by baseball was especially valuable at the time because the country was suffering a series of setbacks on the international diplomatic stage, and baseball became a memory shared by all people of the time, the president said.
His love of the game inspired him to help with the incorporation of the country's two professional baseball leagues in January 2002, Chen said.
Chen was to have attended the first game of the new Chinese Professional Baseball League on March 1, but was forced to leave the game when a train derailed in Alishan.
However, the president said he will fit in a few baseball games into his busy schedule as soon as he can to enjoy the pleasure of eating popcorn, hot dogs and cheering on his favorite players.
The president called on his fellow baseball fans to go out and see a Chinese Professional Baseball League game this weekend.