CPBL general secretary Wayne Lee has worked his way to the top of the baseball tree through a combination of hard work and being in the right place at the right time.
Born in Puli, Nantou County, Lee was a good student and studied at Changhua Normal University, before doing his military service. He then taught at Kai Ming Business and Industrial junior college for more than six years before working at China Economy News Agency for a year. He also briefly worked as a sales agent.
PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES
Then he had an idea which was to propel him on his true career-path. A baseball fan since his youth and a keen softball player even now, Lee decided to try out for the yet-to-be-born professional baseball league in the late 1980s, as a public announcer.
Lee went to see Hung Tung-sheng -- the founder of the Chinese Professional Baseball League in 1989 -- and though he did not get the announcer's job, he did become the organizations first employee.
Lee knows the CPBL and possibly professional baseball in Taiwan better than anyone else, having been there from the beginning and ending up 14 years later as secretary general -- after working at all levels in the organization and in many of the various departments.
Today, he is in charge of the reborn Chinese Professional Baseball League.
Taipei Times: Could you say why it is was necessary for the Taiwan Major League (TML) and Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) to merge?
Lee: The merger of the two leagues will make the baseball environment in Taiwan simple again. An environment without negative campaigns and occasional chaos should make things better for everyone.
As the number of teams has been reduced we are hoping to see the level of play on the field raised due to the fact there will be more competitive games. As a result, fans will be more attracted to the stadiums to see games.
On another level, one league [rather than the previous two] confirms the authority of professional baseball in Taiwan to the international baseball community and will improve our standing.
TT: What can we look forward to in the new season?
Lee: Before the new season starts, many teams have started to target the Brother Elephants as the club to beat. As a new season begins we are anticipating a series of exciting games when the Elephants play.
With two new teams in the league it also makes for a colorful combination of rivalries that are likely to begin as soon as the first pitch is thrown.
TT. Are you at all worried about a meltdown of the league because of another gambling/gangster scandal similar to that in 1996 which led to the decline of baseball in this country?
Lee: Without any doubt the gambling and game-fixing scandal hurt baseball deeply, and many organizations have suffered a great deal because of the unpleasant situation that occurred.
The league will do whatever it takes to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again by educating the players and working closely with law enforcement.
Understanding that the fans will not give us a second chance, the league and the clubs realize the seriousness of this matter.
TT: Will the CPBL be strong enough to keep the best local players in Taiwan, or attract stars from overseas?
Lee: Every talented player has the right to pursue something better, no matter whether it is for a better playing environment or better pay -- as long as they are good enough.
The CPBL will not try to hold players back if they are talented enough to pursue their careers in Japan or even the Major League.
However, we sincerely hope that these talented players can commit themselves to the local baseball environment before heading abroad.
For this reason, the CPBL will seek the opportunity to sign with the player a contract agreement for foreign leagues.
TT: Do you expect basketball to challenge baseball as the No. 1 game in Taiwan over the next 10 years?
Lee: Baseball is the number one sport in Taiwan. We are doing our best to make the sport even more popular and are building a successful business model.
We sincerely hope that more resources and attention can be given to other sports as well. Only with the success of other sports can we see an energized society being built.
TT: Does Taiwan stand a good/fair/no chance of winning the gold medal in baseball at the Beijing Olympics in 2008?
Lee: There are still a few years before the Beijing Olympics opens. Now the main goal for us is to clinch the first two spots in the Asian Championship this coming November, as this is the qualifying round for the Athens Olympics [in 2004].
What makes baseball so interesting and charming is that it is a game full of opportunity. We believe that team Chinese Taipei will have a good shot of winning the gold medal.
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