McKeon, Marlins try to cross language barrier

 

By Joe Capozzi, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, March 7, 2004

 

JUPITER -- A baseball bat in one hand and a cigar clenched in his teeth, Jack McKeon was ambling down a path toward a practice field last week when he stopped to chat with a group of reporters.

 

The reporters were from Korea, and their attention was focused on the fielding drills of first baseman Hee Seop Choi. They didn't even notice McKeon until the 73-year-old Marlins manager barked out some practice drills of his own:

 

"Ju-HUN-da!"

 

The photographers and reporters jerked back in surprise. Their faces frowned with serious expressions of concern. They whispered to each other: Is he yelling at us because we're too close to the field?

 

McKeon smiled and repeated: "Ju-HUN-da!"

 

Annie Kim, a translator for a Seoul television crew, smiled back and corrected McKeon, who was trying to pronounce the Korean word for "good job."

 

"Jal-HAN-da!" she said.

 

"Ju-HUN-da!" McKeon repeated, then threw a hand up in frustration. "I'll have to work on that one."

 

As he started to walk away, McKeon turned around and tried the word one more time, this time prompting laughter and smiles from the reporters. "You need a dictionary!" Kim said.

 

McKeon doesn't carry a Korean-English dictionary, but he and his staff do have a "cheat sheet" of six English phrases and their rough Korean pronunciations, compiled by third-base coach Jeff Cox, who used books and help from the Korean media:

 

Ka ja (let's go), CHO da (good play), cum dong nim (manager), chal ga (goodbye), jal HAN da (good job) and EE gee cha marlins (marlins win). Kim took a pen and added a word to Cox's master list: an young (hello).

 

Every day this spring, McKeon breaks into impromptu Korean practice sessions if a Korean reporter is in his presence.

 

"I figure I'll just say it loud and fast," he said.

 

So far, at least one Korean native is impressed with McKeon's efforts.

 

"He's pretty good,'' said Choi, who can converse well in English if the questioner speaks slowly. "He wants to learn Korean. I like that."

 

Last year, when Choi played for the Cubs, Chicago manager Dusty Baker tried to learn a few words, too, but he never compiled a "cheat sheet."

 

"He liked Korean food, sushi, more than the language,'' Choi said with a laugh.

 

Pitcher Tommy Phelps is another player who has been sought out by Korean reporters, who read in the Marlins media guide that Phelps was born in Seoul.

 

"I left Korea when I was eight months old and I've never been back,'' said Phelps, whose father was in the U.S. military. "I can say hello and goodbye and that's it.''

 

Phelps, who played with Choi in Class AA a couple of years ago, told his teammate last week that he wants to learn Korean.

 

Choi has been doing his part to tutor his teammates. "He's teaching me Korean curse words," said right fielder Miguel Cabrera, whose locker is next to Choi's.

 

McKeon meets with South Florida media every morning on picnic tables outside the Marlins clubhouse. One day last week, he was discussing the importance of giving playing time this spring to minor-league players when reporter Gun-Tren Kang of the Yunhap news agency wandered over.

 

McKeon quickly changed the subject, barking out a new word he picked up the other day:

 

"Kum-za-MEE-da!"

 

Gun-Tren smiled and repeated the word in English -- "Thank you.''

 

McKeon laughed. "I'm getting better," he said.

 

joe_capozzi@pbpost.com

McKeon's efforts to make Choi comfortable demonstrates the tremendous leadership skill he possesses.

 

 

In Jack We Trust!!