“Is there a dream team only in the NBA? We are also a dream team.”
Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers), who will compete in the 2023 WBC (World Baseball Classic), showed sky-high pride.스포츠토토
Betts is one of the best outfielders in the American Professional Baseball (MLB). He is an all-rounder with quick feet, a wide range of defense, and even an unexpected shot. From his days in Boston and after his transfer to the Dodgers, he is an outfielder with a combined offense and defense who won 6 Gold Gloves and 5 Silver Sluggers out of 7 seasons since 2016.
The ‘dream team’ often refers to the U.S. basketball team that competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The U.S. won an overwhelming gold medal by mobilizing active NBA stars such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird in this tournament, which was the first professional player to participate. Unlike Jordan, who was the ace at the time, Magic showed off leadership that encompassed the entire team with Bird.
Betts’ boastful assertion that the U.S. national team participating in this WBC is the ‘dream team’ is not a lie. Mike Trout (LA Angels) Kyle Schwaber, Trey Turner, JT Realmuto (Philadelphia Phillies) Nolan Arena, Paul Goldschmidt (St. Louis Cardinals) Pete Alonso (New York Mets), etc. The mound is also solid in both the starting and back gates.
Betts, who entered the national team after receiving an enthusiastic love call from captain Trout, volunteered to serve as the mental support for the American WBC national team, which is full of superstars.
In an interview with Sportsnet LA, Betts said, “It’s really special to be able to fight for the U.S. national team. I’m happy to have been invited by Trout,” and emphasized, “I want to become a player like Magic Johnson.”
During the 2006 and 2009 WBC, the U.S. lost its pride to Japan, South Korea, and Cuba one after another. In 2013, he also tasted the humiliation of being eliminated in the second round without even reaching the semifinals. However, at the 2017 WBC, which was heartbreaking, it defeated Japan in the semifinals and Puerto Rico in the final to win the championship, enhancing its presence as the true home of baseball. They are also aiming to win this tournament.