Chronic Back Pain Haunts Chan Ho Again

Is he really OK?

In his first "sortie" this season on Wednesday, Chan Ho Park gave up 6 hits and 6 runs to Anaheim Angels, and people suspect his back is wrong.

After the game, Chan Ho denied the rumor and said, "It`s OK." In reality, bad signs are popping up here and there.

Chan Ho`s agent Scott Boras told reporters yesterday at the Edison Field, "Chan Ho told me three days ago that his back was not normal. Yesterday`s pitching was not normal in every respect."

Boras also said that, when he met Chan Ho in the clubhouse after he was taken off, Chan Ho was massaging his back with ice pack. Adding fuel to the rumor, Chan Ho canceled his personal training. After pitching, he had almost always run.

He first sprained his back while pitching against Chicago Cubs for the Dodgers on May 5, 2001. Ever since, the chronic back pain has plagued Chan Ho. At that time, Chan Ho was about to become a free agent. Thus, in a fear of losing his value, he continued pitching, worsening his condition.

Sang-Soo Kim ssoo@donga.com