One More Year for Huh

"AGAIN 2003."

Basketball genius Huh Jae (38, TG Xers) will show up on the court next year.

Originally, Huh intended to retire at the end of this season. But, in an interview with The DongA Ilbo yesterday, Huh hinted at his intent to run more. He was quoted as saying, "I want to keep running. Being a player feels most comfortable. I can`t find any other job feeling more comfortable. But I have to talk with the owner. I will follow what the team wants me to do."

In response, vice president Choi Hyung-gil said, "Some say Huh should retire at the pinnacle. Considering the role Huh carries among the players, we want him to run again next year." He added, "Even his one minute presence on the court boosts the morale of the team. We saw the result this year. We won the championship." Thus, it has become likely that he would remain on the team.

TG coach Chun Chang-jin, a figure considered as if a brother by Huh, supported the decision and stated, "As a coach, I hope to put him on the court one more year."

In fact, Huh planned to retire during the playoff season. Getting close to 40s, he suffered a lot due to the dwindling stamina, and another guard Shin Ki-sung will rejoin the team after finishing up his military service next year.

Huh, however, demonstrated his potential by his spirited fighting, which eventually led his team to the championship title. Due to the fractured rib, he could not run in the final game of the championship series. But his presence in the court itself gave a lot of momentum to his teammates.

Huh used to say, "I will end my career when I feel I can no longer lead my team to the championship title." These days, however, he states that "It doesn`t matter whether I play on the court or not. I am with my teammates all the time. I just enjoy the feeling," indicating how much affection he has for his career as a player. In other words, he does not mind whether he is in the starting line-up. He just likes himself wearing uniform as any other player does.

At the "championship party" held on Sunday, he sung the song "Champion" at the top of his lungs. His singing sounded like his announcement of his determination that he would run again next season.

This is his 30th year as a player. He first started basketball when in third grade at Dongbook Elementary School. For the past three decades, he has always been there. An honorable retirement after thirty years on the court—another reason why he wishes to remain as a player for one more year.

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com