Lee Dae-ho recalled his challenging career as an athlete.
In the 5th episode of season 5 of MBN 'Let's Go Go,' which aired on the 2nd, the legendary baseball player Lee Dae-ho appeared along with Kim Min-kyung, Jo Jaeyu, Lee Ho-cheol, and two MCs, Hong Hyun-hee and Ahn Jung-hwan.
While visiting Lee Dae-ho's home located in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, the neat interior, resembling a real studio apartment, and the cozy bedroom caught attention. Inside the bedroom, there were many photos taken with his children and wife, showcasing his affectionate side. Notably, the refrigerator was filled only with beverages.
In this regard, Lee Dae-ho said, "I am currently on a diet. There's nothing in the refrigerator but drinks. I am consuming a lot of zero-calorie products." In fact, Lee Dae-ho was noticeably slimmer. He explained, "I am dieting to stay healthy. When I was an athlete, I ate a lot at dinner. I couldn't eat during the games, so I would eat after the games and kept gaining weight. Now, I don't have to do any heavy lifting, so even if I'm hungry, I manage to hold back, and that's how I've lost weight. I plan to lose a bit more and maintain my weight."
After enjoying the summer health menu prepared by Lee Dae-ho, they headed to a pork belly restaurant, causing a stir. Regarding his diet secret, Lee Dae-ho said, "Eating is important. I haven't eaten much." He also mentioned, "I endure while grilling meat for my family. Based on my experience of losing weight while exercising, I thought, 'What if I can't hold back this time?' That's why I didn't drink alcohol. I've gained and lost weight but felt I performed better when I was heavier. I just had to think that I could hit home runs without running."
Lee Dae-ho also shared his beginnings in baseball. He said, "My father passed away when I was three, and my mother remarried when I was in elementary school, so I've never met her again." He continued, "I spent time with my grandmother and youngest uncle. My uncle always had baseball on the TV. Coincidentally, my elementary school had a baseball team. At that time, Shin Soo-jae kept persuading me to play baseball. When I brought it up to my grandmother, she realized it would cost money. So, my uncle and aunt all chipped in to support me. That's how I started."
Reflecting on moments when he wanted to quit, he said, "I really wanted to quit a lot during middle and high school. I felt a lot of pressure. I couldn't pay my dues and couldn't prepare snacks for the team. I felt a lot of pressure." He added, "But while there were parents who put pressure on me, there were also people who supported me with love. I endured thanks to them. My goal was to succeed and treat my grandmother to delicious food and pamper her. I went through puberty without any issues. If told to do something, I did it; if told not to, I didn't. When my friends suggested running away, I would say, 'Let's not do that because I might get cut.'"
He conveyed his deep affection for his grandmother, saying, "Before my grandmother passed away, she mentioned wanting to eat bulgogi burgers. I think she had heard that burgers were delicious. I went to see her after a baseball game while she was hospitalized, and suddenly she expressed a craving for them. I wanted to buy them for her, but I only had 1,000 won in my wallet. Instead, I bought a basic burger for her. She enjoyed it so much. A few days later, she passed away. I thought, when I got my allowance next month, I would buy her bulgogi burgers. Now, whenever I eat, I think of my grandmother."
He recalled, "But I received my signing bonus a year later. I was in my second year of high school and received 100 million won. But I really didn't want to do anything. My dream was to take care of my grandmother and make her comfortable. At that time, she was sick and hospitalized, and I stayed at my aunt's house. When I came home, my aunt's expression was not good. After hearing the news, I cried a lot. I had to go to school, but I didn't want to. What would I get from going? I stayed home for a week, just looking at the sea. Then, my coach came to find me. He said, 'If you give up, your grandmother will be watching you. Let's do our best.' Because of those words, I started going to school again. If he hadn't said that, I probably wouldn't have been able to continue."
In particular, Lee Dae-ho spoke about the moment he realized his success, stating, "In the past, I commuted three hours round-trip to a middle school that offered exemption from fees. It was very hard, but now I have the ability to take my children to and from school directly. Realizing that I can provide that kind of financial support made me feel, 'I have succeeded.'" He added, "Being there for my kids when they need their dad is what matters. It's not just about being happy because I'm Lee Dae-ho, but rather because you have your mom and dad by your side, and that's what happiness is."
Meanwhile, Lee Dae-ho set numerous remarkable records, including hitting home runs in nine consecutive games, becoming the first Korean to be MVP of the Japan Series, and winning the Golden Glove award seven times before retiring in 2023.
[Photo] OSEN DB / Broadcast Capture
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