Crazy As Me
The book has finally been translated. Further details dealing with the translation can be read on the website under 'Translator's Notes' at http://boxerbiography.blogspot.com/.I would like to first apologize to the fans and readers, as it took over two years since I began translating the book. I would like to use the excuse that 'unforeseen circumstances in life' hindered the progress of the translation, but I wonder if that is entirely true. Still, there were a few e-mails that encouraged me to continue translating the book, and the idea that I was somehow contributing a very small part to the progaming world allowed me to finish this project.
Translating the book was no easy task. Though I am fairly proficient in the Korean language, trying to accurately portray his feelings in the English language and culture was not easy. It took numerous trips to a local coffee shop where I spent many hours on my laptop. Still, translating his autobiography itself was rewarding, as it allowed me to take time analyzing his words and reflecting on why he wrote certain things.
I would like to share an excerpt of the book that seems relevant to his present status in the progaming world:
After failing to enter the Starleague preliminaries and winning the Challenge League was perhaps my most difficult period. At the time, people were saying, “Shouldn’t Lim Yohwan retire now?” I had not once considered retiring. The word ‘retirement’ had not once crossed my mind. But as those talks came from other people, I bit my lips. It already did not matter how many victories I had in the past, or whether I was the progamer with the best win percentage. What was important was winning the present tournament. Winning one game after another and regaining my confidence was my ultimate goal. I was still thirsty for victory. Quenching my thirst for victory was the only way to lift myself up once again.
I remember many years ago when he first emerged on the progaming scene. Without any exaggeration, his winning percentage was 100%. When the Terrans were simply a joke, he was sweeping through all tournaments. For the longest time, no one had any doubt of whether he would win or lose - it was simply a matter of how he would win. He was, in a word, "perfect." Ten years have passed since then. Kim Taehyung, commentator for Ongamenet, once mentioned that his plays are improving, changing. IntoTheRain, former progamer and commentator of MBC Game, mentioned he was his favorite player, as he is not perfect, yet finds ways to make up for it. Indeed, what is more fearsome than a "perfect" player is one that is constantly improving, changing - a player with a fighting spirit.
It is my hope that you feel the same enthusiasm that I have towards Starcraft and progaming after reading the book, but also, as he states in his book, that you would passionately pursue your goals, not forgetting what is truly important in life.
