It takes a special kind of determination to make it as a professional athlete, especially when personal problems get in the way. The stories told on "Athlete Kando Gekijo" (Athlete Emotional Theater; TV Tokyo, Wed., 9:54 p.m.) are of people who overcame adversity to excel at their chosen sports.
Figure skater Reina Inoue is famous because some years ago after a performance her partner proposed to her right there on the ice. However, Inoue's story is even more dramatic. Her father died of cancer when she was a little girl, and later she herself was diagnosed with the same form of cancer. She survived the disease, as well as an injury that threatened her career. She announced her retirement at the end of last year.
Major leaguer Hideki Matsui has had a charmed life, but one of the most famous incidents was the five consecutive intentional walks he received during the high school baseball championship at Koshien Stadium. Whatever happened to the pitcher in that game?