China in Hoops Heaven

2008/08/19 16:15:11 @NBA.com: News

In USA TODAY, Kevin Johnson writes "even before Yao Ming carried his nation's flag into National Stadium at the opening ceremonies, basketball fever was surging past table tennis, badminton and volleyball as the favorite of the masses. The most compelling evidence of that popularity is spread over d ozens of teeming outdoor courts across the city, where the young and not-so-young are happily knocking down jumpers and aspiring to more than respectability. The favored attire often has nothing to do with Yao or other members of the Chinese team. Many of those with jerseys have the names of other top NBA stars plastered between their shoulders — Pierce, Nowitzki, Anthony, McGrady, Iverson. Of any individual athlete, Yao won the loudest ovation at the opening ceremonies. Not far behind, however, was the eruption when Bryant's face flashed on the stadium's big screen. 'Yao Ming opened the basketball market,' said Jiang Sheng Kun, 21, decked out in a full Lakers uniform, 'and Chinese basketball is becoming more and more strong.'”
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