[BEIJING 08: BASKETBALL] USA 107- CHINA 70
In the heart of it all -- star-studded Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd.
Phil Spencer & Chris Goodridge
Guest Bloggers, QueerGam
Phil Spencer:
Another magical night in Beijing. This was the biggest basketball game in China’s history and perhaps the most-watched basketball game ever—and the U.S. wanted to turn in a performance to match the moment as it took its first step toward Olympic hoops redemption.
In one heartpounding minute in the first half, LeBron James dunked off a nifty underhanded feed from Dwyane Wade. Then Kobe Bryant flew in and jammed. Then it was Chris Bosh’s turn to rattle the rim.
Chris Goodridge:
There are too many people who won’t embrace the players and who bristle at the concept of highly paid pros representing the country, or even, as absurdly unrealistic as it is, pine for a return to the “college guys” even if it would mean one humiliating defeat after another. There are still plenty of fans back in America, of course. There just may not be as many as the team enjoys here in China, a basketball-mad nation in love with the NBA.
Phil Spencer:
It was all on display Sunday night in an historic 101-70 U.S. victory over China where a sellout crowd of nearly 18,000 crammed every nook and cranny of Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium to, quite amazingly, cheer for both teams.
Chris Goodrige:
Perhaps most telling was their honest debate over who received the biggest ovation of the night: national hero Yao Ming or Kobe Bryant of suburban Philly.
Phil Spencer:
They may have waved Chinese flags, but they wore NBA jerseys while doing it. They may have roared for every Chinese three-pointer, but they weren’t above dancing in the aisle after a powerhouse LeBron James dunk.
Getty Images: Above, (L-R) Carlos Boozer, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, Deron Williams, and Michael Redd of the U.S. Men's Senior National Team speak to the media at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics on August 8, 2008 at the Main Press Center at Olympic Park in Beijing, China.
In the heart of it all -- star-studded Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd.
Phil Spencer & Chris Goodridge
Guest Bloggers, QueerGam
Phil Spencer:
Another magical night in Beijing. This was the biggest basketball game in China’s history and perhaps the most-watched basketball game ever—and the U.S. wanted to turn in a performance to match the moment as it took its first step toward Olympic hoops redemption.
In one heartpounding minute in the first half, LeBron James dunked off a nifty underhanded feed from Dwyane Wade. Then Kobe Bryant flew in and jammed. Then it was Chris Bosh’s turn to rattle the rim.
Chris Goodridge:
There are too many people who won’t embrace the players and who bristle at the concept of highly paid pros representing the country, or even, as absurdly unrealistic as it is, pine for a return to the “college guys” even if it would mean one humiliating defeat after another. There are still plenty of fans back in America, of course. There just may not be as many as the team enjoys here in China, a basketball-mad nation in love with the NBA.
Phil Spencer:
It was all on display Sunday night in an historic 101-70 U.S. victory over China where a sellout crowd of nearly 18,000 crammed every nook and cranny of Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium to, quite amazingly, cheer for both teams.
Chris Goodrige:
Perhaps most telling was their honest debate over who received the biggest ovation of the night: national hero Yao Ming or Kobe Bryant of suburban Philly.
Phil Spencer:
They may have waved Chinese flags, but they wore NBA jerseys while doing it. They may have roared for every Chinese three-pointer, but they weren’t above dancing in the aisle after a powerhouse LeBron James dunk.
Getty Images: Above, (L-R) Carlos Boozer, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, Deron Williams, and Michael Redd of the U.S. Men's Senior National Team speak to the media at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics on August 8, 2008 at the Main Press Center at Olympic Park in Beijing, China.
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