Talking Balls: Marbury & a New Griffith Brother for China
The biggest news of the week is that Stephon Marbury is signing for the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons, the CBA’s finest team named after a dragon. Marbury has apparently decided to move to China to reignite his flagging career. Marbury deserved the nickname Starbury in his earlier years as he racked up two All Star appearances. Since then he’s become a champion of the poor with his Starbury brand of affordable footwear, sports apparel and lifestyle clothing. Word on the street, as scared kids are calling the internet, is that his move to the East is in a bid to sell more of his shoes. Fake Jordans or real Starburys? That’s for the kids to decide.
More hoop news for you slam dunk fans is that Yi Jianlin is finally living up to his promise at the New Jersey Nets. He’s been clocking up the points since he returned to the fold in late December. Too bad he won’t play in the All Star game – the NBA declared him ineligible for the fan vote as he has played so few games. The NBA’s fears that a Chinese bloc vote could get someone in unfairly seems well founded now that Tracy McGrady (six games in 2009-10 season) is in line for a spot.
From one type of hoops to another, Chinese football fans will be pleased that Zheng Zhi made a rare start for Glasgow Celtic. The bad news comes in the shape of it ending in a 1-1 draw with Falkirk. If you have not heard of Falkirk it is for a good reason. ZZ played 90 minutes and headed a chance wide before his attempt at a late winner was blocked on the line by a defender four minutes into injury time.
More football and this time it’s about Beijing Guoan so it must involve a Griffiths brother. The twist is that it’s a brand new one. Adam Griffiths is currently on trial with Guoan from, you guessed it, Newcastle Jets. Guoan coach Hong Yuanshou has joked that since he found out there is a footballing Griffiths sister that "she should be playing for Beijing's women's football team so we can have the whole family together..." Hilarious stuff.
In more Griffiths family news, “The Newcastle Jets confirm that an agreement between the Newcastle Jets Football Club, Beijing Guoan Football Club and the player Joel Griffiths has been finalised for an undisclosed fee.” There’s nothing like a press release to make football seem more dramatic. The Beijing Guoan-Griffiths reunite with Newcastle Jets next month in the AFC Champions’ League.
Finally, a belated big up (is that what the cool cats say?) to Finland’s Jusso Laiviso for winning the 8th Red Bull Nanshan Open. He won his own weight in Red Bull, or some money, either way he went home happy. Local boy Wang Lei was the top Chinese rider in 9th place. Bravo.
