Talking Balls: Hurdling, Planking, Drifting & Sinking
The NBA pay lockout is still rumbling on. Both sides were set to return to the table on Tuesday (and maybe Wednesday), New York time. We’ve no choice but to wait to see if the impasse will reach resolution. Not former Denver Nugget Winston Chandler, though. The forward was the first to sign for a CBA team following their new rules relating to the labour dispute back in the States. There may be more NBA talent on the way, there may not ... either way, Zhejiang Guangsha fans will not be complaining.
The speculation will continue as long as the likes of Dwight Howard court China so publicly. The big man dropped by Beijing earlier this month for an Adidas promo tour and made time to be as zany as his public demands. First up, he went planking in Ditan Park. If you don’t know what planking is, then you probably aren’t using the Internet correctly. Dwight stepped up his planking war with Gilbert Arenas (photos of that here) with his Adidas-related super plank in Beijing. Thanks to Fox Sports Florida for spreading some sunshine on that for us. Dwight also found time to make a fan’s life a little brighter with a kiss. OK, he was only on the receiving end but he’s 6’11” so he could have stopped it. Just saying.
NBA players could take a leaf out of Yao Ming’s book and decide to go back to school. The Shanghai Sharks owner revealed that hitting the books is an option he's considering. He also revealed that he has put on weight since retiring and that he has been deaf in his left ear since a childhood fever. If you found that interesting, there’s more to be read here.
You will no doubt all know that Liu Xiang was a victim of some hand-to-hand combat at the recent World Championships. Liu and the other fastest hurdler, Dayron Robles, were assigned adjoining lanes in the 110m hurdles final. The Cuban managed to manhandle the Chinese hurdler a couple of times toward the end of the race. Liu responded to the disappointment in a very mature manner, with China Sports Today pointing out that he even joked about it:
"Setting a new world record is one of my goals. And the current world record is held by the guy with whom I ran hand-in-hand."
There’s much more comment here on the most exciting hand holding since Beatlemania.
Coach Camacho’s start to China’s World Cup Qualifying campaign has not been all smooth sailing. A 1-0 win over Singapore was followed by a 2-1 loss to Jordan, plus calls for more Chinese-Spanish translators. Jordan top Group A with China and Iraq level on one win apiece. Team China need to finish in the top two of the group to get to the next stage of qualification for Brazil. China play Iraq on October 11.
The future of Chinese football will take their first steps into their Portuguese experience later this month. Twenty-four youth players will be placed at second- and third-tier Portuguese clubs to develop as part of the Future Star program.
More football news: China’s women will not be going to the Olympics. They lost to Australia last week; while qualification remained a mathematical possibility, it would have required a huge win over final opponents Japan and other results to go the Steel Roses’ way. It mattered not as Japan beat China 1-0 in Jinan on Sunday to top the group and leave their hosts grounded next summer.
Snooker star Ding Junhui has made the headlines for his private life rather than crashing out of the Shanghai Masters. The portly potter revealed that he has a girlfriend. Well done, him. That’s a sentiment echoed by snooker supremo Barry Hearn, who said:
“The game of snooker is a totally mental one. You need to relax a little bit after putting up the cue. You need another area of life which you find rewarding. I am sure he is very happy with his new young lady. I am sure his enjoyment of life will make him a better player.”
We’re not so sure Hearn was as pleased with Ding’s decision not to go to the upcoming Brazil tournament. Ding’s reason: "It's just an exhibition match without ranking points. I feel it would be a waste of time to go over there and I won't get what I want."
The China Open starts next week. Newly crowned US Open champ Novak Djokovic will be there to defend his Beijing crown. Tickets are available here.
The Rugby World Cup is well underway. Here’s where to go when you skip out of work.
And finally, the ninth National Ethnic Games are underway in Guiyang. Here’s a photo from the single bamboo drifting event.
Photos: China Daily, Fox Sports Florida & China Daily
