Talking Balls: CSL Madness, CBA Badness, Le Sulk's Gladness & Yet More Jeremy Lin

Another week and another deluge of Jeremy Lin coverage. It's about time that you became a fan as he's going to be the subject of a lot of column inches for the foreseeable future. You can say what you want about the boy (and some people notably have) but he's got people talking about the Knicks for the first time since Patrick Ewing. Here are some of the Lin stories from the last week: China Sports Review wonder whether he's on CCTV enough, the Guardian get their right-on knickers in a twist on behalf of Asian Americans and China Daily have wrapped up all of the coverage on Jeremy Lin ever (and it is in Comic Sans).

J-Lin has been joined at the Knicks by J.R. Smith, formerly of the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, who signed as a free agent after skipping the CBA All-Star game. Smith said:

"I didn't see a full game, I saw all the YouTube highlights. Just watching him play, it was crazy. He really inspires a lot of people around here and a lot of people around the world. He is definitely a person that people can look up to. When you hear his story it gives you hope for anything."

Going back to the CBA's All-Stars. Deary me. Some of the handling in the recent showpiece game was more accustomed to what happens to your bags after you check-in at the airport. There's a video of that, alongside some of the most unsuccessful passes since the Elephant Man jumped the fence at the Playboy Mansion, below. A modern high-five to Beijing Cream for highlighting the video.

To football and the CSL. Nicolas Anelka, who may or may not be here for the Beckham Effect, scored less than a minute into his Shanghai Shenhua debut. The Blues' other new boy, Joel Griffiths, also got off the mark. Shenhua will be joined in Shanghai by Shenxin. The new team were known as Nanchang Hengyuan until a day or two ago. In addition to neither the teams nor the schedule being confirmed, there's now trouble with some clubs' stadiums. Only in China, as they say.

In better news for football fans, maybe the most exciting part of pre-season is upon us. The new kits have been leaked. Brandon Chemers, Our Man In Guoan, has posted all about them here. A footballer's goal celebration to Wild East Football, as ever, for their sterling work.

Keeping it local, there are some things that may be interesting to go and watch this weekend. The highlight is undoubtedly the snowboarding in a shopping mall festival that is the Nike Snow Jam Finals. They take place at Solana on Saturday at 11am. If that's not daredevil enough for you then try the GoldenPort GT Drift competition on Sunday. The motorsport revs up from 9am.

And finally, the portly potter, Ding Junhui, has developed a fondness for fruit, and apple in particular. Actually, that should be Apple. It's the name of his girlfriend. He revealed the relationship after becoming Asia's best ever snooker player by claiming the Welsh Open.

"Apple gives me a lot of help in daily life. She's been taking care of me, making dishes and encouraging me to train every day"

Please insert your own Apple joke. Enjoy your weekend.

Image: Freakonomics