Talking Balls: Begging, Choosing & Not Losing

Jonathan White | Jul 22, 2011 4:00 pm | 3 comments | 2463 reads

The saddest story of the week – and one that raises questions of the Chinese sports system – is that of former-gymnast Zhang Shangwu. A double gold medal winner at the Universiade, he suffered a career-ending injury and eventually ended up on the street. From Olympic hopeful to beggar by the age of 28, Zhang’s life is a far cry from Yao retiring from basketball.

This week one notable career has ended - more on that shortly – but you could help kickstart several others. The Beijing Australian Football League are hosting a quiz night at Frank’s Place next Saturday (July 30) to raise funds to send the Chinese National AFL team to Australia for the 2011 International Cup. It’ll cost RMB 50 per person and starts at 6.30pm. Teams of 4-8 are welcome – RSVP to beijingfooty@yahoo.com before the 28th.

Yao Ming’s retirement will not spell the end of the NBA in China says China Sports Review but the salary impasse might. Even if that does derail the NBA season it might be in the interests of Chinese basketball fans. Dwight Howard has said that he would consider playing in China next season if there was no NBA. Dwayne Wade is already coming over here but it’s not to play. The Jordan brand athlete is coming to see "where the magic happens" for MJ’s kicks. He added "I want to go meet those people. I want to go over there and shake their hands and show them my appreciation, thank you, for doing it, for their talents." We suspect Mr. Wade has not been given the factory tour before.

Yi Jianlian is China’s only presence in the NBA right now but he’s making a rare appearance for Team China in the 2011 Stankovic Continental Cup.

Chinese divers winning gold medals is nothing new but there are now two new names on that list. Huo Liang and Qiu Bo took the men’s 10m platform crown at the World Championships in Shanghai. Not bad for an eighteen and twenty-one year-old.

Still on the comeback trail, Liu Xiang may have changed his run up but he has not changed his winning ways. The hurdler took gold at the Asian Athletics Championship – in a champ records 13.22 seconds.

Flag football, courtesy of the kids at Mashup, begins again tomorrow (Sat, 23). If you’re not going to the Beijinger Beer Festival then you can find the game at pitch 12 Chaoyang Park’s East Gate (the one with the huge Shaq statue) from 1.30-3.30pm

The Mellowparks.cn crew held Jibfest last week. Well done to them for the summer snowboarding and well done to winners Liu Li and Zhu Hong.

Finally, the Rodeo is coming to China. You may have already heard about the impending controversy of the cowboy-themed sports event at the Bird’s Nest over animal rights but you won’t have read a quote from Stormy Havens. Havens, 19, is an ambassador for the event says “I'm really excited to show them the 4-H culture.” The them is us and anyone with a name that good can show us what 4-H is anytime.

Photo: NineMSN.com

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merri0's picture merri0 Submitted by Guest on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 00:39

Rodeo? Are you f*cking serious?

According to the spokesman of China Rodeo re: accusations from groups that China was importing "trashy American culture":

"These Chinese protesters are being funded by US animal rights groups, some of whom are totally fanatical. And how can they look down upon rodeo culture as rubbish? You cannot say another country's culture is rubbish."

Actually, you can. And the rodeo is not only rubbish, but it makes a spectacle of animal abuse. The difference between this and carting dehydrated dogs down the highway is what? The price of admission?

Here's hoping this venture fails utterly.

admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Sat, 07/23/2011 - 13:03

8888eight wrote:
This is not NEW to China...it happens all over the world and in may developed counties like the US and Canada. Tons of people left penniless and homeless after having sports recognition and careers. Big deal.

thing is that in canada and the US they tend to have had at least a basic education in something aside from sports.

Not so true here, where athletes go to special schools that train them for no other career than athlete

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20

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