From Deseret News archives:
Hoops stars draw whoops in China
"Ooh, USA-Russia basketball match," said the young man, with the English name of "Dalton" on his name tag. "Kobe Bryant, LeBron James ...."
When reminded there were several members of the Utah Jazz playing the game, there was little hesitation in his response.
"Yes, Boocher," said Dalton, mispronouncing Carlos Boozer's name, "and Deron Williams."
And for Russia? That one took a bit of thinking, but only for a couple of seconds.
"Oh, yes, Kirilenko — AK-47," said Dalton, well aware of Andrei Kirilenko's nickname.
Yes, a half world away from Salt Lake City and EnergySolutions Arena, the Jazz trio of Kirilenko, Williams and Boozer are known, recognized and appreciated.
Sunday's contest was the first of the two Toyota International Challenge games for Team USA in Shanghai, the largest city in the People's Republic of China. Next up for the Americans is a Tuesday game against Australia, headlined by another name with Utah ties — former University of Utah star Andrew Bogut, who recently signed a new mega-deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
All the games are warm-ups to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Summer Games, some 900 miles away. The Summer Games kick off with Friday night's opening ceremonies, with men's basketball preliminary pool play starting Sunday.
The 14,523-seat Qinzhong Arena, which is an hourlong taxi ride southwest from central Shanghai, served as the world's hotbed of hoops for a rain-soaked Sunday afternoon, as if NBA basketball and Chinese culture got thrown together in a wok of major proportions.
Ticket scalpers started flagging down potential buyers more than a mile from the arena. Tickets sold online from $20 to $500 each, but in a country known for its knock-offs of jade and pearls, watches and clothes and where currency is vigilantly scrutinized at every transaction, who knew if what was being waved around by the scalpers was legit or not.
Announcements and play highlights were made over the public-address system in both English and Chinese, with a strong showing of international fans at the sold-out game.
Many fans sported inflatable "Thunder-sticks," and plenty knew enough to start chanting "M-V-P! M-V-P!" when Bryant lined up for free throws early in the contest.
More mix-and-match during the game: Four 10-minute quarters, a trapezoid lane and all the other trappings of international basketball; coverage by China's sports network; Chinese cheerleaders performing.
