ao Ming is enormous both of stature and newsworthiness, especially so upon his home continent, Asia, and in his homeland, China. Throw him up against another Chinese giant, Milwaukee rookie forward Yi Jianlian, and the entertainment value rockets incrementally.
Friday's first NBA regular season meeting of Yao and Yi, in Houston, drew the sort of diplomatic delegations and foreign media coverage usually afforded visiting heads of state. If that were to have been the case, though, the television viewership back home would hardly have matched this one for numbers or hoop-la.
Estimates of such ratings are notoriously hit-and-miss. But the TV types were still saying that the Rockets-Bucks game attracted some 200 million viewers in China, a staggering number when one considers that last Sunday's much-hyped New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL telecast drew an audience of "only" 34 million.
How many of those 200 mil' could find Milwaukee on a map if you spotted them the American Midwest, let alone Wisconsin, is debatable. But the presence of two such stars – the vet outplayed the rook in a 104-88 Houston victory but still said "he may be better than me" – certainly entrenches the NBA on the global map, well ahead of the other North American leagues that appear increasingly committed to extending their brands' reach.
Much, much more is to come from Yao and Yi, especially with the Beijing Olympics looming. Having just returned from a few days in Hong Kong, your correspondent can attest to the buzz growing in that part of the world about the Games and about the NBA.
AND FURTHERMORE: Dennis Miller, who used to crack wise on Monday Night Football, has a new cable show on which he made this observation: "The next big sport will involve tiny dwarfs strapped to the backs of rabid hyenas on a slowly moving river barge." Can hardly wait. ... Football is "not a violent game," says defensive end Michael Strahan of the New York Giants. "It's controlled aggression." Operative word, controlled. ... The NFL continues to crack down on helmet-to-helmet hits, instructing officials to eject players, while also imposing severe fines. If it is really serious about cutting down on its own head-hit problems, the NHL should follow suit. ... How to stop the New England Patriots, if only temporarily – give them a bye week. ... At the rate they are going, shouldn't the St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins, both winless, be required to meet in some sort of playoff, loser take all? ... The major league baseball team in Tampa Bay, the one that habitually finishes last in the AL East, has dropped the "Devil" from its nickname. Think exorcism. ... Before the NBA club had won its first game of the season, one Chicago newspaper headlined the Bulls' winless start through four games this way: "0-4 heaven's sake." ... Eric Lindros in the Hockey Hall of Fame? Yes. ... Two of the NBA markets that are supposed to be gold-plated, Indianapolis and Philadelphia, are struggling mightily to fill seats so far this season. ... Love him or hate him, boo him or cheer him, Bryan McCabe is crucial to the Leafs' fortunes this season. ... The points spread in all but three of today's 13 NFL games is four points or less. Flip a coin? ... The Jays shouldn't deal A. J. Burnett, unless they get an overwhelming offer. He's going to stay healthy one of these years, maybe even the next one. ... Derek Jeter says his former manager, Joe Torre, now with the Dodgers has "always been sort of Hollywood anyway." Is that a good thing?
No comments:
Post a Comment