Yi Jianlian: So hot right now in China

November 6th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanR

The story of Yi Jianlian is one that has yet to tire in my mind. The guy showed up at the Pirates of the Caribbean 3 premiere before he was even drafted; clearly, he knows the way to fame and success in the States starts and ends at Disney rides turned blockbuster movies staring Johnny Depp red carpet events. Then Milwaukee drafted him, he and his handlers weren’t sure if that was a great fit because there weren’t enough Chinese groupies to go around in the FINE CITY OF MILWAUKEE YOU POMPOUS EAST COAST REPORTER.

So, I’d say it’s a fair assumption that he’s not quite the darling in Bucks fans’ eyes. (Even though he dropped 16 on the Bulls the other night.) But let’s not forget: he’s still a hit in his native land. His first game televised in China — the aforementioned Bulls game — notched 100 million viewers.

And when Yao and Yi match up on Friday? Oh baby.

It [Yao vs. Yi] will be big back at home,” Yi said last week before the Bucks played the Magic in Orlando. “It will be fun. People will be watching.”

According to an NBA spokesperson, three national television stations will be in Houston to broadcast the game, along with an estimated 10-15 foreign print journalists, who already are in the country advancing the game. The NBA is hosting its own viewing party Friday night (which will be Saturday morning in China) in Beijing.

None of this should come as a surprise, considering how basketball interest has grown in the world’s most populous country. NBA weekly telecasts last season in China averaged 34 million viewers, spanning 51 TV partners through the country. Commissioner David Stern had made it a priority to grow basketball there.

This should have been Milwaukee’s strategy all along: if you can’t win over the hearts and minds of the American basketball public, move on to China. I salute you and yours, Yi Jianlian.

{Via the Bratwurst.}

Also: If anyone out there wants to watch, we were mentioned on the latest edition of Bleacher Bloggers for the Becks-Snoop post from last week.

Yao got served

November 23rd, 2006 | Posted by PostmanE

I heard about this clip a day or two ago, searched for it frantically, and for some reason didn’t come across it. Until now, that is, fully entrenched in my post-Thanksgiving, family-avoiding, food coma-induced internet wanderings. But here we are. Clip and me. Happy, free.

This is Nate Robinson, one of the shorter humans in the NBA blocking Yao Ming, one of the, um, larger. For all my bluster about Yao last week, it’s Youtube moments like this - and like this, and this - that stick in fans’ heads, cementing the notion that dude isn’t a dominator, even though he is.

Anyway, look at little N-Robs! He’s so tiny! Weeeee!

Case of the Mondays: Bears, Bears, Bears

November 13th, 2006 | Posted by PostmanE

Bears…phew

How about the Cardiac Bears? The Chi-town Stroke-Inducers? The team that either dominates or barely wins after a sustained period of seeming collapse?

None too catchy, I suppose.

We need to start brainstorming a name. Granted, last night’s 38-20 win wasn’t necessarily heart attack-worthy, but it did cause yours truly - and surely, a legion of Bears fans - to wonder why every year so much potential was squandered with relative mediocrity.

But, alas, the Bears pulled out a win, thanks to Devin Hester’s trickery and a resurgent second half offense. And do the Bears have a name for the 108 yard kickoff return play? Because, like us for them, they need a name for it.

NBA:

The Rockets - thanks to Yao’s surge (finally) - took down the Heat. Essential carbon copies of each other, perhaps the Rockets are the new blood. The Heat certainly look sluggish … old even.

Awkward. That’s the best way to describe Vince Carter’s overtime-forcing three that just sort of, um, fell in to the hoop last night. His quote, on whether the old ball would have gone in:

“If it would’ve hit like that? Heck no. No way.”

Well, that settles that. Thanks David Stern!

College Football

Check out that dateline. Stewart was in town this week! Anyway, he witnessed a Michigan beatdown that effectively set up Saturday’s OSU-UMICH Footballgasm. Until then, we can talk about the BCS, a strange beast if ever there was one.

Say peace to: Texas, California, Auburn, and any chance Tennessee had, which wasn’t much of a chance at all. Will it be Rutgers, or Arkansas, or someone else taking that Big Ten title game winner? Only time will tell.