Sunday we flew down early from Beijing, excited to see famous names Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and others of the US Olympic teams make their stamp in their Shanghai exhibition game against Russia, another strong team with players like Kirilenko already NBA teammates with the Americans.After checking into our hotel and eating a quick lunch of famous Shanghai xiaolongbao (tiny meat & shrimp dumplings with a spoonful of soup broth inside), we headed out to the suburban neighborhood of the Qizhong Tennis Stadium, site of the game. This stadium was designed by a Japanese architectural firm and completed in August 2005. It has a unique “peony” roof that has eight panels that, when open, resembles a tree peony flower in bloom. (See http://www.mdolla.com/2008/01/mitsuru-senda-shanghai-qizhong-forest.html for photo of open roof.) In fact, after closing the roof the first time city leaders decided to keep the roof closed as they feared an unforeseen jamming of the roof would be a logistical nightmare.
Weather websites had indicated heavy rains in Shanghai. Our arrival was in grey but clear skies and as we and many taxis and private cars travelled the hour-long path to the stadium, the skies increasingly grew darker. In the midst of factories and low-lying farmland, orderly boulevards led us to the arena which, 2 hours before game time, already started being congested. Sidewalks were filled with men fanning 100 Yuan notes in the hopes of buying tickets. Others fanned tickets, trying to make sales. Vendors plopped posters of Kobe, Dwayne and other US team members on the streets to sell to eager Chinese. No Russian posters, I observed! Kobe and LeBron sports shirts adorned numerous young Chinese on the streets. We met our friend, a consultant to Ticketmaster, and our host for the event, and got our tickets and proceeded to the entry gates. Security was tight; guards did not let us enter another gate with Debbie despite our VIP tickets since we did not have the appropriate security i.d. No matter, but as we stood in line to go through the security line (scanners for bags and guards checking authenticity of tickets), the heavens opened up with a huge DUMP of rain! Instantly lines 25 deep swarmed to crowd under a 2-foot tent overhang under which the scanners stood. My little pocket umbrella brought me new Dutch, Chinese, and Spanish “friends” as we all tried not to get drenched.
The poor models in hot pants and red haltertops, touting the fancy sponsorship Lexus cars at the entrance bravely smiled in the rain as people ran past in search of shelter. Once inside, there was a hum as people searching for their seats squirmed through crowds either shooting baskets at various booths or buying plastic fingers and food. Buzzing became louder as word spread that teams were on the floor practicing and humans streamed towards gates.
Our host was great and welcomed us to the skybox. Great seats! No nosebleeds! She led kids down to stand right next to the floor to photograph players like Dwight Howard and Chris Bosch shoot; I. even got a LeBron James' stuff!
In the matter of “It’s a small world”, I was asking our host what the relationship was between Ticketmaster and Emma.com, one of the first online ticket websites in China, when the creator of Emma.com, appeared. Now, when we first moved to Beijing in 2007 his mother visited him in Beijing and called me, as she was a close and dear friend of our good friend and neighbor back home. We had lunch and I heard all about her son's venture. And then it turns out his dream came true; he sold Emma.com to Ticketmaster, and our host, my husband's good friend from USC among other places, came to China as Ticketmaster’s consultant. Truly, it’s a small world!
Now, about the game. I am no sportscaster and I cannot describe it play by play. The Americans won 89-68 with LeBron James and Russian Bikov fouling out late in the 4th quarter. But, various things stood out to me. First, this current Olympic men’s team differs in style and makeup from that of 2004. The US team coaches on the floor were all university coaches (but one) led by Coach K of Duke. My seatmate from the Shanghai American Consulate, a BIG basketball lover, during the game would cite plays as a Duke play or as a Syracuse play as the game unfolded. Praises came from those in the know for a US team that worked well together and really wanted the gold. The Russians were a tough opponent. They did not go down easily, but by the third quarter, after an initial half-time rally, they could not face down fast breaks or 2 stuffs from the US. Second, this Chinese crowd liked both teams, but definitely favored the US more. Chants of “Kobe! Kobe!” Or “MVP, MVP” at the end came from the overwhelmingly Chinese crowd. (Although there was a 3-person expat “USA, USA” somewhat drunken cheer in the fourth quarter!) Third, Chinese cheerleaders still can’t begin to compare to good ol’ American cheerleaders, who strut, dance and bend their way through routines with pole-dancing creativity and ease. The pretty, thin Chinese dancers still can’t quite seem to get the beat, and their “hoe-down” country song routine was quite amusing. Finally, America’s great contribution to sporting events (besides beer?) seems to be “the Wave”, as the organizer tried to lead the arena in a wave practice during an intermission studded with silly sponsor games. And, in comparison to the crowd at the Beijing Bird’s Nest (National Stadium) qualifying track and field event I attended in May, this crowd learned well! I anticipate better and better attempts at the Wave in future Olympic events.
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