As the Olympic Games pick up more speed, the global sports community has already witnessed some incredible and unforgettable instant classics, such as the men's swimming 4x100meter relay. Other notable moments include a friendly embrace of a Russian and a Georgian athlete before taking the medal podium while their two nations were at war (by the way, shame on Russia for instigating a conflict and invading during the Olympics), the incredibly significant matchup of the United States and China, led by host country flag-bearer Yao Ming, on the basketball court, and the U.S. men's volleyball team's emotional victory after the leave of their coach, necessitated by a heartless ambush of his wife and parents-in-law in Beijing.
More exciting moments are sure to come, since some of the more popular events like track and field and table tennis are still to come. What? I'm the only one that likes table tennis? Okay, fine by me, I'll enjoy it by myself. Anyways, at this point, the United States leads the overall medal count with 22, but China is by far in front in the gold medal race with 13, even though they only have 20 total medals. The U.S. is second in the gold count with 7 golds, and South Korea is third with 5, and also third in the total count with 12. The all-out dominance by China in gold medals testifies to their intensity in striving for perfection. Other medals almost seem to be unacceptable for some athletes, such as the men's gymnastics team, who were expected to dazzle with their uncomparable attention to detail and precision (and they certainly followed through). Other events for the host country feature athletes or teams which aren't expected of much, but who still have turned in good performances. A good example of this is the men's water polo team, who almost stunned Team U.S.A., holding them to a 6-6 tie until the last quarter of play. All in all, China has much to be proud of; their hosting of these events has been exceptional so far, and the events themselves have been memorable.
As some sports begin to end and award medals to the winners, the medal count may reflect the transition to other sports. China has gone 3 for 3 in diving competitions, and the United States obviously has a grasp on many of the swimming medals with studs like Michael Phelps in the pool. Look for Australia, who is currently fourth in the overall medal count with 10, to fall down the list a bit once swimming culminates. And, at the same time, be prepared to view some countries rise on the medal count list once track and field competition picks up. This is an exciting time in Beijing, when certain sports are finally reaching the medal rounds and others are just beginning!
Showing posts with label China. Show all posts
Showing posts with label China. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
WSPN Beijing 2008: Basketball - United States vs. China (Preliminaries)
10:03 AM - NBC's Jim Lampley says that this game might be the most watched basketball game in the world. Of all time. Epic indeed.
10:06 AM - This was supposedly the toughest ticket to get at the games. And it's a first round match. That's saying a lot.
10:09 AM - Yao Ming is the centerpiece for Team China.
10:11 AM - Yao's flag-bearing march with the heroic young survivor of the Sichuan earthquake a third his size is a touching image which will live on in history for a long time.
10:14 AM - This is Coach K's 500th international game as coach! The milestones are making this game all the more incredible.
10:15 AM - President Bush is sitting next to the Chinese Foreign Minister in the stands. A good gesture for international cooperation....let's see if these same feelings are shared on the court.
10:16 AM - The crowd is really loud and into it. TIP OFF!!! U.S. forfeits possession right away.
10:17 AM - Yao freaking hits a three! Yes that's right. A 7'6 center hits a three to start the game. Not a good sign of things to come for the defense-deficient United States team.
10:18 AM - The intensity is high. Turnovers abound. Three in a row now, culminated by a Dwight Howard jam on a fastbreak.
10:19 AM - Sun Yu Wei (new Lakers signee) hits a three for China. Howard responds by hitting a layup, yet missing the corresponding free throw for the foul.
10:20 AM - Lebron charges down the court and gets a three point play. Yao has his first foul...this is crucial.
10:21 AM - These Chinese are just owning the three ball. This game is so incredibly fast-paced and exciting. A good change of pace (no pun intended) from the NBA.
10:22 AM - Subs in for the first time for both teams. 11-9 China. Both teams have about 6 turnovers each. No lie.
10:24 AM - First timeout, with China leading...and they say China isn't even a medal contender. Come on "Redeem Team", let's go!
10:26 AM - Lebron has a nice one-handed slam. The fastbreak is the U.S.'s best weapon so far. Kobe hits a three! Okay, now we are starting to gain some poise and momentum. Three point lead. Wade gets a steal and adds another layup. The announcers are right, the Chinese have little depth.
10:27 AM - Li Wei hits another three for China. They are 4 of 4. The threes are the great equalizer.
10:28 AM - Momentum back to China as the fans are incredibly into it. Game is tied 16-16.
10:30 AM - This game is seriously so exciting. And this is coming from a guy that never watches the NBA at all. I'm liking this international intensity. I can sense that both sides feel it's all on the line.
10:32 AM - Dwyane Wade hits two free throws to give the States a two point lead. China seems to use up the shot clock on every possesion. Maybe they're trying to shorten the game.
10:34 AM - Timeout as the U.S. has the last possession of the first. It will have to be Laettner-esque...there are only 2 seconds remaining.
10:35 AM - The first quarter ends as the score is U.S. 20, China 16. Still anything can happen at this juncture.
10:38 AM - The second quarter begins. The Chinese hit a three yet AGAIN. They are 5 of 7 for three point land now.
10:39 AM - And the U.S. is about 7 of 7 on dunks as Wade throws in a two-handed reverse. Our guys can really take it to the basket.
10:40 AM - We have been pretty clutch at the charity stripe so far. 24-21 lead for the States now.
10;41 AM - Okay this is seriously incredible. Lebron just snatched the ball out of the air with a block and chucked it down to Wade who threw it down. The back-and-forth tempo is really taking its toll on China.
10:42 AM - China is staying in the game with the 3-pointer, but their depth can't match the team of NBA all-stars.
10:44 AM - Yao with a skyhook brings China to only a three point defiicit, 29-26.
10:45 AM - Sun Yu Wei hits yet ANOTHER three. They are an incredible 7 of 11. 29-29! Deron Williams misses a three. I think we are more like 3 of 11.
10:46 AM - Bosh gets a nice offensive rebound and puts home another dunk to put the U.S. up 31-29.
10:47 AM - Kobe rushes down and takes it to the rim. Wow! Steal and he just did it again! 6 straight points in just thirty seconds. 35-29 United States lead. Probably 24 of those points have come on dunks.
10:49 AM - These Chinese guys are ROBOTS! Another three. 35-32 U.S.
10:50 AM - Just as the three keeps China in the game, the fastbreak keeps distancing the U.S. Lebron hits a layup and the refs call an intentional foul on Yi Jianlian. The U.S.'s free possession nets nothing.
10:52 AM - Bosh with a layup in the post. Yi misses a three. This game might be starting to get out of hand. Amazing fastbreak leads to a Lebron-Wade alley oop tandem followed by a missed free throw. U.S. up by nine. Okay eleven...the full court press is really killing China. A 16-3 run.
10:54 AM - Yao hits a couple of free throws. Yet five seconds later the U.S. is already down the court and hits another fastbreak layup. 49-36 United States lead.
10:56 AM - China holds on for the last possession and Li Wei draws a foul off of Lebron. Only a few seconds to go.
10:57 AM - Li Wei hits one of two. 3.7 seconds to go. During the timeout, the camera shows the entire U.S. womens basketball team in attendance. It's awesome the support that U.S. athletes show each other. They're all in it together for country.
10:59 AM - Halftime begins. The United States have a solid lead, 49-37, with a good deal of the momentum. Another similar half will be sure to seal victory for the U.S. team.
11:02 AM - Back to the studio. Lebron has 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Very well-rounded, and great for the team's leader. Yao has 7 points for Team China.
11:03 AM - A recap is shown of Michael Phelps amazing 400 IM victory and world record at the Water Cube yesterday.
11:05 AM - Highlights of the U.S. mens soccer team's tie with Netherlands. Yes, a TIE AGAINST THE DUTCH!!! Now, all they need is a tie or win against Nigeria to advance. Too bad they gave up a goal in the 93rd minute to lose the victory against the Netherlands to clinch that berth.
11:09 AM - A nice story about the growing passion and fever of basketball in China, all created by Yao as an ambassador of the game. Sales of Yao's jersey are only 6th however in China. This shows the respect the Chinese have for the NBA and American basketball. This piece really puts a spotlight on how significant this U.S.-China game is.
11:15 AM - Back to the game. The U.S. is 1 of 12 from downtown, but they own down low, and now have a 51-37 lead.
11:16 AM - The announcers seem to hate on the refs for no specific reason.
11:17 AM - Yi with an incredible and powerful tip-in slam to narrow the States' lead to 51-39.
11:18 AM - Carmelo picks up a foul, it's Yao's second. 5 fouls is a foul-out in the international game. Making Yao foul out isn't too big of a priority with this lead now.
11:19 AM - Wow! China missed two threes in a row! Sign of the apocalypse.
11:20 AM - Sun Yu Wei with a beautiful block on the other end. China's ensuing possession nets another offensive rebound, yet a turnover. The 11th for China.
11:21 AM - This is starting to become a mixtape show for Lebron around the rim. 54-39 United States with many of those points coming as easy baskets or slams.
11:23 AM - China's three point magic is gone. A missed open three. Most definitely the culprit is fatigue.
11:24 AM - Yao gets to the line to pick up his 8th and 9th points. 56-41 U.S. now.
11:25 AM - Paul misses a three yet Chris Bosh gets another offensive rebound and puts it home. Another turover by China leads to another fastbreak. This a game of "anothers".
11:26 AM - Two Chinese free throws narrow the still-wide States' lead to 60-45.
11:27 AM - Lebron hits a three! Our second one today. It could be an early dagger. 63-45. Lebron is truly leading this team.
11:29 AM - Kobe to Wade who hits an acrobatic lay up. Anything the Chinese can do just doesn't matchup to the Americans' impeccable raw skill. 68-48 U.S.
11:30 AM - Bosh has made a nice prescence underneath the basket as he draws a foul. He has 9 points now after hitting a free throw. 21 point lead.
11:32 AM - Another fastbreak dunk, this time by Kobe...this game is starting to become a runaway. 72-48 now U.S.
11:33 AM - Steal and corrseponding dunk by Wade to increase the lead to 26 as the third quarter ends. 25-11 U.S. in that quarter. The game is certainly over. 74-48 United States over China.
11:36 AM - Fourth quarter begins. Let's see if China can get some momentum running for their next game.
11:38 AM - This time is also crucial game time for some of the U.S. reserves that don't typically get many minutes. Yet they have to be ready in case of injury or foul-outs down the line in the tournament.
11:40 AM - Yao's third foul as Deron Williams hits two free throws to expand the United States' lead to 79-50.
11:41 AM - President Bush is leaving the venue. You mean to tell me he has more important business than watching this game? Really? Come on.
11:43 AM - A dunk for Yao as he jumps off the ground about an inch. Michael Redd responds with a three, making the United States' lead 87-52.
11:46 AM - Little action has occurred recently as China calls a timeout. 89-54 United States.
11:48 AM - Yi completes his attempt at a three point play. About four minutes to go in the final quarter.
11:50 AM - Deron Williams has had a pretty good game off of the bench in his first Olympic game. 91-64 as Boozer picks up a foul and heads to the line.
11:52 AM - The Chinese fans are still into it when Team China does somthing well. This game means a lot more than a win or a loss to them.
11:53 AM - Chris Paul knocks down a three to make the score 98-66 in the U.S.'s favor. Maybe they'll get to triple digits?
11:54 AM - Michael Redd hits a three to give the U.S. a 33 point lead.
11:55 AM - The game ends with a resounding victory for the United States. Final score: U.S. 101, China 70. This is the culmination of much anticipation and both teams have reason to be very proud. The Chinese fans surely show their appreciation.
11:56 AM - This U.S. team certainly looks to be the one to return to the gold medal podium with this great start. They have a day to rest and then they get after it against Angola on Tuesday. USA! USA! USA!
10:06 AM - This was supposedly the toughest ticket to get at the games. And it's a first round match. That's saying a lot.
10:09 AM - Yao Ming is the centerpiece for Team China.
10:11 AM - Yao's flag-bearing march with the heroic young survivor of the Sichuan earthquake a third his size is a touching image which will live on in history for a long time.
10:14 AM - This is Coach K's 500th international game as coach! The milestones are making this game all the more incredible.
10:15 AM - President Bush is sitting next to the Chinese Foreign Minister in the stands. A good gesture for international cooperation....let's see if these same feelings are shared on the court.
10:16 AM - The crowd is really loud and into it. TIP OFF!!! U.S. forfeits possession right away.
10:17 AM - Yao freaking hits a three! Yes that's right. A 7'6 center hits a three to start the game. Not a good sign of things to come for the defense-deficient United States team.
10:18 AM - The intensity is high. Turnovers abound. Three in a row now, culminated by a Dwight Howard jam on a fastbreak.
10:19 AM - Sun Yu Wei (new Lakers signee) hits a three for China. Howard responds by hitting a layup, yet missing the corresponding free throw for the foul.
10:20 AM - Lebron charges down the court and gets a three point play. Yao has his first foul...this is crucial.
10:21 AM - These Chinese are just owning the three ball. This game is so incredibly fast-paced and exciting. A good change of pace (no pun intended) from the NBA.
10:22 AM - Subs in for the first time for both teams. 11-9 China. Both teams have about 6 turnovers each. No lie.
10:24 AM - First timeout, with China leading...and they say China isn't even a medal contender. Come on "Redeem Team", let's go!
10:26 AM - Lebron has a nice one-handed slam. The fastbreak is the U.S.'s best weapon so far. Kobe hits a three! Okay, now we are starting to gain some poise and momentum. Three point lead. Wade gets a steal and adds another layup. The announcers are right, the Chinese have little depth.
10:27 AM - Li Wei hits another three for China. They are 4 of 4. The threes are the great equalizer.
10:28 AM - Momentum back to China as the fans are incredibly into it. Game is tied 16-16.
10:30 AM - This game is seriously so exciting. And this is coming from a guy that never watches the NBA at all. I'm liking this international intensity. I can sense that both sides feel it's all on the line.
10:32 AM - Dwyane Wade hits two free throws to give the States a two point lead. China seems to use up the shot clock on every possesion. Maybe they're trying to shorten the game.
10:34 AM - Timeout as the U.S. has the last possession of the first. It will have to be Laettner-esque...there are only 2 seconds remaining.
10:35 AM - The first quarter ends as the score is U.S. 20, China 16. Still anything can happen at this juncture.
10:38 AM - The second quarter begins. The Chinese hit a three yet AGAIN. They are 5 of 7 for three point land now.
10:39 AM - And the U.S. is about 7 of 7 on dunks as Wade throws in a two-handed reverse. Our guys can really take it to the basket.
10:40 AM - We have been pretty clutch at the charity stripe so far. 24-21 lead for the States now.
10;41 AM - Okay this is seriously incredible. Lebron just snatched the ball out of the air with a block and chucked it down to Wade who threw it down. The back-and-forth tempo is really taking its toll on China.
10:42 AM - China is staying in the game with the 3-pointer, but their depth can't match the team of NBA all-stars.
10:44 AM - Yao with a skyhook brings China to only a three point defiicit, 29-26.
10:45 AM - Sun Yu Wei hits yet ANOTHER three. They are an incredible 7 of 11. 29-29! Deron Williams misses a three. I think we are more like 3 of 11.
10:46 AM - Bosh gets a nice offensive rebound and puts home another dunk to put the U.S. up 31-29.
10:47 AM - Kobe rushes down and takes it to the rim. Wow! Steal and he just did it again! 6 straight points in just thirty seconds. 35-29 United States lead. Probably 24 of those points have come on dunks.
10:49 AM - These Chinese guys are ROBOTS! Another three. 35-32 U.S.
10:50 AM - Just as the three keeps China in the game, the fastbreak keeps distancing the U.S. Lebron hits a layup and the refs call an intentional foul on Yi Jianlian. The U.S.'s free possession nets nothing.
10:52 AM - Bosh with a layup in the post. Yi misses a three. This game might be starting to get out of hand. Amazing fastbreak leads to a Lebron-Wade alley oop tandem followed by a missed free throw. U.S. up by nine. Okay eleven...the full court press is really killing China. A 16-3 run.
10:54 AM - Yao hits a couple of free throws. Yet five seconds later the U.S. is already down the court and hits another fastbreak layup. 49-36 United States lead.
10:56 AM - China holds on for the last possession and Li Wei draws a foul off of Lebron. Only a few seconds to go.
10:57 AM - Li Wei hits one of two. 3.7 seconds to go. During the timeout, the camera shows the entire U.S. womens basketball team in attendance. It's awesome the support that U.S. athletes show each other. They're all in it together for country.
10:59 AM - Halftime begins. The United States have a solid lead, 49-37, with a good deal of the momentum. Another similar half will be sure to seal victory for the U.S. team.
11:02 AM - Back to the studio. Lebron has 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Very well-rounded, and great for the team's leader. Yao has 7 points for Team China.
11:03 AM - A recap is shown of Michael Phelps amazing 400 IM victory and world record at the Water Cube yesterday.
11:05 AM - Highlights of the U.S. mens soccer team's tie with Netherlands. Yes, a TIE AGAINST THE DUTCH!!! Now, all they need is a tie or win against Nigeria to advance. Too bad they gave up a goal in the 93rd minute to lose the victory against the Netherlands to clinch that berth.
11:09 AM - A nice story about the growing passion and fever of basketball in China, all created by Yao as an ambassador of the game. Sales of Yao's jersey are only 6th however in China. This shows the respect the Chinese have for the NBA and American basketball. This piece really puts a spotlight on how significant this U.S.-China game is.
11:15 AM - Back to the game. The U.S. is 1 of 12 from downtown, but they own down low, and now have a 51-37 lead.
11:16 AM - The announcers seem to hate on the refs for no specific reason.
11:17 AM - Yi with an incredible and powerful tip-in slam to narrow the States' lead to 51-39.
11:18 AM - Carmelo picks up a foul, it's Yao's second. 5 fouls is a foul-out in the international game. Making Yao foul out isn't too big of a priority with this lead now.
11:19 AM - Wow! China missed two threes in a row! Sign of the apocalypse.
11:20 AM - Sun Yu Wei with a beautiful block on the other end. China's ensuing possession nets another offensive rebound, yet a turnover. The 11th for China.
11:21 AM - This is starting to become a mixtape show for Lebron around the rim. 54-39 United States with many of those points coming as easy baskets or slams.
11:23 AM - China's three point magic is gone. A missed open three. Most definitely the culprit is fatigue.
11:24 AM - Yao gets to the line to pick up his 8th and 9th points. 56-41 U.S. now.
11:25 AM - Paul misses a three yet Chris Bosh gets another offensive rebound and puts it home. Another turover by China leads to another fastbreak. This a game of "anothers".
11:26 AM - Two Chinese free throws narrow the still-wide States' lead to 60-45.
11:27 AM - Lebron hits a three! Our second one today. It could be an early dagger. 63-45. Lebron is truly leading this team.
11:29 AM - Kobe to Wade who hits an acrobatic lay up. Anything the Chinese can do just doesn't matchup to the Americans' impeccable raw skill. 68-48 U.S.
11:30 AM - Bosh has made a nice prescence underneath the basket as he draws a foul. He has 9 points now after hitting a free throw. 21 point lead.
11:32 AM - Another fastbreak dunk, this time by Kobe...this game is starting to become a runaway. 72-48 now U.S.
11:33 AM - Steal and corrseponding dunk by Wade to increase the lead to 26 as the third quarter ends. 25-11 U.S. in that quarter. The game is certainly over. 74-48 United States over China.
11:36 AM - Fourth quarter begins. Let's see if China can get some momentum running for their next game.
11:38 AM - This time is also crucial game time for some of the U.S. reserves that don't typically get many minutes. Yet they have to be ready in case of injury or foul-outs down the line in the tournament.
11:40 AM - Yao's third foul as Deron Williams hits two free throws to expand the United States' lead to 79-50.
11:41 AM - President Bush is leaving the venue. You mean to tell me he has more important business than watching this game? Really? Come on.
11:43 AM - A dunk for Yao as he jumps off the ground about an inch. Michael Redd responds with a three, making the United States' lead 87-52.
11:46 AM - Little action has occurred recently as China calls a timeout. 89-54 United States.
11:48 AM - Yi completes his attempt at a three point play. About four minutes to go in the final quarter.
11:50 AM - Deron Williams has had a pretty good game off of the bench in his first Olympic game. 91-64 as Boozer picks up a foul and heads to the line.
11:52 AM - The Chinese fans are still into it when Team China does somthing well. This game means a lot more than a win or a loss to them.
11:53 AM - Chris Paul knocks down a three to make the score 98-66 in the U.S.'s favor. Maybe they'll get to triple digits?
11:54 AM - Michael Redd hits a three to give the U.S. a 33 point lead.
11:55 AM - The game ends with a resounding victory for the United States. Final score: U.S. 101, China 70. This is the culmination of much anticipation and both teams have reason to be very proud. The Chinese fans surely show their appreciation.
11:56 AM - This U.S. team certainly looks to be the one to return to the gold medal podium with this great start. They have a day to rest and then they get after it against Angola on Tuesday. USA! USA! USA!
Friday, August 8, 2008
WSPN Beijing 2008: The Opening of the Games
As NBC's official primetime broadcast of the Opening Ceremonies looms closer and closer, I find myself browsing NBColympics.com and sampling the online broadcasts of many of the sports. And even though the ceremonies begin in 3 minutes (yes, I know they already took place in Beijing a while ago) while I'm writing this sentence, my television remains off. Point is, NBC's online Olympic headquarters is absolutely AMAZING! It grants online, high-quality live streaming videos of events, and even though there are no play-by-play announcers, the audio is impeccable and makes the viewer feel like he is courtside.
After discovering this treasure trove of sport, which by the way, has live streaming events virtually 24/7 for the length of the Olympics, I find myself questioning the very nature of sleep. Do I need it? Can I survive if I refrain from it for a couple weeks? Because I'm seriously tempted to.
In less than 30 minutes, I have witnessed a few badminton matches, some sparring in women's individual fencing (sabre), and females that look half as big as me lifting five times as much weight I can. On any other day in my life, witnessing any of these would have been impossible. But now, thanks to the splendor that is the Olympic Games and NBC's impeccable dedication to the coverage of athletics, I now get to choose which live world-class competition I would like to watch. Just now, Katerina Emmons of the Czech Republic has won the first official gold medal of the Olympics in women's shooting (air rifle)!
And now witnessing the beginning of the Opening Ceremonies (while watching badminton and writing this...my multi-tasking skills will be challenged to the utmost, but I couldn't be more ready and excited), I feel an inate sense of pride: both national, in my dedication and loyal support to Team U.S.A., and global, in feeling together with many other millions on this planet, all joined by a transcendant athletic and human identity.
After discovering this treasure trove of sport, which by the way, has live streaming events virtually 24/7 for the length of the Olympics, I find myself questioning the very nature of sleep. Do I need it? Can I survive if I refrain from it for a couple weeks? Because I'm seriously tempted to.
In less than 30 minutes, I have witnessed a few badminton matches, some sparring in women's individual fencing (sabre), and females that look half as big as me lifting five times as much weight I can. On any other day in my life, witnessing any of these would have been impossible. But now, thanks to the splendor that is the Olympic Games and NBC's impeccable dedication to the coverage of athletics, I now get to choose which live world-class competition I would like to watch. Just now, Katerina Emmons of the Czech Republic has won the first official gold medal of the Olympics in women's shooting (air rifle)!
And now witnessing the beginning of the Opening Ceremonies (while watching badminton and writing this...my multi-tasking skills will be challenged to the utmost, but I couldn't be more ready and excited), I feel an inate sense of pride: both national, in my dedication and loyal support to Team U.S.A., and global, in feeling together with many other millions on this planet, all joined by a transcendant athletic and human identity.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Spotlight: Handball
In light of the upcoming exciting festivities to be held in China, the wondrous Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games, it should be natural to get excited, right? Not simply the event itself, but also the event's location and setting offer an entire new world of sporting experience. And in breaking with the sports media tradition of close-mindedness dominated today by ESPN, NBC and it's affiliated networks are working to broadcast over 3,000 hours of sport over the span of slightly more than two weeks. This feat, incredibly awe-inspiring in itself, provides truly unique opportunities for average American sports fanatics to indulge in a level of athletic viewership which is, in its vast expanse, completely new and foreign to them. Among these opportunities is one that no self-respecting die hard should miss: the chance to witness the live webcast of international handball competition. Breathtakingly invigorating to the athletic mind, I know. So, to ensure maximum enjoyment in the revel that is international handball, here is a brief yet spirited introduction to a fascinating world sport which has somehow managed to largely elude the general American consciousness to this day.
As baffling as it may be that America partially disapproves of soccer, why Americans refuse to enjoy and support handball is simply confounding. Think of soccer, okay people, I know many of you don't want to, right? Excuses abound...it's boring, no scoring, little physical contact, yada, yada, yada. I'll tell you right now: Handball is your cure. Think soccer played with hands, a smaller field, contact sometimes akin to that of rugby, and athletes who all list BALCO's lab as number one on their speeddial chucking balls voraciously around the court with the aim of, you guessed it, scoring a goal.
The sport is fast-paced with a lot of action and scoring, and it achieves a happy medium between basketball, where possessions are deemed failures if points aren't scored, and soccer, where a single goal might be the clincher of a victory. It is normal for teams to score around 25 points in the game, which is composed of two 30-minute halves. The ball moves around constantly via passing and bouncing, and, in an interesting spirit directly opposite of soccer, the players may hit the ball with any part of the body at or above the knees.
Thinking about the reasons why many Americans claim to dislike soccer, handball should be the perfect antithesis. So, given this chance by NBC's insansely deep and expansive coverage, maybe America will witness and embrace this sport. If only its primetime hour wasn't 3:30 AM.
As baffling as it may be that America partially disapproves of soccer, why Americans refuse to enjoy and support handball is simply confounding. Think of soccer, okay people, I know many of you don't want to, right? Excuses abound...it's boring, no scoring, little physical contact, yada, yada, yada. I'll tell you right now: Handball is your cure. Think soccer played with hands, a smaller field, contact sometimes akin to that of rugby, and athletes who all list BALCO's lab as number one on their speeddial chucking balls voraciously around the court with the aim of, you guessed it, scoring a goal.
The sport is fast-paced with a lot of action and scoring, and it achieves a happy medium between basketball, where possessions are deemed failures if points aren't scored, and soccer, where a single goal might be the clincher of a victory. It is normal for teams to score around 25 points in the game, which is composed of two 30-minute halves. The ball moves around constantly via passing and bouncing, and, in an interesting spirit directly opposite of soccer, the players may hit the ball with any part of the body at or above the knees.
Thinking about the reasons why many Americans claim to dislike soccer, handball should be the perfect antithesis. So, given this chance by NBC's insansely deep and expansive coverage, maybe America will witness and embrace this sport. If only its primetime hour wasn't 3:30 AM.
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