Looks like the
U.S team has some significant support in China. Identified by David
Stern as one of the major markets for the NBA, Chinese fans are embracing the
U.S team in a big way.
Stern, by the way, has some
interesting ideas about reforming the way elite players are trained. He's
right in that they are often exploited, but what he either misses or doesn't
touch on, perhaps understandably, is the role of the family.
With the great wealth the NBA offers, many families see their talented child
as a meal ticket as much as a family member. It's not pleasant, but all
too often it's true. A basketball academy won't fix that.