Yao Ming almost 掉泪 (first basketball match)

[Quest]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/sports/2004-08/15/content_1792630.htm

http://news.xinhuanet.com/sports/2004-08/15/content_1792413.htm

China lost to Spain, Yao Ming 有苦说不出。

[Adam]

Did anyone catch the game between China and New Zealand? I only saw a little, but on the news tonight some of the NZ players were commenting on the referee not being fair.. I dont know if this is true but would there be any who watched agree?

[TSkillet]

Didn't see the game, but heard second hand about some things -

1. Yao dominated Sean Marks (who hit on a friend of mine when we were at University together - but that's a different story). Take that Sean! 39 points in 34 minutes

2. The Tall Blacks have always played rugby-style basketball. When they were in Taipei for the Jones Cup, and during the World Championships in 2002, they always had run-ins with the other teams because they play pretty physical. Yao Ming even ended up in a shoving match. For them to complain about officiaiting is funny.

[keith]

Geeez Tall Blacks?...what a stuuuupid name. Gives the All Blacks a bad name I say!

[Adam]

haha, well i cant disagree cause i didnt see it! there are heaps of names copied from the all blacks.... tall ferns, tall blacks, black sox (softball) there really are quite a few more.

Im thinking why would any athlete competing in Athens, 40 degree Celsius, and be wearing a black outfit! national pride to the extreme?

[keith]

Maybe cos Black is traditionally the colour of the NZ national sporting uniforms?

There is a solution to this "heat" problem. The New Zealand national soccer team "All Whites" wear a mostly white jersey with black trim, instead of black with white trim. (same with shorts and socks)

I can't see why the NZ basketball team can't follow suit...