In the Arena: NBA courts China&#39;s fans
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There will come a time when playing host to preseason basketball games will not set pulses racing in China, a time when the country is secure enough in its place as a world sports superpower that it will settle for nothing but the meaningful.
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The NBA flew more than 100 people halfway around the world for its first games in China this week. Chinese-born star Yao Ming was there with the Houston Rockets for games against the Sacramento Kings.
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After a gruelling few days in his hometown of Shanghai for the first NBA game in China on Thursday, the Houston Rockets centre has had some time to unwind since arriving in Beijing.
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Houston Rockets&#39; Tracy Lue (L2) goes for a shot during the second pre-season match with Sacramento Kings in Beijing, capital city of China, Oct. 17, 2004.
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A seven-foot phenom may be China's second hoops star, and the search is on for the third
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So we caught most of the Rockets-Kings exhibition game in Shanghai, China this morning. It felt damn good to be watching NBA hoops again.
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When Yao Ming's Houston Rockets edged the Sacramento Kings in the first ever NBA game played in China, the towering star center only wanted to run and hide from his adoring hometown fans.
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With the NBA set to play its first ever game in China today, commissioner David Stern has hinted regular season games could be held in the country.
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A crowd of American sports leagues are racing to widen international appeal and revenue by playing more games abroad and expanding foreign marketing.
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China&#39;s basketball star Yao Ming is to take centre stage in the first National Basketball Association game to be played in China, later on Thursday.
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&quot;Most fans don&#39;t understand the sport,&quot; he said. &quot;They want to see two guys get in there and be Rock-em Sock-em Robots until somebody gets knocked out.
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NBA China, a new company that will conduct all National Basketball Association business in the world's most populous nation, was unveiled Monday with major US and Chinese corporate support.
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If the global marketing miracle known as the NBA has finally come to face the fragile rapport it has with its core audience at home in the United States, let it be said that the Palace of
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To hear Larry Hughes tell it, the fans in Washington are a bit confused about which basketball team holds their interest. &quot;It&#39;s always talked-about now.
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As many as 87 basketball games of the upcoming NBA season will be made available to the Chinese public via the Internet, state media said.
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As the widespread coverage of Yi Jianlian's NBA move reaffirmed China's love affair with basketball, a first-round pick from the 2004 NFL draft was in Beijing on Friday to promote "America's favorite sport".
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China&#39;s Yi Jianlian, the first  overseas player taken in the 2007 NBA Draft, said he was  surprised at being selected with the sixth pick by the  Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.