of our Lakers Star Kobe Bryant's popularity in
China, you ought to have read this mornings'
paper. Seems he did not even join in
with his fellow players in going to view the
China Wall while in China as it would have
caused a horrendous traffic jam with all of
the fans and crowds that would be seeking
Kobe's autograph. In fact, since first hosting
a clinic in China in 1998, Bryant has visited
China each summer for the past 8 years.
His latest stop marks the second trip
he has made to the country this year. That
gives him a platform to promote more than
just the NBA Global Games, which will
boast a league-record 12 teams playing
10 games in 10 cities spanning 7 countries.
Bryant also hosted two meet-and-greet
events Sunday in Beijing, one sponsored
by Nike and the other run by the Soong Ching
Ling Foundation, a charity sanctioned by
the Chinese government. This charity raises
money within the country earmarked for
education and health programs. Bryant will
also participate in other events this week.
He will attend another Nike-sponsored
event on Wednesday and participate
on Thursday in the NBA Cares basketball
clinic for the Special Olympics as well as a
fan appreciation event. It is very evident
that so many of the Chinese people appreciate
and respect so many of the things that our
Kobe has done and/or been a part of there.
For a look back in history, there was a young
fellow that was a forerunner of basketball
that led in Oklahoma and was tall for that day.
Bob Kurland, called "The Big Man", was 6 ft.
101/2 " and was dubbed by those that ridiculed
him "Glandular goon". Playing for the "Hall of
Fame" coach Hank Iba, he took Oklahoma A&M
(now called Oklahoma State) to NCAA tournament
championships in 1945 and 1946. We now have
lost him. He died on September 28th at age 88.
So, now with our Kobe's "rock star" status in
China, we'll watch a game being played there
tomorrow morning, channel 262 at 4:30AM
Pacific time, shown on Time Warner.
Babs Wells
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