J-10
07-18-2004, 11:27 PM
Whole New Ballgame
Pro Baseball Develops in China
By Mark Litke and Andrew Morse
B E I J I N G, July 18, 2004 — It doesn't get much more American than hot dogs, cold beer and goofy mascots, and fans of the People's Republic of China's first pro baseball league are treated to all that and more at the ballpark.
http://a.abcnews.com/media/WNT/images/abc_wnt_china_baseball_040710_nh.jpg
The Beijing Tigers baseball team pauses to observe China's national anthem.
The four-team league has just finished its third full season, but they're doing pretty well so far, thanks in large part to a can-do U.S. promoter who's helping China's first pro league get to first base.
Boston native Tom McCarthy was first to promote pro basketball in China — think Yao Ming — so why not that other quintessentially American sport?
‘Planted the Seeds’
A very nationalistic China will be hosting the Olympics games in four years, and they don't want their home team embarrassed in baseball. So, they asked for help setting up a league to raise interest in the game and attract more players.
McCarthy answered the call and is trying to help China create its own field of dreams.
"We're building it from the ground," McCarthy said of the Chinese league. "We planted the seeds, and it's going to take a few years for the tree to grow. But it's really exciting."
China does have what it takes for this game, the three Ts — training, teamwork, technique. It's just that, judging from the occasional on-field gaffes, they haven't yet crossed all the Ts. Games are peppered with comical errors — hit batters, wild pitches, wilder throws, and lots of ground balls through the legs. But, for the most part, the level of play isn't too bad, considering that baseball isn't exactly China's national pastime.
McCarthy says the players are learning the fundamentals and that he thinks the game comes naturally to many of them.
"They're great at hand-eye coordination, speed, and quickness," he said. "And, they're very intelligent, they pick up [things] very quickly."
The fans are enthusiastic about China's newest pro sport as well, but there just aren't that many yet, and most are still working out the details of the game, trying to figure out "Who's on first?" or if Mr. Hu is standing on second base.
‘Love of the Game’
But, despite the occasional awkward moment, it is baseball at its purest — a professional major league with the attitude and spirit that has made minor league baseball so popular in the United States. It's clear what motivates the players.
Murray Greig, a sportswriter for the English-language China Daily newspaper, takes in most CBL games from the press box, eating hot dogs and sipping the occasional Budweiser as he keeps score.
"They really are playing for the love of the game," Greig says, "I mean, they're barely making food money, so they're not here to get rich."
Playing for the love the game? Well, it's not as if China's pro ballplayers have that much choice right now. Glory, Fame and Fortune? Those players haven't quite made the line-up yet.
But now batting for the Beijing Tigers are players like Sun Lingfeng, who wears number zero but is quickly becoming a hero, leading the league in stolen bases.
"I love this game," Sun says. "And so will China eventually."
It's a view shared by McCarthy.
"Any time that China has decided they wanted to do something in sports, I like to say the big elephant finally gets that foot up and starts to move," he said. "Anything in its way, they kind of move over."
ABCNEWS (http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/Sports/china_baseball_040718-2.html)
Pro Baseball Develops in China
By Mark Litke and Andrew Morse
B E I J I N G, July 18, 2004 — It doesn't get much more American than hot dogs, cold beer and goofy mascots, and fans of the People's Republic of China's first pro baseball league are treated to all that and more at the ballpark.
http://a.abcnews.com/media/WNT/images/abc_wnt_china_baseball_040710_nh.jpg
The Beijing Tigers baseball team pauses to observe China's national anthem.
The four-team league has just finished its third full season, but they're doing pretty well so far, thanks in large part to a can-do U.S. promoter who's helping China's first pro league get to first base.
Boston native Tom McCarthy was first to promote pro basketball in China — think Yao Ming — so why not that other quintessentially American sport?
‘Planted the Seeds’
A very nationalistic China will be hosting the Olympics games in four years, and they don't want their home team embarrassed in baseball. So, they asked for help setting up a league to raise interest in the game and attract more players.
McCarthy answered the call and is trying to help China create its own field of dreams.
"We're building it from the ground," McCarthy said of the Chinese league. "We planted the seeds, and it's going to take a few years for the tree to grow. But it's really exciting."
China does have what it takes for this game, the three Ts — training, teamwork, technique. It's just that, judging from the occasional on-field gaffes, they haven't yet crossed all the Ts. Games are peppered with comical errors — hit batters, wild pitches, wilder throws, and lots of ground balls through the legs. But, for the most part, the level of play isn't too bad, considering that baseball isn't exactly China's national pastime.
McCarthy says the players are learning the fundamentals and that he thinks the game comes naturally to many of them.
"They're great at hand-eye coordination, speed, and quickness," he said. "And, they're very intelligent, they pick up [things] very quickly."
The fans are enthusiastic about China's newest pro sport as well, but there just aren't that many yet, and most are still working out the details of the game, trying to figure out "Who's on first?" or if Mr. Hu is standing on second base.
‘Love of the Game’
But, despite the occasional awkward moment, it is baseball at its purest — a professional major league with the attitude and spirit that has made minor league baseball so popular in the United States. It's clear what motivates the players.
Murray Greig, a sportswriter for the English-language China Daily newspaper, takes in most CBL games from the press box, eating hot dogs and sipping the occasional Budweiser as he keeps score.
"They really are playing for the love of the game," Greig says, "I mean, they're barely making food money, so they're not here to get rich."
Playing for the love the game? Well, it's not as if China's pro ballplayers have that much choice right now. Glory, Fame and Fortune? Those players haven't quite made the line-up yet.
But now batting for the Beijing Tigers are players like Sun Lingfeng, who wears number zero but is quickly becoming a hero, leading the league in stolen bases.
"I love this game," Sun says. "And so will China eventually."
It's a view shared by McCarthy.
"Any time that China has decided they wanted to do something in sports, I like to say the big elephant finally gets that foot up and starts to move," he said. "Anything in its way, they kind of move over."
ABCNEWS (http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/Sports/china_baseball_040718-2.html)