Do some of these big events – like women’s gymnastics - seem to have a lack of enthusiasm and passion around them?
Maybe it is because when an event is live here at 9:00 pm it is only 9:00 am in China and the arenas aren’t surprisingly filled with people? Or maybe it is because the Chinese folks aren’t as partisan as people from other host nations. They are too polite? In a nation of more than 1 billion people, why are there so many empty seats? I don’t get it. Why are the venues so quiet?
Don’t talk the talk if you can’t walk the walk…
That was great theater last night. Wow. What a great relay and a great performance by the Americans. And Michael Phelps’s quest for eight gold medals is still alive and NBC breathes a great sigh of relief. That was fun and worth staying up for last night!
One day, early in the morning while visiting China, I went for a walk. The streets of Beijing were quiet except for a basketball court about a half a mile from the Forbidden City. There three full court layouts were filled with kids playing hardcore hoops with about 500 kids awaiting the “next” game.
China loves basketball. There are NBA stores everywhere. You see ads with Kobe, LeBron and Gilbert on buses and on big signs everywhere. You see Chinese students walking around with jeans and NBA jerseys.
When the Houston Rockets play on television, China stands still.
More than 300 million people play the game. Think of that. The entire population of the United States is 300 million.
The opening game between China and the US could have the largest audience ever for a sporting event. CCTV and Shanghai Media Group reach a billion plus people in mainland China alone. Wow. The US had better come to play.
I think Tom Shales has the best taste of any media columnist in the business.
I can’t remember the last time I read something of Tom’s and thought, ”What is he thinking on this one?”
And he nailed it again in this column on last night’s Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies. The scale, artistry and technical HD wizardry last night was truly something to behold. It was also scary to know that China could pull it off. That was a statement to the world. ”We are big. We are populist. We know how to use technology. We have the most man power. We have the best economy. Don’t mess with us but come and meet us.”
Wow. That was something. My family and I really enjoyed it. Having been to China so many times and getting to know so many people there, I am very happy for them. Welcome to the world stage. You did a great job last night and you know how to produce mega scale performance art.