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SHANGHAI -- You want to talk about a happening place ....
Sunday’s Shanghai Daily reported that 98% of downtown — and you can’t believe how big downtown is — is now covered by a state-of-the-art 3G mobile phone network so people on the street can stream TV coverage of Friday’s opening ceremonies in Beijing.
Meanwhile, China Mobile’s local branch is renting handsets to tourists for 10 yuan — $1.46 — a day.
With an estimated 20 million inhabitants, this city is more the size of a U.S. county. At 2,400 square miles, imagine something 60% the size of Los Angeles County (4,000 square miles). But instead of downtown, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Ventura Blvd., and all the other cities and residential areas with houses, yards and malls, there are high-rises.
Not only are so many of the downtown buildings new, they're spectacular. Architects here are seemingly uninterested in building something utilitarian and rectangular with lines that just go straight up and down.
On its way to Sunday's exhibition game against Russia, the U.S. men’s basketball team passed the soaring curves of Shanghai Stadium, which will host some preliminary Olympic soccer games. It's a little surprising to learn it holds 80,000 people because it looks big enough to hold 125,000.
With Coach Mike Krzyzewski giving his team Monday off before its final exhibition here against Australia, I rode up the Orient Pearl TV tower, one of the tallest in the world (No. 3 or 4, depending on which list, with the CN Tower in Toronto No. 1) right across the Yangtze River from the Bank of China Building which Ethan Hunts jumps off in "Mission: Impossible III."
The view is breathtaking even if you can see so little of it through the haze. The word "breathtaking" is ironic because that's downside of all this growth, breathing. By local standards, Los Angeles is like Fargo, N.D.
-- Mark Heisler
Photo: Deron Williams, right, claps hands with a young patient during a USA men's basketball team visit to the Shanghai Children's Medical Center on Monday. Teammates Michael Redd and Tayshaun Prince also visited. Credit: Liu Jin / AFP / Getty Images
Here is the first line of Mark Heisler's Los Angeles Times report on USA Basketball's 89-68 win over Russia on Sunday in Shanghai: "Another so-called big one bites the dust."
This one was closer than USA Basketball's past three wins -- the U.S. beat Canada by 55, Turkey by 32 and Lithuania by 36.
Kobe Bryant had a game high 19 points, while Carmelo Anthony added 17 and Dwyane Wade, 16. Each time Bryant went to the free-throw line during the exhibition game, the crowd chanted "MVP."
That brought this response from Bryant: "It feels like home away from home. It's great to be so far from Staples Center and still have so much support, I feel like I'm home."
Here's the take from Russian Coach David Blatt, an American who once played at Princeton: "Any time you face the beast and you don't get eaten, you did all right."
The U.S. men play Australia on Aug. 5 at Shanghai's Qizhong Arena, the squad's final tune-up game prior to the Beijing Olympics.
Meanwhile, in Haining, China, the U.S. women's team on Sunday beat Latvia 84-74 in FIBA Diamond Ball tournament play. Sylvia Fowles scored 13 points. Five U.S. players were in double figures. Tina Thompson scored 12 points; Seimone Augustus and Sue Bird each scored 11 and Lisa Leslie added 10.
In Sunday's first game, Australia defeated host China, 84-70.
The U.S. faces Russia on Aug. 4 in its second preliminary round Group B game. Teams in Group A include Australia, Mali and China. The finals will be played on Aug. 5 in Haining.
Finally, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Wen shook hands with Yao Ming and other China national team players and coaches during a Sunday practice session in Beijing.
"Your first game will catch the attention of the world, and you must have confidence, stay collected and play well," Wen said, according to the New China news agency. "I hope you can win glory, dignity and friendship, displaying the true personality of Chinese."
China and the U.S. open their Olympics schedules with an Aug. 10 match-up.
-- Greg Johnson
Photo: Kobe Bryant on defense during a match between the U.S. and Russia on Sunday in Shanghai. The U.S. won 89-68. Credit: Eugene Hoshiko/Associated Press Photo
SHANGHAI -- From Saturday’s China Daily: “The Beijing sky turned from grey to blue Friday. The average air pollution fell to 28, dubbed as ‘Level 1’ or ‘excellent,’ the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Environmental Protection said.”
The Chinese have taken measures to bring the level down, like limiting the number of drivers. However, in Shanghai, where driving hasn't been limited, a haze still hung over the city Sunday and the sky was still grey.
Not that the U.S. basketball team, which came here to play its final exhibition games, is concerned about what awaits in Beijing.
“We’re going to play inside, I think,” said Coach Mike Krzyzewski. “So as long as they’ve got the air conditioning on or whatever, we’re in good shape.”
-- Mark Heisler
Photo: From the right, Mike Krzyzewski, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd and Dwight Howard answer questions during a Saturday press conference in Shanghai. Credit: CSPA via US Presswire
The U.S. women's basketball team has arrived in China after a 13-hour flight from San Francisco. Unlike the U.S. men’s basketball team, which flew charter, the women made do with a commercial airliner.
Not the easiest way to get some rest, the Associated Press reports, especially for the likes of 6-foot-5 Sylvia Fowles or 6-4 Candace Parker. “We take road trips all the time in the WNBA,” forward DeLisha Milton-Jones said. “This one just happened to be a little further. We’re used to sleeping on planes.”
The team landed in Shanghai and boarded four buses to make the two-hour trip to Haining, the site of the 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball tournament. The AP reports that Lisa Leslie made sure to check on her baby Lauren, who slept the entire bus ride.
The squad will open its pre-Beijing Games tournament play against Japan on Sunday and face Russia on Monday in its second preliminary round Group B game. Teams in Group A include Australia, Mali and China. The finals will be played Tuesday.
Then it's off to Beijing.
Photo: U.S. Olympic team members (from left) Katie Smith, Tina Thompson, Lisa Leslie and Sue Bird chat during a July 29 practice. Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press Photo
The U.S. men's basketball team beat highly regarded Lithuania, 120-84, today during a pre-Beijing Games contest in Macao. Here is a game report by The Times' Mark Heisler.
The Times also has a number of stories posted online about Beijing. They cover where to eat, how to get around, what to see and more.
Photo: Kobe Bryant during the friendly basketball match against Lithuania in Macau on Friday. The U.S. won 120-84. Credit: Kin Cheung / Associated Press
MACAO -- A week after the U.S. men’s basketball team arrived in Asia, it’s going to really arrive in Asia when it sets foot on the Chinese mainland after the team's plane lands in Shanghai.
The Americans will spend five days there, and play exhibitions against Russia and Australia before going on to Beijing.
The progression is expected to have gone something like this:
MACAO —This is Asia?
It’s true, almost everyone here is Asian. Aside from that, with the team at the Macao Venetian, it was just like Las Vegas, although with more decorum (no flashing lights or ringing bells on the slot machines) and more high rollers.
As crowded as the Macao Venetian was, it was an ideal venue with its own in-house 15,000-seat arena. A little hard to find your way outside, perhaps, but most of us solved that problem by not worrying about it.
(The only time the team and staff left the building was to be feted during a banquet at the nearby Wynn Macao.)
Put it this way: it’s the first assignment I’ve ever had in which I could walk from my hotel room to the arena in five minutes. Yes, we’re all going to miss this place.
SHANGHAI -- This is Asia, but the modern version.
The U.S. team is staying at the local Ritz-Carlton. There’s a glittering downtown with great shopping (the specialty is custom clothing at unmatched prices.)
BEIJING -- Well, at least they have actual games here.
We weren't sure what to expect, but there's definitely less shopping, and no gambling. There’s also an ongoing pollution problem—which we have been following through emails from friends back home, like the Newark Star-Ledger’s Dave D’Allesandro, who sent NBA PR boss Brian McIntyre and me a picture of what appeared to be the city photographed through a heavy haze.
Of course, I’m from Los Angeles where we’ve seen some bad days ourselves. So when McIntyre pulled up the photo on his BlackBerry and showed it to me, I said, “And the problem is?”
Ask the U.S. basketball program, nobody ever said this would be easy.
-- Mark Heisler
Photo: Carmelo Anthony (left) and Kobe Bryant during a July 30 press conference in Macao. Credit: CSPA via US PRESSWIRE
MACAO -- Kobe Bryant took a complete pass on the deal that is expected to send Sacramento’s Ron Artest to Houston, but even if the Lakers appreciate his tact, there’s every chance they did try to get Artest, and Bryant is disappointed.
Bryant tried to get the Lakers to pursue Artest three seasons ago when he was an Indiana Pacer with a “for sale” sign, having worn out that welcome.
Coach Phil Jackson wants a tough guy — which Artest definitely is, no matter how lucid you think he is — and thinks highly of Artest. And Jackson and Bryant usually are on the same page these days.
However, GM Mitch Kupchak’s problem would have been looking at it from a cost-benefit perspective, after finding what it would have taken to get the Kings to overlook their rivalry and send them Artest — reportedly Lamar Odom.
If there are concerns about how Odom will do at small forward, that’s not where the Lakers are now. They want to see how their team plays next season, and that includes Odom.
If the Kings couldn’t get Odom, even if they were going to give Artest away, it wouldn’t be to the Lakers.
Personally, I don’t see why the Lakers would want to climb aboard the whirlwind that is Ron Artest.
This was a slam dunk for Houston, which had to take a shot to get out of the pack of 55-win also-rans in the West. The Lakers will be a powerhouse if they play a season ticker-holder at small forward.
If Odom can shoot well enough to play the position, which I question, or Luke Walton makes a comeback, which could happen, or Trevor Ariza improve enough as a shooter, which could happen, the Lakers will be fine as constituted.
If none of that happens, they can trade any and all of their small forwards for a better one.
Remember the days when the Lakers had nothing but interpersonal issues?
All that is over, at least for the moment. If I were them, I wouldn’t be looking to re-launch the Soap Opera Era.
-- Mark Heisler
Photo: Kobe Bryant drives against the Turkey national team during an exhibition game Thursday in Macao. Credit. M.N. Chan / Getty Images
Yao Ming scored only 14 points and his Chinese teammates fell victim to a tough Australian defense during a 67-55 loss on Wednesday in a pre-Olympic warmup game in Nanjing, China.
The Houston Rockets center shot 5 for 8 from the field during 30 minutes of playing time. Australia's defense, meanwhile, forced 25 Chinese turnovers.
Not to worry, Yao told the Associated Press: “We have a lot to improve on in a short time, but we will do our best."
Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut finished with 9 points for Australia.
China Coach Jonas Kazlauskas also played former Dallas Mavericks center Wang Zhizhi and New Jersey Nets power forward Yi Jianlian to limit Yao's playing time. Neither player, however, contributed much during China’s second game in the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament. Wang had 4 points and Yi missed his three field goal attempts.
“For sure, we didn’t play a good game,” Kazlauskas told the Associated Press.
In the other FIBA Diamond Ball tournament game, Iran downed Serbia 72-70.
Photo: China's Yao Ming, center, helps break up a shoving match during the game against Australia. Credit: Elizabeth Dalziel / Associated Press
No.
Or let me put it another way, who knows? Who knows anything when it comes down to Ron Artest?
For sure, the Lakers could use a small forward and Phil Jackson liked the idea of getting him.
Phil won championships in Chicago with Dennis Rodman and Bison Dele, who was then called Brian Williams, not to mention the three he picked up in Los Angeles with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant at each other's throats, and who is completely indifferent to human foibles, even when the foibles are bigger than the human.
However, Jackson's current team looks like a powerhourse to me, with no need whatsoever to gamble on Artest's ever-changing moods and views of reality.
Moreover, if the Maloof brothers who own the Kings were ever going to give him away, it wasn't going to be to the arch-rival Lakers.
When Artest was hanging around the Lakers in the playoffs, doing every talk radio show in L.A. that would have him (another week and he'd have been co-hosting with Hartman, Mychal and The Brick to make it four Loose Cannons), it was clear it could only be done one way -- with Ron-Ron opting out of his last season at $7.5 million and coming for the $5.5 mill exception.
Well, it was clear to everyone but Ronnie, who, being Ronnie, went right to the deadline, announced there was no way he would take a pay cut, declined to exercise his option... and THEN announced the next day he was sorry he hadn't.
Maybe that was when the Maloofs decided that they'd had enough. After having turned down lowball offers for a year (including one from Chicago that might have made it possible for the Bulls to get Kobe Bryant), the Kings have reportedly agreed to donate Artest to the Houston Rockets for old Bobby Jackson and a No. 1 pick.
Artest could turn the Rockets with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady into a formidable contender, indeed, if Ronnie can stay happy for more than one day in a row and everything else goes smoothly.
R-i-g-h-t.
--MARK HEISLER
Photo: Ron Artest, right, reacts after a turnover by Lakers guard Kobe Bryant in Sacramento on March 14, 2006. Credit: Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press Photo
Yao Ming scored 21 points in 28 minutes on Tuesday as China defeated Angola, 83-74, during FIBA Diamond Ball tournament play in Nanjing, China. The Houston Rockets center is working his way back into shape after a stress fracture that cut short his most recent NBA season.
Yao made eight of 10 shots and grabbed five rebounds. The Associated Press reported that Yao ran the court with ease, with no apparent evidence that he's hindered by the injury that had threatened his ability to play at the Beijing Games.
China Coach Jonas Kazlauskas said he would continue to play Yao for 25-30 minutes a game and rely on former Dallas Mavericks center Wang Zhizhi to fill the gaps.
Also in Diamond Ball play, defending Olympic champion Argentina beat Iran, 81-71. Iran is making its first Olympic basketball appearance since 1948.
Rockets forward Luis Scola scored 23 points for Argentina and San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili added 15 points. “I’m feeling good,” Ginobili said. “I just want to feel even better and play more.”
Photo: Yao Ming, left, tries to score while Angola forward Eduardo Mingas tries to block his shot during a game in Nanjing, China, on Tuesday. Credit: Elizabeth Dalziel / Associated Press
MACAO -- Cosmopolitan as he is, having grown up in Italy, Kobe Bryant is a natural favorite of the international press, which is not as adversarial as the one he puts up with on his day job.
For example, when Bryant takes questions at a Lakers practice, as he did at the U.S. team's practice in Macao on Monday, the press people don't ask to pose for pictures with him, as they did here. Bryant, who is far easier-going in international competition, obliged everyone who asked, happily.
Then there's his wide-ranging knowledge of sports. Asked by a Brazilian journalist about that national team's failure to qualify with Leandro Barbosa, Nene and Anderson Varejao declining to participate, Bryant answered in depth ("It’s just a phase they’re going through. They obviously have a lot of talented players. Barbosa, he’s one of my favorite players in the league, Nene, and so forth. I know they have some coaching changes going on with the national team. It’s just going to take a little time.")
Then, asked whether he knew any Brazilian athletes aside from basketball players, Bryant, who played soccer as a child in Italy, quickly threw out the names of Ronaldhino, Robinho and Kaka, noting: "They’re all famous athletes. I’m glad they’re playing soccer, not basketball." He added he intends to catch one of the Brazilian soccer games in Beijing.
Come back tomorrow to hear Kobe discuss Zsuzsanna Voros' attempt to win another gold medal in the women's modern pentathlon with the Hungarian press.
--Mark Heisler
Photo: Kobe Bryant during a team practice in Macao on Tuesday. Credit: Kin Cheung / Associated Press
Even as the highly touted men's U.S. Olympic basketball team landed in Macao today, coach Mike Krzyzewski was trying to put things in perspective, telling reporters that “we haven’t accomplished anything yet.”
LeBron James, who injured his right ankle during a scrimmage last week, joined the squad for its first practice in Macao and is expected to play in four upcoming tune-up games. "Every time we step onto the court, we know we have the talent and we know we have the strength to go out and be the best team on the court,” James told the Associated Press. “The chemistry right now is really good.”
While in Macao, the U.S. will play Turkey (Thursday) and Lithuania (Friday). In Shanghai, they will play Russia (Aug. 3) and Australia (Aug. 5). The U.S. opens its Beijing Games contests on Aug. 10 against host China, which is led by Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian, who recently was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the New Jersey Nets.
Krzyzewski expects the Beijing Games competition to be fierce because “world basketball has gotten to another level.”
Photo: Mike Krzyzewski leads the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team through its first practice Monday in Macao. Credit: Kin Cheung / Associated Press
 Injured forward LeBron James is a “95% no-go” for Friday’s exhibition game in Las Vegas against Canada, U.S. men's basketball team coach Mike Krzyzewski said earlier today.
James, who sustained a mild right ankle sprain during a Tuesday practice, was held out of a scrimmage for the second straight day, although the Associated Press reports that he did participate in some drills.
"He hasn’t had contact,” Krzyzewski said. “We’re better off giving him a few days.”
James injured his ankle when he landed on Kevin Durant’s foot during Tuesday's scrimmage between Team USA and a team made up of young NBA players.
“When it happened, I could barely walk on it, and it progressed throughout the night,” James said. “It’s feeling a lot better. If I had to [play], I would.”
-- Greg Johnson
Credit: Marlene Karas / US PRESSWIRE
The U.S. women's basketball team will practice July 28 to 31 in Palo Alto and then leave for China. The training camp at Stanford's Ford Center (closed to the public) will be the first time that U.S. head coach and three-time Olympian Anne Donovan will have all the members of her team on the court at the same time.
The 12-member roster features three-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie (Sparks), two-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Smith (Detroit Shock) and five other gold medalists: Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), DeLisha Milton-Jones (Sparks), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and Tina Thompson (Houston Comets).
First-time Olympians include Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Kara Lawson (Sacramento Monarchs), Candace Parker (Sparks) and Cappie Pondexter (Phoenix Mercury).
After camp, the team will travel to Haining, China, for the 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament. The U.S. opens against Japan on Aug. 3 and faces Russia on Aug. 4. After preliminary round play, teams will be seeded for the tournament finals, which begin Aug. 5.
"This group is stacked with talent, and they have the motivation and drive to get us where we want to be," Donovan said. "The FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament will be a great test in our preparation. The tournament has all the perceived favorites to medal in Beijing, and I’m sure it will be extremely competitive.”
The women's Olympic basketball competition starts Aug. 9. The U.S. squad will be trying for its fourth consecutive Olympic gold. The U.S. has collected five golds, one silver and one bronze since women’s basketball was added at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
-- Greg Johnson
Photo: The 2004 Athens Games proved golden for Lisa Leslie, left, and Tina Thompson. It was the third consecutive gold medal in women's basketball for the U.S. women. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times
LeBron James gave his Beijing-bound teammates and coach a jolt earlier today when he sprained his right ankle during a closed scrimmage in a Las Vegas high school gymnasium. Team officials described the injury as minor, according to the Associated Press.
The injury occurred when James landed on Kevin Durant’s foot during a scrimmage between Team USA and a squad of young NBA players.
“He thinks it’s a mild sprain,” Coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “Our trainers think it’s a mild sprain. So we’ll find out tomorrow. But I don’t think it’s anything serious. Obviously, we’ll look and see what happens tomorrow.”
Trainers wrapped the ankle in a black brace, and James left the building without speaking to reporters. Teammates who spoke to James didn't seem to be very worried.
“I ain’t concerned about that guy,” Dwyane Wade said. “That guy is a professional. I’ve seen that guy get hurt one time in the NBA and come back in the second half and score 30-something. I’m not worried about him. He’s going to get healthy, and it’ll take care of itself.”
Team USA has a pair of workouts before facing Canada in a Friday exhibition game. Then the team heads for Macau to start a four-game exhibition tour. The Olympic basketball opener is Aug. 10 against host China in Beijing.
-- Greg Johnson
Photo: LeBron James after a training session at Valley High School in Las Vegas earlier today. Credit: Marlene Karas / US PRESSWIRE
 Now that the FIBA Olympic qualifying for men is over, we know the 12 teams and the schedule of play at the Beijing Games.
Germany, winner of tonight's final of the FIBA tournament, won the final Olympic berth. Croatia and Greece, winners of Saturday's semifinals, also qualified.
Here is the draw, followed by the complete event schedule for the basketball portion of the Olympics, released by FIBA. Games will be played Aug. 10-24 at China's new 18,000-seat Wukesong Indoor Stadium. China is 15 hours ahead of the West Coast. Start times noted below are for the Pacific time zone.
Read on »
Germany just punched its ticket to the Beijing Games by beating Puerto Rico, 96-82, in the final game of the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Athens.
Germany was carried by Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 32 points. Chris Kaman added 10 points. Germany built its lead to 83-65 with 4:21 remaining in the game, and then held on for the win.
Earlier in the tournament, Croatia earned its first Olympics bid since 1996 by beating Germany, 76-70. And Greece beat Puerto Rico, 88-63, to earn a trip to Beijing.
-- Greg Johnson
Photo: Dirk Nowitzki vies for the ball with Puerto Rico's Alex Falcon, left, and Carmelo Lee during today's final game in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Athens.
Credit: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Image
Germany went into the third quarter with a 48-39 lead and came out with a 77-58 lead. Dirk Nowitzke leads all players with 23 points. Chris Kaman as 10 -- and is still playing with three fouls. Four of the German national team players are in double figures.
FIBA is providing a live, play-by-play description of the game on its website.
Click the "live now" button on the left side of the screen. You'll have to register to get the live updates, which include a play-by-play tab, individual player statistics and a shot chart.
-- Greg Johnson
The German national team with Chris Kaman and Dirk Nowitzke is leading 48-39 at the end of the first half. Kaman had 10 points, but also has three fouls. Nowitzke leads all players with 18 points.
This is a do-or-die game for Kaman and Nowitzke. If Germany wins, it fills the last open slot in the Beijing Games. If Germany loses, Kaman and Nowitzke will watch the basketball competition along with the rest of us.
FIBA is providing a live, play-by-play description of the game on its website.
Click the "live now" button on the left side of the screen. You'll have to register to get the live updates, which include a play-by-play tab, individual player statistics and a shot chart.
According to the ticker, Germany led 38-37 with 2:41 left in the second quarter. A Nowitzke three-pointer helped Germany to build its lead. Kaman grabbed a couple of key rebounds -- but also picked up two of his fouls.
-- Greg Johnson
Croatia secured a berth at the Beijing Games today by overcoming a 30-point, 13-rebound effort by Dirk Nowitzki to beat Germany, 76-70, as FIBA's Olympic qualifying tournament winds down in Athens.
Greece also earned an Olympic spot today by beating Puerto Rico, 88-63. Germany and Puerto Rico will play for the final berth on Sunday.
This is the first time since 1996 that Croatia has qualified for the Olympics.
Nowitzki was held to only 10 shots, but his drives through the lane took him to the foul line a lot, where he made 19 of 21 free throws.
 Croatia, which had a 10-point lead after the first quarter, allowed Germany to rally, with Nowitzki scoring 13 in the second and the Clippers' Chris Kaman putting up eight points in the third. Behind those two, Germany clawed its way back to take a 49-47 lead heading into the fourth.
But Croatia allowed the Germans only one point over the next four minutes, eventually building a 63-53 lead with 3:30 left in the game. Germany closed to within 69-67 on a Nowitzki layup with 38 seconds left but then fouled Croatia’s Davor Kus, who made the first free throw and missed the second. Croatia, however, came up with the rebound and held on to win.
"The referees allowed Croatia to play a very physical, not dirty, game and it took us more than 10 minutes to adjust to that and become more physical, too," Germany coach Dirk Bauermann said.
Marko Tomas led Croatia with 21 points.
Greece applied its trademark defensive pressure to race to a 15-4 start against Puerto Rico.
Dimitris Diamantidis led Greece with 15 points, and JJ Barea, Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks teammate, scored 16 for Puerto Rico.
Center PJ Ramos got into early foul trouble, and Puerto Rico’s most consistent scorer, Carlos Arroyo, tore a leg muscle in the second quarter. Greece gradually pulled away, leading 48-35 at halftime and increasing the advantage in the second half.
But Puerto Rico coach Manuel Cintron was optimistic about Sunday's game.
"If my players play the game they know," he said, "we will beat the Germans and make the Olympics."
-- Debbie Goffa
Photo: Croatia's Davor Kus faces Dirk Nowitzki of Germany during their semifinal game in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Athens. Credit: Louisa Gouliamaki/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Inset: Chris Kaman tries to score past Croatia's Marko Tomas. Credit: Louisa Gouliamaki /Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Yao Ming earlier today got a taste of what's to come when the Beijing Games begin, as African champion Angola defeated China 72-71 in a Stankovic Cup game played in Hangzhou, China.
China scrambled back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit, but its hopes were dashed as time ran out and Yao was unable to grab a loose ball.
The Houston Rockets center played for a total of 20 minutes, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds. It was his second game since being sidelined by a broken foot in February.
Angola used speed and defense to counter China's height. Two of China's starters were held out of the game due to injuries.
Angola will be one of the opening-round opponents for China during the Beijing Games. The U.S. and Spain also will be in the same grouping.
-- Greg Johnson
Photo: Yao Ming reacts after missing a shot during today's game with Angola in the Stankovic Cup tournament in Hangzhou, China. Credit: Eugene Hoshiko/Associated Press
Chris Kaman of the Los Angeles Clippers moved a step closer to the Beijing Games earlier today as the German men's basketball team beat Brazil, 78-65. The win moved Germany -- and Kaman, who earlier this month received his German passport -- into the semifinals of the FIBA Olympic basketball qualifying tournament, which is playing out in Athens.
If Germany wins one more game, either in the semifinals against Croatia, or in the third-place game should it lose to Croatia, it will advance to Beijing.
Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 20 points, and is the tournament's scoring leader with a 23.7 point average after three games.
Kaman scored 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. “I’m just excited to be here,” Kaman told Associated Press. “Now we are one win away from the Olympics.”
Germany plays Croatia on Saturday, while Puerto Rico goes against Greece. The winners will meet on Sunday for the championship.
Photo: Dirk Nowitzki, right, and Chris Kaman of Germany react during a game against Brazil in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Athens earlier today. Credit: Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press
Germany will meet Brazil on Friday in Athens during quarterfinal action in FIBA's men's Olympic basketball qualifying tournament.
On Wednesday night, Dirk Nowitzki scored 35 points and Chris Kaman added 20 points to lead Germany to an 89-71 triumph over New Zealand. Germany secured first place in Group B with the win.
New Zealand managed to stick with Germany until midway during the second quarter, when the score was tied at 30-30. Then Germany, with Nowitzki and Kaman in the lead, went on a run that led to a 47-33 half-time lead.
Nowitzki was 14 of 22 from the field, while Kaman went eight for 12.
Also on Wednesday night, Greece dispatched Brazil, 89-69 to secure first place in Group B. The other quarterfinal games on Friday pit Croatia against Canada, Slovenia against Puerto Rico and Greece against New Zealand.
The FIBA tournament will determine the final three national teams to head to the Summer Games. Angola, Argentina, Australia, China, Iran, Lithuania, Russia, Spain and the U.S. already have punched their basketball tickets to Beijing.
-- Greg Johnson
Photo: Dirk Nowitzki, left, shoots as New Zealand's Mika Vukova defends during a FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament game on Tuesday. Credit: Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press Photo
Yao Ming scored 11 points during 12 minutes of play earlier today, giving his fans evidence that he's all the way back from an injury. The Houston Rockets center played for the Chinese national team, which beat a Serbian squad, 96-72.
Yao entered the game six minutes into the first quarter, the Associated Press reported, drawing a huge ovation from a crowd in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou. AP described Yao's play in the four-team Stankovic Cup tournament as "a little rusty."
The game marked Yao's first game appearance since February, when a stress fracture in his left foot ended his NBA season. The injury had threatened to keep Yao from playing for the Chinese team during next month's Beijing Games.
There are rumors that Yao is a candidate for the honor of carrying the Olympic Torch during the final leg into Beijing’s new National Stadium.
Yao shot 70% from the free-throw line, where he scored seven of his points, and grabbed four rebounds.
Xue Zhen, basketball editor for China's Titan Sports newspaper, told AP that Yao’s appearance at the Stankovic Cup was a massive confidence booster for his fans and Games organizers.
"This is Yao’s Olympic mission," Xue said. "His presence is extraordinarily powerful, and the team is built around him. Without Yao, China will become a totally different team."
It is uncertain how much playing time Yao will get during upcoming games against Angola and Russia.
-- Greg Johnson
Photo: China's Yao Ming moves the ball as Serbia's Boban Marjanovic tries to block him during a Stankovic Cup game earlier today in Hangzhou, China. Credit: Eugene Hoshiko / Associated Press
 Jermaine Anderson made a three-point shot in the final seconds today to lead Canada past South Korea, 79-77, at FIBA's Olympic qualifying tournament in Athens.
Canada rallied from an 18-point deficit early in the third quarter and was still down by 10 with two minutes left.
Rowan Barrett drilled six of nine shots from three-point range on his way to a game-high 22 points for Canada. Chun Jung-kyu made five of eight from behind the arc en route to 19 points in the first half.
Canada won despite playing with just 11 men. Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert was released from the team after Tuesday’s loss to Slovenia.
"Without going into too much detail, it's a situation that we decided to move forward with the players who have the passion and desire to play for Canada," coach Leo Rautins said. "It's disappointing for sure, but I think you have to have players who are a 100% committed to it."
If the Canadians qualify for the Beijing Games, they will be able to replace Dalembert. The team plays Croatia next.
Twelve teams at the Athens tournament are vying for the three remaining Olympic berths in Beijing.
-- Debbie Goffa
Photo: Jermaine Anderson of Canada scores over Joo Sung-kim of South Korea. Credit: Thanassis Stavrakis
Matt den Dekker broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run triple in the fourth, and Fallbrook resident Mike Leake (now at Arizona State) struck out seven during a seven-inning stretch to lead the USA Baseball National Team to a 9-3 victory earlier today over the German National Team
The U.S. squad improved to 15-0 on its 2008 tour with the win at Armin Wolf Arena in Regensburg, Germany. The game was the first on German soil for a USA Baseball National Team.
Rancho Cucamonga's Josh Fellhauer (who plays at Cal State Fullerton) singled with one out in the fourth and moved to second on a ground-out. Derek Dietrich walked and Den Dekker hit safely to the left-center gap to score Fellhauer and Dietrich to give the U.S. a lead it never lost.
Team USA added six runs in the eighth inning on homers from Castaic's Jared Clark (Cal State Fullerton) and Turloc's Tommy Mendonca (Fresno State).
Leake allowed only one unearned run on seven hits and no walks. Team USA completed four double plays, including two that ended innings.
The U.S. squad travels to the Czech Republic for a Wednesday afternoon game against the Czech National Team. It will play in the FISU (International University Sports Federation) baseball tournament that gets under way this coming weekend in the Czech Republic.
Baseball USA will unveil the 2008 U.S. Olympics team at 2:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday. The action will be streamed live on the Baseball USA website.
-- Greg Johnson
Photo: In a game in May, Florida's Matt den Dekker made this diving catch during a Southeastern Conference tournament. Credit: Butch Dill/Associated Press
 Greece, hoping to qualify for a berth in the Beijing Olympic Games, took a big step in that direction by easily defeating Lebanon, 119-62, today in the FIBA qualifying tournament in Athens.
The Greek men now must beat Brazil Tuesday night to keep their hopes alive.
In the opening game today, New Zealand routed Cape Verde, 77-50.
That game was followed by what ended up as a real battle between Slovenia and a determined South Korea. The Koreans came within five points, 72-67, in the final minutes, but Slovenia managed to hold them off and won 88-76.
In the third game of the day, Marko Tomas exploded for 22 points as Croatia -- one of the favorites to claim a spot in the Olympics -- held off Cameroon, 93-79.
The other countries bidding for the three remaining berths are Brazil, Canada, Germany and Puerto Rico.
The Athens tournament ends Sunday. Nine nations have already qualified for the Summer Games (in alphabetical order): Angola, Argentina, Australia, China, Iran, Lithuania, Russia, Spain and the United States.
--Debbie Goffa
Photo: Rodrigo Mascarenhas of Cape Verde tries to defend against Nick Horvath of New Zealand during today's game. Credit: Thanassis Stavrakis / Associated Press
 The Associated Press reports today that the Clippers' Chris Kaman has received German citizenship and will team up with Dirk Nowitzki for Germany at an Olympic qualifying tournament later this month.
The 7-foot Kaman, whose great-grandparents were German, averaged 15.7 points and 12.7 rebounds last season with the Clippers.
The German team, which has not qualified for the Olympics since the 1992 Barcelona Games, will head to Athens for the July 14-20 qualifying event.
“We’ll be stronger under the baskets with Chris,” Nowitzki told AP.
-- Debbie Goffa
Photo: Chris Kaman blocks a shot by the New York Knicks' Eddy Curry last fall.
Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times
That other Olympic 'sport.' NBA players on Team USA are subject to unannounced testing for human growth hormone, despite objections voiced by NBA and union officials earlier this year in Washington, D.C. "At the end of the day, guys will do what they have to do," Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd told USA Today. "They will follow the rules because everyone is waiting for us to complain about it. I'm OK with it."
Hold that pose. Roger Federer posing as a fencer, Ana Ivanovic playing beach volleyball, Maria Sharapova as rhythmic gymnast -- and the world's No. 1 wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer shooting hoops.
The photos are part of "Journey to Beijing – Tennis celebrates the Olympics, " a 140-page publication issued by the International Tennis Federation to celebrate tennis as the Beijing Games approach.
The book features photographs of top players dressed as athletes from other Olympic sports, along with interviews in which players talk about how the Olympics have influenced them.
The publication "shows how proud current tennis players are to represent their countries in the Olympic Games as well as the importance the Olympics has played in their lives," said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti.
Enteromorpha Prolifera: That's the scientific name for the algae that is fouling coastal waters that will be used for Olympic sailing events. About 10,000 workers and 1,000 vessels have been pressed into action to remove the unwanted stuff. China Daily reports that the local government in Quindao will have the mess cleaned up in about two weeks. In the coming days, about 30 Olympic sailing teams will be arriving in the area to begin practicing. At present, about 30% of the waters to be used for the sailing events are covered with algae.
-- Greg Johnson
Photo: Carlos Boozer, from left, Jason Kidd and LeBron James during a June 30 news conference in New York. Credit: Timothy A. Clary / AFP/Getty Image
With the Beijing Olympics 40 days away, it is clear that Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has somehow molded a group of ego-strutting, unquestionably talented NBA players into a cohesive team. Kobe Bryant talked about "Coach K" with Jonathan Abrams: "Above all else, he just wants to see his players play well and he wants to win. He communicates that beautifully to his players." Meanwhile, Bryant is asked about Shaquille O'Neal, but has virtually nothing to say about his former teammate's freestyle rap.
Photo: Kobe Bryant talks with the media after the U.S. team's training session in Las Vegas Saturday. Credit: Marlene Karas / US Presswire
 It could be the mother of all garage sales.
Beijing Games organizers hope to recoup some of their costs by auctioning off more than 200 million items -- including the bed where 7-foot-6' NBA All-star Yao Ming will sleep.
China Daily reports that Beijing Game organizers hope to raise up to $1 billion yuan ($146 million) by selling furniture, fixtures, clocks, light bulbs, "a variety of sports equipment" and even some of the land underneath Olympic Games venues.
The sale will be conducted by the China Beijing Equity Exchange, which describes itself as "the sole institution for the transfer of ownership of state-owned enterprises."
"Obviously, the bidding will be hot," said CBEE President Xiong Yan. "People will be looking for memorabilia."
A photo in China's largest English-language paper shows that the bed actually is two beds -- a normal-sized bed with an additional mattress attached to where Yao will rest his size 18 feet.
The Houston Rockets center who has been recovering from an injury told a packed news conference in Beijing on Thursday that "I had a physical in Houston on Monday... My fracture is 80% healed, which is normal after four months treatment."
Doctors, Yao added, cleared him for practice in mid-July: "Nobody would want to miss the Beijing Olympics and I won't let you down."
-- Greg Johnson
Photo: Yao Ming during a June 26 Beijing press conference. Credit: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images
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