In the past 10 years, America's National Basketball Association(NBA)has grown increasingly dependent on the rest of the world to supply players.
When Micheal Jordan and Larry Bird won gold in Barcelona in 1992, the Americans were praised for teaching the world how to play basketball.This season, however, 20 percent of NBA rosters(花名册)will be filled by non-Americans.NBA commissioner David Stern happily embraces the trend.On a visit to Paris in October, Stern outlined his vision for the future, which is likely to see Euroe hosting NBA games by 2010.
The NBA is now planning to take China by sorm.
“Our experience in China has been that it is going to be explosive in its growth, ” said Stern.The strategy in China is TV.“ We’ve made 14 deals in China with local and national networks on cable and satelite.” The success Chinese centre Yao Ming has paved the way for the NBA marketing blitz in China.The NBA, which is broadcasted in more than 200 countries in 42 languages, will put that to the test in Octber 2004 when the Houston Rockets play two pre-season games against the Sacramento Kings in Beijing market to compensate for tough times on home soil.
“It doesn't matter where the players come form, all the NBA teams now know that they have to scout(寻找)internationally, ” said Terry Lyons, the NBA's vice-president of international public relations.“It has increased the level of competition here.” As Frenchman Tony Parker and Aregentine Emanuel Ginobili showed in winning championship rings with the San Antonio Spurs last season, many people can earn the respect of their American peers.Others, such as Houston Rockets’ Chinese centre Yao Ming-No.1 draft pick in 2002-and the Detroit Pistons’ 18-year-old Serb Darko Milicic-number two overall in this year's draft-are icons(偶像)in waiting.It is the ultimate(根本的)revolution-the rest of the world teaching the US how to play basketball.
(1)
According to the report ________.
[ ]
A.
Michael Jordan is still playing a very important role in NBA
B.
the part played by the foreign players in NBA will be great
C.
Yao Ming is to play two pre-season games in NBA
D.
European countries will host the 2004 NBA games
(2)
The underlined phrase “take China by storm” means that ________.
[ ]
A.
NBA intends to make China its “marketing centre”
B.
NBA is planning to set up some training centres in China
C.
there'll be a big storm when NBA comes to China to play against the Sacramento Kings
D.
the NBA's live basketball games will be broadcast on all the TVs in China
(3)
What seems to be the biggest change that is happening to NBA?
[ ]
A.
NBA is expecting more foreign players to join the NBA league.
B.
China’ rapid development in sports affects NBA.
C.
Yao Ming has taken the place of Jordan.
D.
The NBA will stop teaching the world how to play basketball.
(4)
When the writer talked of “home soil ”, he was referring to ________.