Baseball "has enjoyed strong development in China, as well as the rest of Asia, over the past decade," according to the CHINA DAILY. The MLB "has made great efforts to popularize the game in the region while also helping Asian teams get stronger on the int'l stage." Over the past five years, MLB Dir of Baseball Development in Asia Rick Dell and his colleagues "have been promoting the sport and have made significant progress." The league has opened two development centers in Jiangsu province. Dell said, "The ultimate goal is to cultivate a local baseball superstar to attract millions of fans and further create business opportunities in China." Inspired by Harvard graduate and NBA player Jeremy Lin and his "Linsanity" phenomenon, Dell has launched a program called "Chinsanity," which is "designed to encourage the development center players to find a balance between the baseball diamond and the classroom." Another program called "Independent Packets" has also been organized "to help local clubs in China by providing equipment and coaching" (CHINA DAILY, 12/29).
