League Notes
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NBA China's Tim Chen (l) With Taipei
Mayor Hau Lung-Bin At Announcement |
The NBA Friday announced that it will stage its first-ever game in Taipei, a Nuggets-Pacers preseason contest at the 12,874-seat Taipei Arena on October 8. The game marks the fourth '09 preseason game that will be played outside of the U.S. and Canada. Taipei becomes the seventh Asian city to host an NBA game. The league will conduct community and youth-oriented events in the city around the game (NBA).
FURTHER ASIAN EXPANSION: In Boston, Marc Spears wrote the NBA is "trying to conquer India." NBA Dir of Int'l Development Akash Jain said, "Our goal is to make basketball the No. 2 sport in India over the next five years. ... India is a significant emerging business and basketball opportunity for us." Spears noted three Indian newspapers and two TV networks "covered the recent Finals." However, growing the sport in the country is the league's "toughest challenge," as India is "sorely lacking in basketball venues; there is no current facility available suitable for an NBA preseason game" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/21).
REMINDER OF RIGHT AND WRONG: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a letter to all teams last week after indefinitely suspending Browns WR Donte Stallworth following his conviction for DUI manslaughter. Goodell: "DUI is a serious matter which poses great risks to both those who drive under the influence, and innocent third parties. This truth was tragically underscored in Mr. Stallworth's case. In the past few years, I have not hesitated to impose discipline, including suspensions, on club and league employees who have violated the law relating to alcohol use. Every club should advise its employees of their obligations and our commitment to hold people accountable for alcohol-related violations of law" (SI.com, 6/22).
DON'T GO OUT AT NIGHT: NASCAR SCENE's David Exum wrote NASCAR "needs to rethink night racing." While night racing is "OK in the Sprint Cup Series a few times a season," it should not be part of either the Camping World Truck or Nationwide series "because of the simple fact that every time those race at night, that has a certain impact on short tracks around the nation." Fans are not going to "waste time on a Friday or Saturday night and head out to their local short track when there's a night race on either ESPN2 or Speed" (SCENEDAILY.com, 6/19).
FORMULA FOR DISASTER: Fox' Bob Varsha discussed the current situation in F1 with eight teams threatening to withdraw next year. Varsha: "It appears Formula One is headed for the kind of split that American open-wheel racing experienced in the 1990s and from which it has yet to recover. While fans around the world watch and wait, the lines have been firmly drawn in the sand this weekend." McLaren Mercedes Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh: "People may characterize it as a split, but in reality it was quite the opposite. It was a decision that kept the majority of the teams, the names, the brands, the stars together." F1 driver Jenson Button: "This is not a good position for anybody to be in. Hopefully, we will sort it out and we can go racing next year and forget all about it" ("British Grand Prix," Fox, 6/21).
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