Far East, Far Out

Greetings from Shanghai, everyone. We’re just about ready to head to the Arena for the first of two matchups with the Orlando Magic. The Portman Ritz-Carlton is buzzing as both teams, their huge traveling groups, and the international media prepares for the start of China Games 2007.

I still haven’t mustered the culinary courage to eat the squid-on-a-stick that I wrote about on Monday. Call me a coward.

We’ll be leaving Shanghai for Macao right after Wednesday night’s game, so I wanted to check in with four final observations from the Paris of the East. And I’ll check back from Macao in a couple days.

There isn’t anything that can happen on Wednesday night at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena that could match the pure joy that three Cavaliers – Donyell Marshall, Devin Brown and Cedric Simmons – gave to scores of small children on Tuesday afternoon at the Lu Bing Hua Migrant School in Shanghai. Click here for the photos

Lining the corridors of the school’s entrance, a handful of pre-schoolers greeted us with glowing smiles and a word they might have just learned earlier that day – (Hello!) It was enough to melt the hearts of hardest ballers – their tiny voices ringing the school’s halls, belying the poverty that surrounded them. The adorable four- and five-year olds repeated their new word over and over, happily flashing the peace sign to their enormous guests.

Soon after the Cavaliers arrived, NBA Commissioner David Stern rolled in, and the ceremony to christen the opening of a brand new library, technology center and adidas basketball court commenced. Commissioner Stern, Donyell and representatives from adidas and Lenovo computers spoke after a pair of performances by some of the children. Also on hand were NBA legends George Gervin and Chocolate Thunder himself, Daryl Dawkins.

These were the children of migrant workers, some of whom watched the event from the factory next door.

After the ceremony, Donyell, Devin and Cedric played some ball with the kids. Devin and the Ice Man read to some of the pre-schoolers, and the eager tikes parroted Gervin’s reading flawlessly. (He’d turn the page and say “Very good!” They replied “Very good!” It was priceless.)

It was truly a heart-warming event, pulled off to perfection – as always – with the assistance of Cavs Community Relations Director, Colleen Garrity.

Let’s be honest: the big draw here at China Games 2007 is LeBron James, who – based on observations in the first part of the week – has demi-god status here in Shanghai. He is the NBA’s rock star.

From the 100-ft. tall billboards to his new Nike commercial which plays on 36” video screens throughout the city to his jam-packed Nike event on Monday night, it’s apparent that he is the top hoopster in the world. (Or at least the Far East.) When the Chinese media is allowed into practice, they descend on James, six or seven deep. Naturally, LeBron fields their questions with patience and aplomb.

But the one thing that’s catching the most attention from his American observers here in Shanghai is that he goes everywhere donning a Cleveland Indians cap. Without dredging up CapGate, I can’t help but get a warm and fuzzy feeling every time I see LBJ sporting Chief Wahoo.

Speaking of the Tribe, all of us have been watching the Indians-Red Sox games here in Shanghai. The games have come on at 7 or 8 a.m. in the morning – (we’re 12 hours ahead of Cleveland) – and some of the fellow travelers have had impromptu watch parties in their rooms.

I had to miss Game 3 in order to attend Cavaliers practice, but was kept abreast of events thanks to an e-mail play-by-play from Cavaliers Graphics Director, Mark “It’s Tribe Time Now” Podolak – watching back in Cleveland.

The games are broadcast on ESPN International, which is pretty wild in itself. Soccer is definitely the big programming and the big news this morning was soccer hooliganism in Russia. The second biggest soccer story was a South African player who challenged a cheetah to a foot-race. (The cheetah won, and for his efforts, was promptly shot with a tranquilizer gun.)

I mentioned some of the street oddities in Monday’s blog, but I think it bears elaboration.

If there are traffic rules, I have not figured them out. It is absolute insanity. Buses pull U-turns in rush hour, bicycles dart in and out of traffic. There is no regard for the double-yellow or speed-bumps. And the other night – hand to God – I saw four people on a single moped.

I have yet to get into a taxi cab with a driver that has good vision. Because we don’t speak the language, you simply present a business card – picked up at the consierge’s desk – of the place you want to go. Without fail, the cabbie squints at the card, puts on a pair of busted-up eyeglasses, and squints and the card again. Then he takes off the glasses and proceeds to drive like a maniac to said destination.

We were warned before the trip that it is not uncommon for the Chinese to spit on the sidewalk. “Not uncommon” – as it turns out – means “very common” because both men and women have no shame in their game when it comes to busting a loogie at any time.

Shockingly, this is not the most disgusting thing that we’ve witnessed. On several occasions, we’ve seen grown men urinating in public. (On the way back from Lu Bing Hua, Cedric Simmons sheepishly pointed at a man whizzing off a bridge into a river.) Frequently, you’ll see a parent have their small child drop trough and do their business on the corner of a building. Some of these shorties even have little “pajamas” with a slit down the backside for easy access. Classic!

Well, that’s it for today, Cleveland. I hope I haven’t spoiled your breakfast. We’re rolling up to the Arena as I write. Hopefully everyone is able to check out Fred McLeod’s call of the game on WTAM this morning. He’s subbing for the injured Joe Tait – who missed the trip to China with a foot injury.

I’ll check back in from Macao in just a bit. Hopefully after a Cavaliers win. In the meantime … GO TRIBE!!!