Talking Balls: Elton John Ruins The CBA, Live Boxing & Watching the World Series

Jonathan White | Oct 27, 2012 6:00 pm | Add a comment | 1609 reads

Hello, sports fans. It's been a while since the last Talking Balls but we're back off the treatment table and ready to return to the big leagues. Let's start with the biggest story in CBA history. No, it's not T-Mac's arrival in the home of the beer festival nor is it the growing rumors of Gilbert Arenas signing down south, it is the news that ... Elton John has ruined Chinese basketball. The Knight of the Realm is not really to blame but his November 25 concert at the MasterCard Center has clashed with the original schedule for Beijing Ducks season opener against Shanghai Sharks. There's a little more background on this at NiuBBall.com but there's no word on where or when the champions will begin the defense of their CBA title.

And what a CBA it promises to be (if and) when it does get going. Tracy MacGrady is the latest of the big name ballers to jump ship to the Chinese league. He's joined Qingdao Double Star Eagles. That's official. What's not official (yet) is another former NBA All-Star, Gilbert Arenas, is giving the Guangdong Southern Tigers the glad eye from across the dancefloor. We wonder how his locker-room gunplay will go down over here. There's only one to find out ... but while we wait for his arrival, here's the news:

  • Li Na kept her hopes of progressing at the WTA Championships with a win over Germany's Angelique Kerber earlier this week bu that was all dashed yesterday. Li Na was beaten by Victoria Azarenka, whose straight-sets victory secured that she finished the year as the women's number one.
  • Baseball's World Series is underway. If you are looking to catch the early-morning action we suggest that you try Tim's, The Den, Paddy O'Shea's, Frank's Place or Cu Ju. Give them a ring before you go to confirm but experience suggests that these are the most likely venues.
  • Time is running out to get your tickets for White Collar Boxing. It's not-to-be-missed.
  • Beijing Guoan will play Guangzhou Evergrande in their last home game of the season. The game will take place at Workers' Stadium on Friday or Saturday evening (Nov 2/3). The visitors could win the league while the hosts are looking to cement a Champions' League berth.

And finally, we told you some time ago about the Lingerie Football League's plan to come in December. We've not forgotten. We're hoping to have news on tickets soon. Stay tuned.

Photo: China Daily