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All the world loves Team USA basketball
Even though the U.S. men’s basketball team played their opening game on a very away court, and even though they humiliated host nation China to start their quest to Olympic gold, the packed stadium in downtown Beijing erupted in cheers each time Dwayne Wade hit a jump shot and Lebron James slammed over a hapless defender.
The U.S. team’s 101 to 70 victory over China started what fans from around the world predicted would be a smooth road to a gold medal.
“Of course I want China to win, but the U.S. team is too strong,” said a Chinese fan who gave only his surname, Wang. “They’ll certainly win the gold.”
A French journalist in Beijing to cover the Olympics said she thought the U.S. national team looked more serious than they have in recent years, particularly in the 2004 Athens Olympics, when Team USA was left with only a bronze medal.
“It’s been too long, so they are very focused,” she said.
American fans in Beijing offered bravado.
“They’ve been challenged by other national teams and they know they have to step up,” said Tom Grooms, a technology consultant from East Moline, Illinois who lives in Tokyo.
“They sure seem determined to win.”
As Kobe Bryant hit a 3 and Wade stole a pass and slammed it home, the crowd - a United Nations of fans - burst into applause.
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