Basketball Blog

TAIPEI 101

In case you’re wondering, Taipei 101 is not a JDBASKETBALL class on thoughts concerning offense and defensive philosophies in Asian basketball—it’s actually (for now), the world’s tallest building! In the shadows, a few kilometers away lies the Tshai Hsing School where I was invited conduct basketball camp for a couple hundred Taiwanese kids the past few weeks.

Economist Tom Friedman theory re: , “The Globalization of the game’, I sensed immediately upon landing as NBA and other basketball advertisements loomed throughout the airport terminal. I had some premonition from my China experience; but this is not your mommas China this is Taiwan (aka Chinese Taipei), and to walk along the streets and see firsthand kids playing all on every free court in NBA jerseys I was amazed. It is not surprising that the NBA was conducting huge promotions at the major hi end shopping malls (With Donyell Marshall, GS Warrior mascot and Knicks City Dancers!). Tshai Hsing school is one of the most prominent schools in all of Taipei and Polarbears team can boast a winning tradition claiming recent city champs for 4 straight years!

The more I travel the more I can realize that basketball is a dialogue for mankind. Everywhere I go from Boston to Beijing or Baltimore to Bombay — it never ceases to amaze me – the language remains the same.

The gymnasium was newly constructed and very nice. While listening to Jay-Z hip hop music blasting; watching every kid dribbling around aimlessly in break time, and hearing the constant asking to play 5 on 5 (or “Tee chair, we wan to play fy on fy bas -ket-ball) or knockout (they call it something in Chinese I can’t begin to spell phonetically 🙂 ), I felt like I was back home at St. Matt’s in Dix Hills or the Brearley Field House in NYC. Instead we would start teaching the fundaments, dribbling, passing, shooting and defense. I needed very little interpretation. I did my best to learn each of students Chinese and English names- but do trust with over 200 names to remember at a clip per week— was not an easy task. The coaches, Roger Hsu and trusty assistant Shofwa are very patient and very good at teaching the game. I am not surprised of their Nike endorsements or careers coaching in the Taiwan SBL professional league. Some of their players are assisting –one is even ABC- American Born Chinese; James Mao who was once a Freshman walk on practice player at U Texas is a big star basketball player and model here now.

Unfortunately we were cut short usually as it rains everyday in (Island typhoon season), yes everyday. And although, we lost some kids to ping pong- (excuse me; table tennis) — and while we had to give up the main court a few days to badminton- yes that badminton; basketball is the definitely considered the biggest sport here and all the kids had a great time.

Taipeian kids are smart and fun, they run around playing Chinese hand games that I don’t understand (but look really cool), work on their English and drink famous Taiwan milk while they train. Rocking the latest Air Jordans desiring to be Steve Nash or Lebron James or Allen Iverson, there is not much different between these kids and their US, Italian, Isreali or Indian counterparts! They do seem to focus intensely on their newly taught basketball moves, but basketball is certainly in perspective, as many of the kids will take a grueling 3 -5 more hours of in class English later in the day. Unlike their American counterparts, they have only two weeks off of school the entire summer.

The ever improving participants, I’ll never forget; Jeff and Jerry King Kong (Who everyday wore King Kong #1 jerseys everyday), Yao Ming (because he is the tallest kid, English name Eugene- he preferred Yao!), Baby Godzilla (walks like), Glasses (Had to fix one day after he broke), Funny Girl and Stick Boy (guess why?) . I thank them all for the laughs and memories that will stay with me while I go on.

I had a great experience and a special thanks to the Chang Family and Mr. Dominic Chang, the drivers Sho-ma and, Cheng, the Tshai Hsing School Family (especially Emma, Sue Mae and Rydia aka Tiger!) and all the coaches and players. Everyone was super nice and made me feel much at home!

Next stop, I am back to India as the US State Department has invited me to conduct JDBASKETBALL program as a cultural program. I am very honored and look forward to telling you guys all about it.

See you soon btw our NYC Fall Fridays with Yorkville Athletic Association (www.YYAA.org) and Sunday’s JDBASKETBALL (www.jdbasketball.com) classes are starting the first and second week in September, respectively. If you have yet to register – get on the ball ☺, as we have sold old before.

In Hoops and for Humanity,

JD

jd@jdbasketball.com