Today’s Chinese cigarettes
ballineurope.com 8/7/2008 — With the highly awaited Olympic basketball tournament coming closer, here are some of the thoughts I found throughout the internet about the mega event in Beijing. Dirk Nowitzki will finally be the German flagbearer. The Dallas Mavericks ...

2008 Olympics Basketball Preview: Group B
interbasket.net 8/8/2008 — Need to brush up on your Olympic basketball? Well, then take a gander at Interbasket's Olympic Previews for Group B: Angola, China, Germany, Greece, Spain, and the USA.

Kobe Would Take $50 Mil. To Play In Italy
boston.com 8/8/2008 — If Italy comes knocking with big money next summer, the NBA could lose its biggest star in Kobe Bryant. “I’d go. I’d probably go,” said Bryant, during a USA Basketball press conference on Friday morning. “Like Milan or something like that, where I grew up or something like that… Peace out.” Bryant continued: “Do you know any reasonable person that would turn down 50 (million dollars)?”

Report: Lakers to Add Chinese 'Magic'
dailynews.com 8/8/2008 — In the LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS, Elliott Teaford reports "the Lakers and point guard Sun Yue have agreed to terms on a two-season contract, the team confirmed Thursday. The Lakers hope to sign Sun formally within the next few days, team spokesman John ...

Yao Ming or Andrew Bynum: Part II (the call)
khandorssportsblog.wordpress.com 8/7/2008 — The votes for last week’s on-line survey have been tabulated. ============================= Who is the better player, Yao or Bynum? Now - Yao 11; Bynum 11 Later - Yao 8; Bynum 14 Which one would Phil Jackson choose as the Center for his ...

Yao to be China's Flag Bearer for Second Straight Olympics — NBA.com: News 8/7/2008
In the HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Fran Blinebury reports "As China prepares to stand tall by hosting its first Olympic Games, it is only fitting that 7-6 Yao Ming will carry his nation's flag into the Bird's Nest stadium at Friday's Opening Ceremonies. A ...

Yao, Nowitzki Among Four NBA Flag-Bearers at Olympics — NBA.com: News 8/7/2008
Chinese basketball player Yao Ming will carry the host nation's flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday, the deputy head of China's team said on Thursday. "The Chinese delegation has already decided that the flag-bearer will be Yao ...

On Redeem Team, Kobe has most to gain — FOXSports.com News for NBA 8/7/2008
They call it the Redeem Team, but Ian O'Connor says none of the American stars has more on the line than Kobe Bryant.

USA Basketball Blog: Work, Play and Mail — NBA.com: News 8/7/2008
NBA.com's John Schuhmann is in Beijing with USA Basketball. On Thursday, he blogs about Kobe Bryant's game of PIG, Carmelo Anthony's elevator trick and a visit to the Olympic Park, while also answering some of your mail.

Kobe, LeBron, Yao highlight US-China (AP) — Yahoo! Sports - NBA News 8/8/2008
Between Yao Ming's return and President Bush's arrival, this might be the only Olympic basketball game in which the guys wearing red, white and blue have to cede the spotlight. The United States begins the tournament Sunday night against host China, a ...