Root, Root, Root for the Home Team?

Tonight, I'll be going to my second Olympic match, and what a match it will be. USA vs. China, quarter finals. Doesn't get much better than that. Look for us in the stands, waving a US flag and making as much noise as possible. However, unlike past situations in which we'd cheer on the US using Chinese phrases and getting our fellow Chinese spectators to cheer along, this time it may not be so easy to make friends and practice Chinese. This may pose a slight problem.

Aside from the US men's basketball openner against China, and the women's all around gymnastics breakdown, China and the US have not been competing against one another in the same sports. While we are both locked in a close medal race with one another, it seems that each country has resided itself to specific niche sports. We have the dream team 2.0, they have the ping pong power house (should I say version 10.0?). We own the world records for swimming, they dominate diving by usually a 30 point gap between 1st and 2nd place. To each his own, we'd say...except when it comes to volleyball.

We tell our Chinese friends that of course we'll root for America, if they're competing, but if not it's China all the way (中国加油!）. I mean, why not? We are in Beijing, and aside from national pride for the US, what ties do we have to other nations? We'll be living here for the next year, and it would seem rude not to root for the home team (for if they don't win it's a shame). I just wish China would make it easier to do so.

Unfortunately, after watching 10 days of CCTV broadcasts and Chinese fan behavior, I've become a little tired of this mentality and may wane in my enthusiasm for Chinese sports. I taught my students to be gracious in victory and in defeat, but that mentality doesn't really apply here.

First, CCTV coverage is completely biased. There isn't an english channel, and they provide almost no stats. Even the announcers seems to have very little understanding of the sport itself. Every time China scores, it's hao qiu this or fei chang piao liang (good ball/play and extremely beautiful), even when it's really just a f up on the other team's part. Those watching NBC should be grateful, the camera footage is much better (CCTV often misses the proper frame in a replay and spends more time on crotch shots and cleavage in the volleyball arena, than actual line judging). Like everything here, that upper level of professionalism and perfection is lacking.

Second, Chinese fans have a four character phrase to cheer on their team, and nothing more...I mean it. It's zhong guo jia you 中国加油， and that's it. So, during every match, that's all you hear. It lacks originality and becomes quite a bore. I know this country isn't well known for independent thought, but cmon, think of something else. Just because it's the national cheer, doesn't mean you can't come up with something a little more interesting.

Third, there is an area of contention among the medal standings. The rest of the world has the US placed first, as the total number of medals is the determining factor for national success. However, China has continued to have the US in second, with them in first, because they have 10 more gold medals than we do. There is a specific mentality here that only gold matters. Silver and bronze are just the first and second loser in their minds, so why should it count. While I admire their commitment to excellence, I would like to point out that second place counts and going 1 and 2 in an event like swimming should be honored. After all, without Phelps setting the world records, someone like Lochte or Peirsol would be placing first...the guy's just too good. Like everything here, international rules don't apply, and I'm convinced that even if the US manages to take home the most medals, China will champion itself as the Olympic winner.

So on that note, I'm going to cheer my lungs out for team US women's beach volleyball. Sometimes you just have to live up to the expectations and find your inner ugly American.