Lesson 13. Talking about sports

It has been already quite a few months since Zhang Tianming moved out of the student dorm. Living by himself off campus is much quieter than living on campus. There is a lot of time to do school work. But sometimes he would feel lonely by himself. This evening Zhang Tianming has finished doing homework and has nothing to do, therefore he called Anderson.

Z: Hello, is this Anderson?

A: Yes, I am Anderson. May I ask you are?

Z: How come? You dont even recognize my voice?

A: Ah, Tianming, its you! Did you watch tonights ball game?

Z: Ball game? I did not watch TV at all tonight.

A: How come? You dont even watch such important basketball matches?

Z: Who played against whom?

A: Our school against Michigan.

Z: What was the result?

A: Damn, we lost.

Z: Lost again? It is too disappointing.

A; You can say that again. The Michigan team, each of their members is strong and sturdy, especially their number 5, incredibly fast.

Z: I heard that our teams speed is not slow either, furthermore our coach is much more experienced than theirs.

A: Right. Originally our team was ahead all along, but later they gradually catch up in scores. The tensest moment is the last twenty seconds. The score was 80 to 80. At this moment their number 5 shot in another ball. As soon as the ball entered the basket, time was up. 82 to 80, they won.

Z: Even if we lose once is no big deal. In any case it is not the final match.

A: Thats true. Actually, our team played rather well, it is just that our experience in competition is not as much as theirs. The one that played the best is our number 3. He got 30 points.

Z: Who is number 3?

A: You dont even know number 3? He is just that handsome guy that all girls like.

Z: Oh, now I remember. Next time if there is another spectacular match, dont forget to tell me.

A: OK!

Z: Bye.

Last week, Zhang Tianming received a letter his cousin sent him from Nanjing. In the letter he mentioned the situation of Chinese sports. Since the 80s, there has been a lot of development in Chinese sports. Chinese athletes get many gold and silver medals at the Olympic games. Quite a lot of people also broke world records. Many Chinese feel proud because of this, and feel that this is the glory of the whole nation. Every time Chinese athletes get good marks in international competitions, there will be tens and thousands of people to go on streets to celebrate. When cousin talked about these things he was very excited. But Zhang Tianming thinks that the reason why people participate in sports is because sports are beneficial to health and is not for fighting for honor of ones country. Furthermore, going on streets to celebrate for getting one or two gold medals is really unnecessary.