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[Hatcher]

Does anyone know where, when and how good the pro sports like soccer, basketball and hockey are in Shanghai?

[jimpellow]

I would highly recommend attending a sporting event when one of the Western semi pro teams makes a stop while on a tour. I was a guest for such a basketball game by one of those persistent Chinese people that wanted a Western friend to show off.

Never in my life did I observe lao wai's take such a beating from Chinese. The referees did not call one foul, which caused the crowd to work itself into more and more of a celebratory frenzy despite the fact that the city team still got its butt kicked. The coach of the Western team seemed incredulous at each and every uncalled foul, which I thought was funny as he must have had to endure it pretty much every game on the tour.

My Western pride swelled up, fueled by the warm Harbins we had downed over hot pot. I made a point to stand and dance badly at every hoop by Team Gui Lao, and used my extensive Chinese to liberally hurl insults at the refs such as "Cai pan fan pi!" and "Ni shi san dian". The crowd embraced me, save my new friend who was most embarrassed. He never invited me out again thus making this event one of the most memorable and satisfying of my five year stay.

So nothing to do with your question, but check out a semi pro tour game in Shanghai if you get the chance.