Trouncing Spain in hoops? Not so tough. Eating a hamburger at McDonald's hassle-free? That's the difficult part of the job. At least that's the case for USA Basketball stars Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard in Beijing.
In his latest check-in from China, Bosh shows what it's like to be a world-famous athlete in a country that's deep in the throes of Olympic fever.
Latest Chris Bosh Photos
Chris Bosh (L) of the US fights for the ball with Geece's Ioannis Bourousis during their men's preliminary round group B match of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 14, 2008 at the Olympic basketball Arena in Beijing. USA defeated Greece 92-69. AFP PHOTO/ Filippo MONTEFORTE (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Chris Bosh (R) of the US holds the basket as Greece's Ioannis Bourousis falls down during their men's preliminary round group B match of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 14, 2008 at the Olympic basketball Arena in Beijing. USA defeated Greece 92-69. AFP PHOTO / ANTONIO SCORZA (Photo credit should read ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Kobe Bryant (R,up) of US congratulates Chris Bosh after he scored against Greece during their 2008 Beijing Olympic Games men's preliminary round Groupe B basketball match at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium in Beijing on August 14, 2008. AFP PHOTO/ NICOLAS ASFOURI (Photo credit should read NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Kobe Bryant (up) of US congratulates Chris Bosh after he scored against Greece during their 2008 Beijing Olympic Games men's preliminary round Groupe B basketball match at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium in Beijing on August 14, 2008. AFP PHOTO/ NICOLAS ASFOURI (Photo credit should read NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Kobe Bryant (up) of US congratulates Chris Bosh after he scored against Greece during their 2008 Beijing Olympic Games men's preliminary round Groupe B basketball match at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium in Beijing on August 14, 2008. AFP PHOTO/ NICOLAS ASFOURI (Photo credit should read NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Kobe Bryant (up) of US congratulates Chris Bosh after he scored against Greece during their 2008 Beijing Olympic Games men's preliminary round Groupe B basketball match at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium in Beijing on August 14, 2008. AFP PHOTO/ NICOLAS ASFOURI (Photo credit should read NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Kobe Bryant (R, up) of US congratulates Chris Bosh after he scored against Greece during their 2008 Beijing Olympic Games men's preliminary round Groupe B basketball match at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium in Beijing on August 14, 2008. AFP PHOTO/ NICOLAS ASFOURI (Photo credit should read NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Chris Bosh (L) of the US fights for the ball with Geece's Sofoklis Schortsanitis during their men's preliminary round group B match of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 14, 2008 at the Olympic basketball Arena in Beijing. AFP PHOTO/ Filippo MONTEFORTE (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Chris Bosh (up) of US scores past Greece Theodoros Papaloukas (down) during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games men's preliminary round Groupe B basketball match at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium in Beijing on August 14, 2008. AFP PHOTO/ NICOLAS ASFOURI (Photo credit should read NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
BEIJING - AUGUST 14: Sofoklis Schortsanitis #14 of Greece goes up for a shot as he knocks back Chris Bosh #12 of the United States during the Men's Preliminary Round Group A basketball game at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium during day 6 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 14, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sofoklis Schortsanitis;Chris Bosh
Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
8-18-2008 @ 2:07PM
Fille said...
Where are the Gumball Rally guys? Aren't they in Beijing? Now that's news!
Reply
8-18-2008 @ 2:56PM
handy said...
great pair! true gentleman of the NBA.
Reply
8-18-2008 @ 2:59PM
Robin said...
I don't think professional basketball players should be allowed to play in the Olympics. That on top of the amount of money they make, I have no sympathy for them. They should try struggling in the real world.
Reply
8-18-2008 @ 3:26PM
Mike said...
Robin, you're kidding right?
Look, bottom line is every other country in the world uses professional players, so why should the USA be different?
The "spoiled athletes" as you seem to think they are have not had a life of their own since middle school. I am the director of a student athlete development service, and these players have made personal sacrafices year after year to be the best at what they do.
If you're stuggling in life . . it's YOUR fault . . not theirs! Get a life pal.
8-18-2008 @ 5:56PM
Dev said...
Why don't you shut up.
What about those top-soccer players.
If you're good at something, and you're one of the world's best, you deserve it because you worked hard for it.
Now it's your fault you live in the real world.
And a ton of them have living in the ghetto until they graduated.
Without computers and everything, like you have now.
So shut up.
8-23-2008 @ 7:54AM
Chad said...
stop being a hater
8-18-2008 @ 3:00PM
Doug said...
The people in China knows who the real athletes are.......
Reply
8-18-2008 @ 3:04PM
rafiq said...
Dear Chris, I am writing a screenplay about sport figures and the game of basketball. Would you please help were you can
with your experience and knowledge of the game.
Please email me as soon as possible.
rafiq
Reply
8-18-2008 @ 5:53PM
Bubba said...
Start by using "where" instead of "were"!
8-18-2008 @ 3:10PM
bob wong said...
Who is your daddy?? NBA proves thay are the best! Period!
Reply
8-18-2008 @ 3:14PM
cs said...
Robin Your an idiot. They make money because they're talented stars in the united states. They represent that we are the best athletes in the world. They should try struggling in the real world? Chris Bosh is from south oak cliff in dallas. Maybe you should go live there and tell us what you think about them... Be proud of them
Reply
8-18-2008 @ 3:18PM
andy said...
I thought the Olympics was for Amature Atheletes,
Reply
8-18-2008 @ 4:03PM
junior said...
Are you guys serious about pro basketball players in the olympics
They are pro tennis players playing, pro volleyball players, pro x games, pro swimmers, pro track and field, and pro gymnist from all countries the only ametuers are the boxers. All the countries use their pros so why can't we?
8-18-2008 @ 6:11PM
Bubba said...
You thought wrong!!!
8-18-2008 @ 6:24PM
nancy said...
It used to be, until it was determined that the Russian athlethes did nothing but that particular sport, no job, no hobbies, just that sport. The IOC decided that professionals could play after that.
8-18-2008 @ 3:21PM
Mario T Rivera said...
Rafiq
Why are you writing a book on a subject about which you know absolutely nothing???????
Reply
8-18-2008 @ 3:22PM
Dan said...
Is'nt it just amazing that out of all those people thye choose to try to talk to the two underage girls that are not hounding them for autographs, HMmm bet there will be a story after the olympics of the NBA stars and underage girls in Bejing.
Reply
8-18-2008 @ 3:27PM
PAT said...
JIM THORPE IS ROLLING OVER IN HIS GRAVE................................
Reply
8-18-2008 @ 3:38PM
chickengeorge said...
why are professional athletes who are generally less educated and under exposed held in esteem? i certainly don't blame or envy them...i'd accept pay to play a kids gams anythime...but there is something pathologically wrong with the american psyche that secretly desires to model itself after people whom they are otherwise be afraid of and mock under normal circumstances because they lack exposure and cannot communicate in other than cliches and slang phrases...
Reply
8-18-2008 @ 4:07PM
stew said...
what would you propose to do with all the professional athletes we have. One thing that works in America is professional sports, creating billions of dollars in revenue and fantastic jobs other than those of the players. Other countries would be well advised to create sports industries, then they might have something constructive for their male populations other than being soldiers.