American player's take on a CBA brawl
Tuesday, 13th January 2009 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (2)
Liu and a teammate were each fined 50,000 yuan and suspended for 10 games for their involvement in the incident. Muoneke has posted his own account on his blog on HoopsHype.com. It's not too different from the story that's been reported by Chinese media. Muoneke confirms that he was with two of his children when the Sharks confronted him, and writes, "I hold no ill will toward them and was on record saying I had no desire for them to be punished."
Muoneke also uses the post to vent other frustrations he is having with the CBA in his first season here. He hasn't been impressed with the level of play. He writes:
"One day, I'd love to discuss the fine points of basketball and its utter decimation in certain places. I'd love to brag about my numbers over here but I have some pride."
He also complains about the fouls against him that aren't called, and expresses some frustrations as a black American playing in the CBA. Here Munoeke, who is of Bantu-speaking Nigerian descent, recounts a conversation with a Chinese coach:
"My first coach here in 2003 told me he studied human anatomy in college and through his studies he learned (Bantu) people are made only for certain sports. He said, basketball, football and other power sports were those [sic] for Bantus but a sport like, 'Tennis for example,' he said was made for white and yellow. I didn't get offended. Ignorance can't offend me. I just smiled and said, 'Venus and Serena.' And he thought, smiled and shook his finger at me half embarrassed, half laughing with a steroetypical, 'very good.'"
Muoneke is a global journeyman, who has played in the NBA D-League, and for teams in at least nine other countries. It doesn't sound like he'll be back for a second season in the CBA.
Gabe Muoneke image:HoopsHype.com
Tags: basketball, CBA, Gabe Muoneke, Liu Wei, Shanghai Sharks, Yunnan Running Red Bulls