China

Chinese sportscaster shrugs off online rumors and pranks

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-09-09 10:35

Huang, who has broadcasted Italy's Serie A for seven years and Germany's Bundesliga for 12, said he didn't have a favorite team.

"I don't support any specific team. I prefer teams who play beautifully over those playing a boring, defensive or destroying game," he said.

It wasn't the first time that the Foreign Affairs University graduate walked into the epicenter of controversy with on-air comments.

Huang, who is candid enough to speak his mind, was accused of departing from journalistic objectivity as he questioned the competence of China's foreign coaches Bora Milutinovic and Arie Haan even when they were at the height of their popularity.

Huang poured a bucket of cold water on Milutinovic and joyous Chinese after the Chinese team qualified for the 2002 World Cup finals, saying the Serbian coach was just lucky and Chinese soccer didn't make real progress.

China qualified from an easy Asian qualifying tournament that excluded its arch rivals South Korea and Japan, which had secured World Cup berths as co-hosts.

"Everyone hailed Milutnovic as an omnipotent superhero. I didn't think so. He was just the luckiest ever head coach of the Chinese team," Huang said.

The Chinese team experienced a humiliating World Cup trip, losing nine goals in three games and netting none.

After Milutinovic left, came less known Dutchman Arie Haan.

Again, Huang was the first to challenge China's Football Association's choice.

Haan failed to deliver a 2006 World Cup berth and was sent packing.

As a strong advocate of "sports is a way of life", Huang seemed upset when touching upon the lack of sports venues for ordinary Chinese.

"When I saw over 40 people playing basketball in a fenced-in outdoor court in downtown Beijing, I was shocked and sad," he said.

"Why build so many buildings? Why not build more soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis courts? Or just leave a level ground there for kids to play on."

Huang said he was disgusted at "No Ball Game" sign in Chinese parks.

The flamboyant sportscaster blamed the declining physiques of school students on academic pressure and being less sports-active than students 20 years ago.

"When I was a student, I played a lot of soccer and other ball games," said the 38-year-old Huang. "But students nowadays have to spend hours on homework after school and have no time for sports.

"Schools and parents should take it easy on children and give them more time to play."

Taking a sip of lemon juice (he doesn't smoke or drink), Huang said he was saddened by the latest results of polling agencies proving Chinese students were less fit and healthy than a decade ago.

"Many TV viewers, including young students, told me they like to watch sports games but they don't play sports. Sports should be a part of life, like eating and sleeping. I told them to play more soccer, basketball, volleyball, any games but Internet game," said Huang, who plays soccer with friends as least once a week despite busy schedule.

"I have a packed schedule that includes over 200 live broadcasts every year, but I still find time to play soccer," he added.

Huang calls for Chinese and international enterprises, which never hesitate to sponsor star athletes and gold-winning national teams with big money, to build more sports facilities for the public.

"When you are slicing up the Chinese sports market, you are obliged to give something back to general public," he said.

China's per capita sports venues is less than one square meter, expected to rise to 1.4 by 2010, according to the statistics provided by the State General Administration of Sport.

Huang's concern echoed that of Chinese sports chief Liu Peng, who has admitted China's per capita sports facilities, sports consumption and the population engaged in regular physical exercises are far lower than developed countries, although the country has witnessed rapid development of sports undertakings.

"Since Beijing won the bid for the 2008 Olympics, especially after China finished only second to the United States on gold medal count in the Athens Olympics, many people see China as a world sporting power. I disagree," Huang said.

"Scandinavian countries don't collect many gold medals in the (Summer) Olympics, but their peoples are strong and healthy and they live sports and breathe sports. I think that is what a sports power should be."

Huang, who has live broadcasted about 2,000 soccer games since he was picked as one of five CCTV sports reporters from over 2,000 applicants in 1994, has authored two books - "Teases on Soccer" and "Fight Like A Man".

"Fight Like A Man - I'm Just A Soccer Program Host", which records his personal experiences with sports, including three World Cups, three Asian Cups, three European champions and three Summer Olympics, has proven a big hit since hitting the shelf last May, rated high in the non-fiction best-seller list.

When asked about the mission of his life, Huang was lost in head-between-the-palms meditation. After a while, he raised his head and said: "As long as I have microphonein my hand, I will keep telling people sports is a part of life and it is never too late to engage in sports."