OT: LiAngelo Ball, two other UCLA players arrested in China for shoplifting

[Jaker]

LaVar and LaMelo both deserve a year in prison with hard labor

 

[sportsart]

Let's not make China the next great vacation destination.

I have a Christian friend in China that, when I email him, if I mention Jesus or God in the email, there is a good chance the government will see it.

Bible study in China is unacceptable.

Make no mistake about it. China is still a communist state.

 

[jleves]

Good idea. I'm sure they're not flight risks

I'm sure part of the process is taking their passports, so they aren't getting on a plane and I somehow doubt they have contacts for an underground extraction.

 

[intlzncster]

I somehow doubt they have contacts for an underground extraction.

You aren't a Big Baller tho

 

[jleves]

You aren't a Big Baller tho

You've met me - you know better than that!

 

[Jaker]

LaVar says it's no big deal, being blown out of proportion.

 

[intlzncster]

You've met me - you know better than that!

Touche. I concede.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Let's not make China the next great vacation destination. I have a Christian friend in China that, when I email him, if I mention Jesus or God in the email, there is a good chance the government will see it. Bible study in China is unacceptable. Make no mistake about it. China is still a communist state.

Interesting comments; never been to China? Much of the country is no garden spot, but your remarks suggest limited related factual knowledge. Other than that, spot on!

As 1-2 million US citizens visit China annually, no massive need exits to make China a next great destination. Many are business-related visits, but many are also exclusively tourism-focused. Unfortunately, a few too many jerkish Yanks. UCLA's 3 Stooges fit right in with some of the latter.

Setting aside communism never has existed anywhere, reasonable arguments increasingly can be made China is among the world's most capitailist nations. However, you'd need to have some actual experience in the nation to observe and have some understanding of the heavily capitalistic-driven socialist country's business environment.

Similarly, many westerners would be shocked to know how much Biblical study occurs among China's 1.5 billion people. Absolutely not encouraged, to varying degrees discouraged, and often quietly conducted, but still a bushel load of Christians, trendy wannabe Christians, et al reading and discussing the Bible and many even attending various churches of varying and dynamic acceptance or look the way existence. That said, firing off related emails as with other things in China may be observed to monitored. For a few years, my office was just up the road from the main monitoring HQ.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Under the subject heading "Ball's In Your Court", the shoplifting exploits of UCLA's 3 amigos appeared in one of China's best known expat forums today. Additionally, the article mentioned Alibaba, China's Amazon+, is corporate sponsor of Saturday's Pac 12-organized UCLA-Georgia Tech. Safe to say the Bruins will be a bit undermanned, but contrary to my initial view (probably wrong!) maybe China won't quickly usher UCLA's sticky-fingered ballers out of the country.

From the linked article: "According to standard law, LiAngelo Ball and party could be held for over a month without charges, and if convicted, could spend between three and ten years behind bars. Said a Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, "China will handle this case in accordance with the law and ensure the legitimate rights and interests of the people involved.”

 

[Kaizen]

Under the subject heading "Ball's In Your Court", the shoplifting exploits of UCLA's 3 amigos appeared in one of China's best known expat forums today. Additionally, the article mentioned Alibaba, China's Amazon+, is corporate sponsor of Saturday's Pac 12-organized UCLA-Georgia Tech. Safe to say the Bruins will be a bit undermanned, but contrary to my initial view (probably wrong!) maybe China won't quickly usher UCLA's sticky-fingered ballers out of the country.

From the linked article: "According to standard law, LiAngelo Ball and party could be held for over a month without charges, and if convicted, could spend between three and ten years behind bars. Said a Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, "China will handle this case in accordance with the law and ensure the legitimate rights and interests of the people involved.”

When Lavar said: Everyone's making it a big deal. It ain't that big a deal. This big mouth doesn't know he can make his son a big, big deal. It may mislead the Chineses that shoplifting is not a big deal in USA. At least this is what my neighbor (a Chinese couple) told me what people in China will think.

 

[sportsart]

Interesting comments; never been to China? Much of the country is no garden spot, but your remarks suggest limited related factual knowledge. Other than that, spot on!

As 1-2 million US citizens visit China annually, no massive need exits to make China a next great destination. Many are business-related visits, but many are also exclusively tourism-focused. Unfortunately, a few too many jerkish Yanks. UCLA's 3 Stooges fit right in with some of the latter.

Setting aside communism never has existed anywhere, reasonable arguments increasingly can be made China is among the world's most capitailist nations. However, you'd need to have some actual experience in the nation to observe and have some understanding of the heavily capitalistic-driven socialist country's business environment.

Similarly, many westerners would be shocked to know how much Biblical study occurs among China's 1.5 billion people. Absolutely not encouraged, to varying degrees discouraged, and often quietly conducted, but still a bushel load of Christians, trendy wannabe Christians, et al reading and discussing the Bible and many even attending various churches of varying and dynamic acceptance or look the way existence. That said, firing off related emails as with other things in China may be observed to monitored. For a few years, my office was just up the road from the main monitoring HQ.

Not sure what you mean by my limited knowledge, and your mixed up response.

My knowledge is based on facts. Atheists are more than welcome in China.

 

[SubZero]

LaVar says it's no big deal, being blown out of proportion.

In Lavar’s mind, crime and laws may not be a big deal but it is in China.

 

[Leebo]

I'm sure Lavar will think it's no big deal if someone steals from his BBB popup shop.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

My knowledge is based on facts. Atheists are more than welcome in China.

Atheism? Yes, to varying degrees in different regions. And, local government leaders in particular tamping down wannabe western and returning Chinese missionaries conducting non-kosher activities more aggressively than accepted.

Meanwhile, different international organizations report anywhere between 20-80 million Christians (protestant and non-Vatican City sanctioned Catholics alike) attend services and masses in public churches, e.g., the large early 20th church behind one of my Shanghai buildings. However, that figure does not include many Christians meeting elsewhere, e.g., a group of 30-40 employees which supposedly did not gather each Sunday in my company's large conference room nor the group's Sunday minister/work week HR manager. Great guy!

Despite supposed outright government prohibitions, independent sources also report half of China's 1.4+ b citizens regularly practice well-recognized religions. Not Christianity, but a whole lot of followers of Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Muslim, local faiths, etc. Indeed, religions some westerners may inexplicably discount.

Actual experience, regular interaction with Chinese relatives, friends and colleagues, and factual knowledge gained over several years on-the-ground is quite revealing. By contrast, many a westerner opts to believe all perceived facts, other less fact-based information, and even a few too many bs rumors as absolute gospel truth. Lavar?

 

[crazyUCfan23]

Stupid has no age limit, the Boneyard proves that day in day out.

Truest statement ever posted on this board.

 

[Husker Husky]

I've read 4 pages of comments and shake my head at a few posts. So some of my random thoughts:

- As to having to "following the laws of the country you are visiting"; what freaking countries allow shoplifting?
- Does a coaching/administration staff really need to tell anyone over the age of 7 not to shoplift? Maybe not spit on the sidewalk in Singapore, but Shoplifting???
- As much as Laval Ball is a bleeding hemorrhoid, and I can't wait until his 15 minutes of fame is over, there were 5 other nitwits beside his son here. I bet their families are thrilled that he and his son will get all the attention and their kids will avoid a good part of the flack.
- At the end of this mess, the kids will not likely learn anything from this. They will be told over and over that the Chinese authorities are just a.holes. This is the world we now live in.

 

[Walker11]

I've read 4 pages of comments and shake my head at a few posts. So some of my random thoughts:

- As to having to "following the laws of the country you are visiting"; what freaking countries allow shoplifting?
- Does a coaching/administration staff really need to tell anyone over the age of 7 not to shoplift? Maybe not spit on the sidewalk in Singapore, but Shoplifting???
- As much as Laval Ball is a bleeding hemorrhoid, and I can't wait until his 15 minutes of fame is over, there were 5 other nitwits beside his son here. I bet their families are thrilled that he and his son will get all the attention and their kids will avoid a good part of the flack.
- At the end of this mess, the kids will not likely learn anything from this. They will be told over and over that the Chinese authorities are just a.holes. This is the world we now live in.

Point 4 seems to counter Point 2.

 

[Husker Husky]

Point 4 seems to counter Point 2.

Maybe, but the coaching staff and admins will more likely take the high ground, while their family and friends and an astounding amount of their adoring public will stroke them off and tell them they did nothing wrong.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

Just came back fron Hangzhou recently. Hangzhou is a beautiful clean city full of interesting historical sites. The high-speed train ride from Shanghai took only 45 mins and it was very smooth. Let me just say China is an incredible place that's developing rapidly. Westerners have no idea how developed some cities in China now. There are many things like high-speed train, subway system, bike sharing, Didi, mobile payment system, on-demand delivery etc. that's far ahead of the USA. The sad thing is media here never mentioned any of those so people here just stay ignorant and believe that USA is superior in everything and anything.

China is also one of the safest places on earth despite having a huge population. Part of it is due to culture and part of it is due to the security system they have in place everywhere. In China, it is not uncommon for women to walk 3 AM in the morning in city streets and feel perfectly safe. If you don't break the law, you are fine as a tourist. I been to the mall these kids went to. It is a very nice high-end mall full of expensive luxury brands. Are these kids idiots? Do they not notice all the cameras and security guards everywhere? Do they think they can go stealing at an expensive store and get away with it? China has very good security everywhere. Entering the subway and airport requires that you go through a metal detector.

While most tourists are fine people, idiots like these kids deserve everything that's coming for them. With Trump being in China now, this stuff just reeks embarrassment for the USA.

 

[Jaker]

I wonder if UCLA regrets the deal they made with this family?? Seems like a good time to cut ties.

 

[gtcam]

Maybe its been said but I am not reading every post
I just don't understand how 3 African-American kids all over 6" tall really didn't think that they didn't stand out like a sore thumb in these stores in China> Nobody was going to be looking at them, probably not for security sake but for curiosity sake and drew no attention?
JSMH
Not at all condoning their actions but any "celebrity" type person will have eyes on them wherever they may be.
More moxie than brains

 

[Edward Sargent]

Let's not make China the next great vacation destination.

I have a Christian friend in China that, when I email him, if I mention Jesus or God in the email, there is a good chance the government will see it.

Bible study in China is unacceptable.

There is a lot more wrong with China than that

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

Sources: UCLA trio won't fly home with team

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Sources: UCLA trio won't fly home with team

Whoa Nellie, that is absolutely NOT a good sign. I really thought China would sweep the failed 5-finger fools out the door with Alford and their UCLA cronies. Time to quickly consider pleading down to whatever lesser administrative charges, or to plan for a longer stay potentially in less cushy surroundings than Hangzhou's Hyatt.