The United States Economy, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Kobe Bryant in China: Made in China

It is unclear whether the recession is over.  President Obama is, however, clear about China’s role in rebuilding the global economy. 

This dependency on China is not surprising.  Despite the economic woes plaguing the United States, China’s power and economy continue to grow. 

China is currently the United States’ primary creditor and the target for many business ventures.  When Las Vegas casino moguls Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson sought to expand their empires, for example, they turned to China.  Today, the total gambling revenue of the Cotai Strip in Moscau, China, exceeds that of the Las Vegas Strip. 

These international ties are, furthermore, spilling into American sports.  A Chinese investment group recently purchased a minority ownership in the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers.  Kobe Bryant’s relationship with China, likewise, includes a reality show, a website, selling more jerseys in China than Yao Ming, and receiving an award for his work as a “cultural ambassador.” 

In the past, America regarded China as a third-world country with little use other than housing sweatshops to manufacture sports apparel.  Last year, China hosted the Olympics, the largest and most recognized sporting event in the world.  Today, along with the traditional sports apparel, it seems the solutions to the global economy and future are, surprisingly or not, also “Made in China.”

Comments

[Seth]

Great article Kyle. - Seth