Its been a memorable last two days. I have had the incredible opportunity to get up close and personal with several of the biggest stars in the NBA. Bill Duffy and Bill Sanders of BDA Sports allowed me unlimited access to the players on the team bus, at the gala dinner, at the team practice, at the team meals and in the locker room before and after the game. I was able to get an amazing perspective that reminded me that there are truly some terrific human beings in the NBA. We often hear about the negative headlines in sports, but the past two days showed me that there are athletes using their platform to do good in the world.

Steve Nash and Yao Ming called upon their friends to help them raise money for Chinese children in need and their friends came running. From Carmelo Anthony to Baron Davis to Leandro Barbosa to the Chinese national team, these players and organizations came together to raise $2.5M from a dinner gala and a basketball game held tonight in Beijing. That money will go a long way here in China.

Team Yao defeated Team Nash 101-92 in a fun filled game seen by over 12,000 attendees and over 200 million television viewers on CCTV here in China. Chinese actor Jackie Chan even made an appearance to conduct the ceremonial toss at midcourt to start the game.

Paul Davis joined Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony, Baron Davis and Leandro Barbosa in the Team Nash starting lineup. Team Yao featured Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, Yi Jianlian of the Milwaukee Bucks and Sun Yue of the Los Angeles Lakers (who looked very impressive). In the 3rd quarter Steve Nash switched teams with Sun Yue much to the delight of the Chinese fans who loved watching the 2-time NBA MVP play with Yao, Yi and the rest of the Chinese National Team.

After getting stalled in traffic and arriving at the arena 15 minutes before tipoff, Team Nash was in good spirits in the locker room before the game and Steve Nash gave a heartfelt speech thanking his teammates for traveling a long distance to join him for this effort. Nash chartered a plane and flew the players playing for his team to China.

Yao Ming came in the locker room after tonight's charity game and thanked the NBA players who played in tonight's game. He spoke of how much the effort means to him and to the Chinese people and how impressed he was that these players flew halfway around the world just a few weeks prior to the start of training camp. He told the players in the locker room that if he could ever assist them with their charitable efforts, he'd be happy to do so. It was a really nice moment for these players who play in the most exclusive basketball fraternity on the planet - the NBA. Once Yao finished his speech, the Team Nash players sang a song that the game operations people played whenever Yao scored in tonight's game. Its a cheesy but catchy song that chants, "Yao Ming, Yao Ming, Yao Ming, Yao Ming........Yao Ming, Yao Ming". The Chinese fans love it though.

Speaking of which, watching tonight's game operations reminded me of attending an NBA game in the 1970's. The Chinese have a long way to go before they catch up to the U.S.'s sophisticated game presentation. Most of the soul/hip hop music that was played was circa 1980. The North Americans in attendance got a kick out of it though.

I'll have some video and pictures to add to this post later but right now I need to pack to catch my return flight back to Portland. Its been a great trip, but I look forward to seeing my wife and daughter and returning to the comforts of home.

Again, I must thank the people at BDA Sports as well as the NBA players who played in this game. They let me hang with them for the past two days and made me feel a part of their inner circle. Although I am a member of the media, I am still a sports fan at heart. To get to spend time with some of the players I have always watched from afar and to see that they are genuinely nice people without even the slightest hint of pretentiousness, was an experience I will never forget. If you've ever seen Cameron Crowe's movie "Almost Famous", I kind of felt like the young Rolling Stone writer over the past few days (ironically I watched the movie on the plane on the way over here so it is top of mind for me right now).

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Here are some sights and sounds I shot from the game, including the pre-game introductions (below clip) and the ceremonial opening tip with Jackie Chan.

My interview with Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash can be accessed here. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Marc Salsberry - mStation