Super Version

A year ago this day, I was sitting in a recliner in San Francisco, drinking micro-brews, eating Shirley’s cheesy chili, and cramming handfuls of nacho chips down my throat while watching the Super Bowl with all my college buddies.

Right now, I’m bundled up in a huge parka, eating a bowl of ramen, watching the most horrific Chinese broadcast of the Super Bowl by myself in the freezing cold of my house in Shanghai. Oh what a difference a year makes.

I guess if I were to look at the brighter side of things, it has been quite fun listening to the two Chinese announcers, saying things like “It’s not whether the ball crosses the plane or not, but whether the player holding it does that counts,” to screaming “Beautiful ball, beautiful ball, beautiful ball” every time a forward pass goes for more than 6 yards. Apparently, the Super Bowl translates directly to” Super Version.” It’s also funny to hear the Chinese phonetic translations of the players’ names, especially with dudes named “Roethlisberger” and “Hasselbeck.” Then again, imagine me trying to announce some Chinese sporting event.

“Welcome to the 678th Super Version Ping Pong Tournament; let’s get started. There’s a forehand, now a backhand, now a forehand, now a backhand. Now folks, remember that if the ball hits the net, no matter side of it the balls falls, the game is over. Forehand, forehand, backhand…OH WOW, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BALL! Oh wait, it’s not over; forehand, backhand, backhand.”

Guess I should just be thankful that I’m able to watch the game at all, despite the horrible officiating, the wretched Rolling Stones performance, and these Chinese dudes calling the game. At least the ramen tastes good.