中國中學籃球教練到美國大學學藝(上)
SALT LAKE CITY — About 15 coaches filed onto the mezzanine-like balcony overlooking a basketball practice court.
鹽湖城——大約15名教練一個接一個地走到這個像包廂似的，能俯瞰一個籃球訓練場的陽臺上。
They wore warm-up apparel and sneakers.
他們穿着熱身服裝和運動鞋。
As the Utes men’s team began its practice, some took notes in small Moleskine notebooks; others consulted printouts of set plays.
隨着猶特人(Utes)男籃隊開始訓練，一些人在小巧的Moleskine筆記本上做起了筆記，其他人則在查看打印出來的固定戰術。
It was late September, so several assistant coaches were on the road recruiting, and the practice itself was focused on getting players into shape and integrating new faces as opposed to game-planning any opponents.
正值9月末，因此多名助理教練正在各地招兵買馬，訓練本身的重點是讓球員進入狀態，並讓新成員融入球隊，而不是制定針對任何對手的對策。
But it was still a big-time college basketball practice, so at times, it got intense.
但這依然是一場一流的大學籃球訓練，因此有時候會變得很激烈。
Utah Coach Larry Krystkowiak stopped one drill and, in a not-angry-just-disappointed tone, told his team, You guys are just full of it today; everybody’s got something to say.
猶他大學的教練拉里•克里斯特科維亞克(Larry Krystkowiak)叫停了一次練習，用不是生氣僅僅是失望的語氣對球隊說，你們這些傢伙今天廢話太多了；每個人都想發表點意見。
The observing coaches did not know exactly what Krystkowiak said, but they understood the coach’s frustration and determination.
在一旁觀察的教練們不知道克里斯特科維亞克具體說了什麼，但他們明白他的失望和決心。
And they took note.
他們做了筆記。
They were among the best junior high and high school basketball coaches in China, brought to Utah’s gorgeous campus in a partnership between their government and the Pacific-12 Conference and the University of Utah.
他們屬於中國最好的初高中籃球教練。因爲中國政府與太平洋十二校聯盟(Pacific-12 Conference)和猶他大學(University of Utah)的夥伴關係，他們來到了猶他大學美麗的校園。
This is no longer Ping-Pong diplomacy.
這不再是乒乓外交。
The coaches — they are very passionate when they train their players, said Sun Fengleng, who coaches in Jilin, a province in China’s northeast.
那些教練，他們在訓練球員時非常有激情，在中國東北省份吉林當教練的孫峯棱（音）說。
He is really good with the players, trains them well.
他真的很擅長和球員相處，把他們訓練得很好。
Sun added, I want to learn the attitude and bring it back.
孫峯棱接着說，我想學習這種態度，並把它帶回去。
Krystkowiak, a onetime N.B.A. power forward who has led the Utes to the N.C.A.A. tournament the past two seasons, seemed to endorse Sun’s takeaway.
過去兩個賽季，曾是NBA大前鋒的克里斯特科維亞克帶領猶特人隊衝進美國全國大學生體育協會(NCAA)聯賽。他似乎認可孫峯棱的理解。
If they want to improve at basketball, he said, it’s not always the place to be polite.
如果他們想提升籃球水平，他說，不能總是在場上溫文爾雅。
The Chinese government hopes many more coaches will learn that lesson.
中國政府希望能有更多的教練學習到這樣的經驗。
Nearly 100 Chinese junior high and high school coaches in the sports of men’s and women’s basketball, track and field, swimming and cheerleading were sent to Utah, and roughly the same number of Chinese college coaches went to Arizona State, which is also in the Pac-12.
近100名中國初高中男子和女子籃球、田徑、游泳和拉拉隊教練被送到猶他大學，和被送去亞利桑那州立大學(Arizona State University)的中國高校教練人數大致相當。該校也是太平洋十二校聯盟的成員。
The coaches observed practices and weight-room sessions. They got some time on the court themselves with Utah coaches.
這些教練會觀察球場訓練和健身房環節，還有機會親自和猶他大學的教練一起上場。
They participated in talks on injury rehabilitation and conducted film-room sessions.
他們參加損傷康復講座，並舉行了比賽錄像室環節，
They even got to see the final bit of this year’s football game against Brigham Young, known locally as the Holy War.
甚至還觀看了今年對陣楊百翰大學(Brigham Young University)的橄欖球決賽。這場比賽在當地被稱作聖戰。
Indeed, it is partly America’s fairly unusual model of competitive athletics enshrined in educational institutions that the coaches have come to study, said Kyle Brennan, Utah’s deputy athletic director.
猶他大學的副體育主管凱爾•布倫南(Kyle Brennan)說，在一定程度上，這些教練來學習的是美國非常與衆不同的競技體育模式，這種模式在美國的教育機構中得到了保護。
Coaches are coaches, he said with a chuckle.
教練就是教練，他輕輕地笑着說。
Giving them a compliance class, they want to push the boundaries.
給他們上一節合規課，他們就想挑戰限制。
‘Why can’t I recruit a kid from another school?’ Well, these are the rules we’ve got.
‘我爲什麼不能去另一所學校招人？’好吧，這些都是我們要遵守的規則。
The program is financed by the Chinese Scholarship Council and organized by Federation University Sports China — a sort of state-sponsored Chinese N.C.A.A. that saw the coaches’ trips as much more than relaxed junkets.
該項目由中國國家留學基金管理委員會出資，中國大學生體育協會組織。後者類似於中國的NCAA，由政府資助。該機構認爲這些教練的美國之旅遠遠不只是輕鬆的公費旅遊。
