For those unfamiliar with Baidu, it is the Google of China. (Or, as the Chinese would say, Google is the Baidu of America, which would aggravate Google to no end.) Somehow, despite not having a team, or even a league to play in, Johnny Manziel was all over news outlets every day this week across North America for a 4 game suspension. That made me think, do the Chinese even care about the National Football League?
So I went and found the Top 40 Sports Searches on Baidu July 3, 2016. I will be testing Ted on this
on Friday.
40. Mario Goetze – German National Team Mid Fielder
39. Pan Xiaoting – Female, Chinese Billiard Champ
38. Daniele De Rossi – Italian Footballer who I assume went down to defeat at the hands of Germany
37. Chandler Parsons – NBA’er I never heard of signed 4 year $96 million max-deal with Memphis Grizzlies
36. Mozgov – Bench player for Cavs, signed with Lakers for $64 million
35. Cannavaro – Former Italian National Team Player
34. Joachim Loew – German National Team Coach
33. Tian Liang – Chinese Diver, won Olympic gold in Sydney
32. Usain Bolt – Jamaican, fastest man in the world
31. Manuel Neuer – German National Team Goalkeeper
30. Ronaldo – Real Madrid C.F. star forward
29. Mario Balotelli – Italian National Team star
28. Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich star, also Polish National
27. Roger Federer – Tennis player looking for 18th major at Wimbledon
26. Muller – German National Team star
25. Beckham – British soccer legend took Mom to Wimbledon
24. Yao Ming – The greatest Chinese National to play in the NBA. Retired from Houston Rockets in 2011.
23. Sun Yang – Chinese Swimmer
22. Zou Shiming – Chinese Boxer
21. Neymar – Barcelona extended contract until 2021 for Brazilian star
20. Hulk – Brazilian Soccer player playing in Chinese Super League
19. Buffon – Captain Italian National Team in Soccer
18. Sun Yan in – South Korean Rhythmic Gymnast
17. Robin Van Persie – Fenerbahce (Turkey) wants to send him back to Premiere League
16. Dwight Howard – Signed with Altanta Hawks, 3 years - $70 million
15. Michael Jordan – Once of the greatest NBA’ers ever, the 53 year old retired in 2003. First billionaire in NBA player history in 2015.
14. Zlatan Ibrahimovic –Swedish National who signed Free Agent Contract with Man U this week
13. Kaka – Formally of Brazilian National Team
12. Kyrie Irving – Led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the 2016 NBA finals
11. Li Xiaopeng – Chinese Gymnast
10. Eden Hazard – Chelsea player lost for Belgian National team
9. Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder star on free agent tour to L.A., Golden State, and Boston.
8. Kobe Bryant – L. A. Lakers star retired in April of 2016
7. Djokovic – Top tennis player Novak Djokovic lost to unheralded American Sam Querrey at Wimbledon.
6. LeBron James – Led the Cleveland Cavaliers to 2016 NBA finals
5. Messi – Heartbroken Messi loses in Copa America finals, again.
4. Jeremy Lin – Signed $36 million contract with 21-61 Brooklyn Nets
3. Ning Zetao – Chinese Swimmer I assume is qualifying for Olympics
2. Cristiano Ronaldo – Dragging the Portuguese National team with him in EURO 2016
1. You Wu – Chinese Actress who inexplicably is the top search for sports figures. (Maybe she has an athletic build?)
For those keeping track at home. That's ZERO players from the NFL, NHL, and MLB.