Sports

Indiana IBL team may play N. Korea

Thursday, March 20, 2008 10:07 AM EDT

ELKHART, Ind. - First, it was music diplomacy when the New York Philharmonic traveled to North Korea in February. Now, there's a chance for basketball diplomacy.

The Elkhart Express, a franchise of the International Basketball League, may play two games against the North Korean national team during its 12-day trip in April to China.

"The games are scheduled. The government of North Korea still has to give permission for the team to travel to China," said Daimon Beathea, president and head coach of the Express.

Any game between the Express, the two-time champion of the IBL, and North Korea would be closely watched in North Korea. Leader Kim Jong Il is reputed to be an aficionado of basketball, so much so that in 2000, then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright presented Kim with a basketball autographed by Michael Jordan when she visited North Korea.

Beathea said that with the complex international situation, as well as the groundbreaking visit to North Korea by the New York Philharmonic, the match up might be another diplomatic move. If the games are played, Beathea said, "I wouldn't be at all surprised for the Express to receive an invitation to visit North Korea. I understand the country is completing construction on a new 12,300-seat basketball court in Pyongyang."

Whether or not the North Korean games take place, the Elkhart Express will have a full schedule during their visit to China. Beathea said the Express will play teams from Shanghai, Shandong, Wanma and Guangxia. Wanma is in Zhejiang Province, Indiana's sister province in China.

All of the games in China will be broadcast on Chinese television. Beathea said he also expects the games to be Webcast so that fans in Elkhart can keep track of the team.

Two of the games played in China will affect the Express' standing in the IBL.

"We'll have to play our best on this trip. We represent Elkhart. We represent the United States. We have to go there and play our brand of basketball. That means playing to our strengths, our size and our quickness," said Beathea. The China trip, from April 1 to April 12, comes right at the beginning of the IBL's 2008 season. No Express games are scheduled during the trip.

This trip to China is an outgrowth of the relationship Beathea has established with the Shanghi Sharks. Following a trip to China last summer, Beathea agreed to help coach the Sharks for five years. Another Chinese team has asked Beathea to be a consultant for it.

The Sharks will travel to Elkhart to train in August. And when the Express returns from this upcoming trip, it will bring back four Chinese players and a coach. Two of the players are expected to be on the Express' roster.

Joining the Express in China will be the Amateur Athletic Union team Beathea created through his outreach program Daimon's Kids.

The Youth Team will play teams from Concordia International School and Shanghai American School. The Youth Team will be in China from April 5 to April 13.

Sponsors for the Express' China tour are Shanhi Huizhong Automotive Corp.; Yao Ming OBC, a sporting apparel and shoe company; and Shanghi Logistics and Transportation Co.

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