Reality show: Media tensions mount in Beijing as Games near

According to reports in American newspapers, media representatives at the Beijing Olympics will have the contents of their laptops secretly scanned by the Chinese government.

Nothing says "Welcome to our country" like a little computer espionage.

When you think about it, though, the spying makes perfect sense. The suffocating, paranoid Chinese regime isn't about to loosen up just because the entire world may be watching. Remember the tanks in Tiananmen Square?

When the Chinese violate the privacy of visitors and act to stifle media, they're just keeping it real.

With the Games rapidly approaching, tension has been building between the communists and broadcasting companies that have paid rights fees for access they may or may not receive once the Olympics begin. It all depends on what the Chinese government thinks is worthy of attention.

News, in other words, is what the regime says it is.

The demonstrations that disrupted the torch relay in America and elsewhere were all the excuse China needed to stifle media curiosity.

For now, NBC and other global networks reportedly have been denied permission for live shots of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, for fear that TV's presence will attract crowds of protesters.

If there are protests, the hosts will be looking to "manage" the media (i.e., erect a Great Wall of China between the extra-curriculars and TV cameras). We saw how well that worked during the crackdown of Tibet protesters this spring, when Chinese officials did all in their power to keep Western journalists from talking with the monks.

Loss of freedom of the press is the predictable result of giving the Olympics, a symbol of international cooperation and peaceful co-existence, to a totalitarian country. Why are people of the free world just figuring this out now?

Who knew Mike Krzyzewski was so soulful?

At the opening of the U.S. Olympic basketball team mini-camp in Las Vegas, Coach K showed the players a large-screen, courtside video of Marvin Gaye's famously moving rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 1983 NBA All-Star game.

"Instead of having a fight song or whatever, that's our song," said Krzyzewski, who ran the video on a continuous loop throughout practice.

Maybe you wouldn't expect college cornball stuff to work on NBA millionaires, but the players seem to have bought into it.

"That's our theme song," Jason Kidd said. "That was the best national anthem."

You can watch Gaye's performance on YouTube. I just did - and it's as good as remembered.

I want to thank Walter Evans for having me over again for what's become an annual tradition for his small circle of friends: an NBA draft party.

I remained fully engaged and conscious until the names of the draftees stopped registering. (The Wizards select Nevada's JaVale McGee, his name rhymes with "Who's he?")

As everyone knows, the NBA draft isn't as big a deal as the NFL cattle call; it doesn't drag on as long or take itself quite as seriously. Those are good things.

The absence of Mel Kiper Jr. on the TV screen didn't spoil our fun. Neither did the presence of Stephen A. Smith.

I wish the folks at ESPN and NBC covering Wimbledon would take a little air time to note how ridiculous Rafael Nadal looks in those Capri pants. Even if Nadal wins Wimbledon, it won't make him any less of a fashion disaster. By the way, where I come from, those pants are called clam diggers.

Everybody knows that Patrick McEnroe is a superior, easier-on-the-ears, tennis commentator than big brother John, right? Though ESPN's quirky Brad Gilbert in very small doses is more entertaining than either of them.

With American men nowhere in sight, NBC will get what it wants and needs when Venus and Serena Williams sweep through to play in Saturday's Breakfast at Wimbledon.

Soccer did all right for itself over the weekend when the final of Euro 2008 between Spain and Germany drew a 3.1 rating, the third highest of any sports event on TV over the weekend.

When Spain prevailed 1-0 in regulation play, viewers were saved from a dreaded penalty kick shootout.

Bob Molinaro, (757) 446-2373, bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com