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http://www.cleveland.com/olympics/index.ssf/2008/08/boozer_earns_his_nickname.html

Boozer earns his nickname
by Jodie Valade
Saturday August 09, 2008, 9:30 PM

Take heart, Cavaliers fans. About 1.3 billion people think Carlos Boozer lied, too.

Or at least that he has an oddly shaped head.

In honor of the Beijing Olympics, which began Friday, The Plain Dealer sought to honor the ancient wisdom of China by unearthing some of the culture's nicknames for NBA players - since hoops is so popular in the Far East.

Our Chosen One, LeBron James, is "Xiao Huang Di," which means Little Emperor. That's a translation of his "King James" nickname, but interestingly is also the name of a syndrome that afflicts an excessively spoiled only child in China. Hey, we just report the facts.

According to Bao Renjun, a reporter for the Cleveland-based Erie Chinese News, one of the more interesting nicknames is for Boozer.

The Utah Jazz forward is known to the 1.3 billion people in China as "Fan Gu Zai," which, loosely translated, means "Betrayal Skull Dude."

Bao says Chinese use "Fan Gu Zai" to refer to those who betray, but "betrayal skull" also refers to a protuberant bone on the front or back of a head.

The betrayal skull reference comes from the Chinese story of Zhuge Liang, one of China's most well-known intellectuals and military strategists. According to legend, before Zhuge died, he said, "Wei will betray the country sooner or later." Wei was a general under Zhuge's supervision.

"How do you know?" someone asked.

"He has a protuberant bone on his head," Zhuge answered.

So Boozer's nickname of "Fan Gu Zai" is for two reasons: 1. His head is not exactly round, and 2. Chinese fans also believe that Boozer gave his word that he'd return to the Cavaliers in 2004 when he bolted to Utah for more money as a free agent.

Who are we to question the wisdom of the Chinese?

A Cleveland newspaper makes up a nickname and you claim it's the chinese that make it up? Homertastic!

Some people in Colorado also think that Kobe has a protuberant bone.

Walton'sBeard! wrote:Some people in Colorado also think that Kobe has a protuberant bone.

Why did i just laugh really hard at that?

Boozer also has a nick name for the chinese "POS"

and lol at the Chinese acting like they know anythign about the NBA.

Walton'sBeard! wrote:Some people in Colorado also think that Kobe has a protuberant bone.

lmao. this post wins the thread.

China is just mad that Boozer and the Jazz RAPED the rockets two years straight!!!! See sig, go BOOZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why are jazz fans getting so mad? Boozer is going to leave you guys soon too!

Walton'sBeard! wrote:Some people in Colorado also think that Kobe has a protuberant bone.

Winner!

Nashty wrote:Why are jazz fans getting so mad? Boozer is going to leave you guys soon too!

Because he didn't do anything wrong when he left Cleveland.

While the rest of the US teams received warm welcome from chinese fans, I think Boozer was the only one to ever get booed in China. I remember he was getting booed quite heavily when he was attempting FTs in ShangHai(Yao's hometown).

I think most Jazz fans called him worse during his crap post season this year.

Guy986 wrote:While the rest of the US teams received warm welcome from chinese fans, I think Boozer was the only one to ever get booed in China. I remember he was getting booed quite heavily when he was attempting FTs in ShangHai(Yao's hometown).

Probably because he ate Yao alive in the playoffs 2 years ago.

Nah, i'm pretty sure its because he's got a protuberant bone on his head.

Great. Another Houston/Jazz fan argument.

fivas14 wrote:

Guy986 wrote:While the rest of the US teams received warm welcome from chinese fans, I think Boozer was the only one to ever get booed in China. I remember he was getting booed quite heavily when he was attempting FTs in ShangHai(Yao's hometown).

Probably because he ate Yao alive in the playoffs 2 years ago.

I wonder if that's why McGrady has turned down invites to the Olympics, maybe he's afraid the Chinese will boo his ass for his inability to do anything productive for Yao.

But yeah, Boozer has owned Yao.

Walton'sBeard! wrote:Some people in Colorado also think that Kobe has a protuberant bone.

gold

Batronuj wrote:

fivas14 wrote:

Guy986 wrote:While the rest of the US teams received warm welcome from chinese fans, I think Boozer was the only one to ever get booed in China. I remember he was getting booed quite heavily when he was attempting FTs in ShangHai(Yao's hometown).

Probably because he ate Yao alive in the playoffs 2 years ago.

I wonder if that's why McGrady has turned down invites to the Olympics, maybe he's afraid the Chinese will boo his ass for his inability to do anything productive for Yao.

But yeah, Boozer has owned Yao.

Try actually watching basketball games.

fivas14 wrote:Boozer also has a nick name for the chinese "POS"

and lol at the Chinese acting like they know anythign about the NBA.

lol at jazz fan backin they boy

fivas14 wrote:

Nashty wrote:Why are jazz fans getting so mad? Boozer is going to leave you guys soon too!

Because he didn't do anything wrong when he left Cleveland.

Legally, no.