English, baby!

NBA Finals

Date: Jun 09 2009

Themes: Sports

Grammar: Future Progressive Tense

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Intro

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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It’s human nature to root for the underdog. So why are the Lakers so popular? They have won more NBA championships than any other team. Their star player, Kobe Bryant, has won three himself, and now he’s back for his fourth.

With the best record in their conference, the Lakers were favored to reach the finals. But the Orlando Magic had to pull off a major upset against LeBron James and his Cavaliers to reach the finals.

Because they win more than anyone else, the Lakers are one of the most popular and the most hated teams in the NBA. They easily beat the Magic in the first of the final 7-game series, but Devan hopes the Magic will come from behind to win. Listen to her talk to Jason on the phone about it.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Devan

Jason

Devan: Hello?

Jason: Yo.

Devan: Yo, what’s up?

Jason: Did you see game 1 last night?

Devan: What a disappointment that was.

Jason: I don’t know, I am rooting for Sasha to win a championship.

Devan: Really?

Jason: Yeah, he’s my boy.

Devan: Even though he’s on the same team as Kobe?

Jason: What’s your beef with Kobe?

Devan: If you’re like me and you’re a Suns fan, you know, he’s our rival.

Jason: He’s rival…like, personally? Or his team…

Devan: I don’t know. Kobe’s everybody’s rival. But the Lakers are the Suns rival. So as a Suns fan, I can’t support them. And besides, I like Dwight Howard better than Kobe anyway.

Jason: Dwight Howard is pretty cool. I don’t know, I am kind of torn, actually. But you’ll be rooting for the Magic, I take it?

Devan: Yeah. I just want to see a good series too. I hope it goes to game 7. I hope the Lakers don’t blow them out like they did last night.

Jason: Yeah. Me too. I just don’t want the season to be over. I want it to last six more games.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Jason called Devan to see what she thought of the first game of the NBA Finals. She was disappointed because she wanted the Magic to win. She isn’t a Magic fan, but the Lakers are the rival of her favorite team, the Phoenix Suns.

But Jason is glad the Lakers are winning because he wants Sasha “The Machine” Vujacic to win the championship he talked about in his English lesson back in March.

Which team do you like in the NBA Finals? Do you like to root for a winner or do you prefer an underdog?

Comments

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johnson850225

Taiwan

Well, Boston Celtics is my boy. so I hope Celtics will win the game. I like Ray Allen and Rogen Rondo more than Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.

Murat

Turkey

HIDO & MEMO COLLOBORATION 2 TURKISH MEN IN NBA IT IS A FANTASTIC GAME

istanbul_fatih_i

Turkey

do u know HIDO

zoebaby

China

haha,it's no doubt i'll be rooting for Lakers,Kobe is my boy…haha,come on,they are favored to the champion this year…

tiagon85

Brazil

My favorite team is the Boston Celtics, but they aren´t in the finals and now i won´t be rooting for any players, i prefer just watching a good game between both of them.

tut2007

Nigeria

The Lakers have got their act together this season look at the dept of the squad they have players like kobe, gasol, odom and this guys are a treat to any defence yeah i think orlando might win a game or two but champions this year are the lakers no contest it's a pity kevin garnet was injured in the crucial stage of the season cause the lakers would have been playing the defending champions they would have offered better resistance to the lakers gasol is good but imagine him defending K.G the lakers would have been in a lot of trouble i still consider K.G the most versatile big man in the league he plays like a small forward attacks the rim like a big man and boy the dude can jump so lucky Lakers….......

Marcelolic

Brazil

I'm lazy to watch sport leagues…I prefer a movie or documentary hehe,even though sometimes I play the basketball,for ex…

Marcelolic

Brazil

Hummm I don’t watch NBA,even though I think very cool :)

snunsy

Russian Federation

ive never found myself rooting for any nba team, i don't know the names actually, but whenever i will, my boy will be the cutest boy of the team)

ericzx

China

I like Rocket just because of Yao~

erhnakyz

Turkey

Certainly i support Orlando in the Finals because Hedo playig for them. He is the my favorite, Turkish Jordan.

Rufita

Kazakhstan

don't like basketball

rabbitcyg

China

I am interested in NBA more and more.

mandy3548

China

Anyway,I don't like NBA.I think everyone's life is a battle or game.We can be winner in our lives.

fck

China

you are right,then lakes is coming their fouth champion of NBA.now they is first at 2:0.

Ca_Brazil

Brazil

I like basketball but i dont really watch the games..its kind of exciting the final is coming…so i heard the Lakers is pretty good and they might win the championship. Though, it would be great if an underdorg team won the NBA final…its kind of cool to see the other team get upset haha

lgb0214

China

What's the difference between star player and normal player?

lgb0214

China

Such a pity I can't watch the match. I like Laker and Kebe.

boddi

China

I will root for the Lakers, even though I loke Howard.I think Lakers is the most best team in this season of playoff.The most exciting time is at the emd of time when the last shootting would decide the result.