火箭队发布春节特别款球衣

 　　Houston Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander announced Monday that the team will wear specially¹ designed Lunar New Year uniforms to celebrate the Chinese New Year with its largest international fan base. The team will wear the uniforms on three occasions.

　　休斯顿火箭队（Houston Rockets）老板莱利斯?亚历山大（Leslie Alexander ）1月26日宣布，火箭队将身着春节特制款球衣与其最大的国际粉丝团共同庆祝中国农历新年。火箭队将穿着这款球衣参加三场比赛。

　　“The Lunar New Year uniforms represent a great opportunity to honor our incredibly loyal and passionate² fans throughout China,” said Leslie Alexander. “From the time the Rockets participated in the first live NBA television broadcast in China on June 8, 1994, to my selecting Shanghai’s native son Yao Ming with the first overall selection of the 2002 NBA Draft, to our participation³ in the first NBA China Games in 2004, the Rockets have always enjoyed a very special bond with our fans across the region. We are thrilled and humbled⁴ to establish the Lunar New Year uniforms as a way to honor the culture, heritage and historical and future connection we’ll always enjoy with our Chinese fans.”

　　莱利斯?亚历山大表示，“这款春节特制球衣使我们得以向非常忠诚、热情的中国粉丝致敬。从1994年6月8日火箭队参加NBA在中国的首次电视直播，到我在2002年的NBA选秀大会上用状元签选中土生土长的上海人姚明，再到我们2004年参加首届NBA中国赛，火箭队一直与中国的粉丝们有着特殊的感情羁绊。通过春节特制球衣的方式向中国的文化、遗产以及火箭队过去和以后与中国粉丝间的联系表示敬意，我们既兴奋又谦卑。”

　　火箭队发布春节特别款球衣

　　“It brings great joy to me to see the Houston Rockets honor one of my country’s most important traditions,” commented Rockets legend Yao Ming, “Mr. Alexander and the Rockets have long embraced our culture and customs and made basketball fans in China a part of the Rockets community. I’m excited to ring in the Year of the Goat watching the Rockets wear the Lunar New Year uniforms.”

　　火箭队传奇球星姚明说道，“火箭队以这种方式来纪念我们国家最重要的传统节日之一，我非常高兴。亚历山大先生和火箭队一直很愿意接纳中国的文化和风俗，并将中国的篮球迷视作火箭队大家庭的一部分。能看到火箭队穿着春节特别款球衣喜迎羊年，我很激动。”

　　The Rockets Lunar New Year (LNY) jerseys⁵ will debut⁶ on Sat., Feb 21, vs. Toronto for the Rockets annual Lunar New Year Game, presented by Kenda Tires. Additionally, the LNY jerseys will be worn on Mon., Feb. 23 vs. Minnesota and Wed⁷., Feb. 25 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers, coinciding with the Rockets week-long Lunar New Year Celebration.

　　火箭队将在2月21日(周六)跟多伦多猛龙的比赛中首次穿着春节特别球衣亮相，这是火箭队一年一度的春节特别赛，由建大轮胎（Kenda Tires）承办。此外火箭队还将在2月23日(周一)及25日(周三) 对阵明尼苏达森林狼和洛杉矶快船的比赛中身披这款战袍。同时，火箭队还将举办为期一周的春节庆祝活动。

　　Vocabulary

　　NBA Draft: NBA选秀大会

　　comment: 发表评论

　　embrace: 欣然接受

　　community: 团体

　　ring in: (鸣钟)迎来(新年等)

　　debut: 首次推出

　　jersey: 运动衣

1 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

2 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

3 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

4 humbled   

adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低

参考例句：

• The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
• I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。

5 jerseys   

n.运动衫( jersey的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The maximum quantity of cotton jerseys this year is about DM25,000. 平方米的羊毛地毯超过了以往的订货。 来自口语例句
• The NBA is mulling the prospect of stitching advertising logos onto jerseys. 大意：NBA官方正在酝酿一个大煞风景的计划——把广告标志绣上球服！ 来自互联网

6 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

7 wed   

v.娶，嫁，与…结婚

参考例句：

• The couple eventually wed after three year engagement.这对夫妇在订婚三年后终于结婚了。
• The prince was very determined to wed one of the king's daughters.王子下定决心要娶国王的其中一位女儿。