Beijing ballgames are mixed bag of success

In pubs, living rooms and parks across Beijing, sports fans are tooting vuvuzelas - those irritating outsize South African kazoos - at least in spirit as they cheer on their FIFA 2010 World Cup favorites.

In the absence of a national team in a sporting event on par with the Olympics, the devotion of Chinese to the "beautiful game" is remarkable. China Daily reporters wrote last week of "soccer widows" across China, illustrating the tournament's grip on the populace.

There's no reason Chinese brides shouldn't suffer the fate of their Western counterparts, whose husbands fixate on the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Stanley Cup or their cricket, rugby and Tiddlywinks equivalents. Besides, the doors are always open should the distaff side wish to join in the viewing fun.