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NBA Finals

NBA Finals

Date: Jun 09 2009

Themes: Sports

Grammar: Future Progressive Tense

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

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

Devan

Devan

Jason

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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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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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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silva_zhang

China

I don't care who will win the playoff champion, but I hope the 7 game the result just will be come. Honestly I love NBA team is Roket and his star Yao. I will be always enjoying NBA games in my life.

02:53 PM Jun 09 2009 |

silva_zhang

China

I don't care who will win the playoff champion, but I hope the 7 game the result just will be come. Honestly I love NBA team is Roket and his star Yao. I will be always enjoying NBA games in my life.

02:53 PM Jun 09 2009 |

bolialex

bolialex

Dominican Republic

my favorite team is lakers is better team in the nba and will go to win the finals!!!

02:46 PM Jun 09 2009 |

Dolly87

Dolly87

Egypt

Though i never watched any of the NBA games….. but i like sport a lot… specialy Basketball, i used to play basketball because i'm kinda tall   (:

02:09 PM Jun 09 2009 |

Radiowagner

Brazil

My favorite team in the NBA is Chicago Bulls, but I like to see Kobe to Play.

01:23 PM Jun 09 2009 |

love-momo

love-momo

Jordan

i dont root any basketball

 

Embarassed

12:06 PM Jun 09 2009 |

roxana_alavi

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

<!- <script type=”text/javascript”> var so3 = new SWFObject(“http://www.englishbaby.com/xspf_player_slim.swf?song_url=http://media1.englishbaby.com/dynamic/standard_lesson/intro_audio/0000/0000/0004/4927_1244483717_185439.mp3&song_title=English+Lesson%3A+NBA+Finals+%28Intro+Audio%29”, “lesson_audio”, “425”, “15”, “7”, ”#FFFFFF”); so3.addParam(“movie”, “http://www.englishbaby.com/xspf_player_slim.swf?song_url=http://media1.englishbaby.com/dynamic/standard_lesson/intro_audio/0000/0000/0004/4927_1244483717_185439.mp3&song_title=English+Lesson%3A+NBA+Finals+%28Intro+Audio%29”); so3.write(“audio_content_1”); </script> ->

It’s human nature to root for the underdog.who can explain this sentenses to me?

11:56 AM Jun 09 2009 |

eliss

eliss

Kuwait

;)

10:57 AM Jun 09 2009 |

eliss

eliss

Kuwait

10:50 AM Jun 09 2009 |

eliss

eliss

Kuwait

10:43 AM Jun 09 2009 |

Josepha

Germany

I'm a Lakers fan and I want to see the Lakers in the NBA Finals. 

10:33 AM Jun 09 2009 |

tony.yy

tony.yy

China

I am passing byCool

09:27 AM Jun 09 2009 |

eric chong

eric chong

China

About one hour ago ,i played ping-pong game with my friends.now I am sitting in my office.

I watch sports game,because it is interesting and also beneficial to our spirit.practice is good for our body.

so adequate sports is good.

08:01 AM Jun 09 2009 |

happy 4 ever

Oman

 i agree to what aaraar said about sport. i don't find any entertainment or excitement in watching games especially NBA. i sometimes watch football games.

i think sports are more beneficial we practice them rather than watching. my favorite sport is walking. it fits girls particularly in my country Oman where it is not nice to practice any sport in public places  

07:47 AM Jun 09 2009 |

fck

fck

China

I AGREE WITH YOU AND YOUR POINT

07:46 AM Jun 09 2009 |

fck

fck

China

I think and hope lakes will win at last,we all stand by the lakes after house rock is not keeking in the final paly.   

07:45 AM Jun 09 2009 |

aaraar

aaraar

Qatar

I don't watch NBA in anytime of my life.. because i don't like watching any sport in the TV .. because i think it's waste the time …

 anywhere ..

all of us want his team to win .. but in the end the best one who will win the championship .. beside we shouldn't be sad when our team lose .. because this is the regulations of the game ..

 

aaraar .. 

07:26 AM Jun 09 2009 |

eric chong

eric chong

China

I like most of sports,especially basketball (NBA) and football( spanish premera and english premiership)
.from the game,you can find the technology,power and beauty of sports.

07:24 AM Jun 09 2009 |

sofree

sofree

China

I don't watch NBA now, but I did like it when I was in high school, I learned most of the US states' name during the game. :D

 

Usually I prefer rooting for a underdog, except the winner one is always my favorite.

06:08 AM Jun 09 2009 |

justine zhang

China

"what's your beef with Kobe?", is it generally used in chat? or only used because there is a beef named as Kobe Beef

05:57 AM Jun 09 2009 |

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