Apparently, the spark between Chinese and Japanese soccer teams at the East Asian championship not only stimulated a nationwide discussion among Chinese netizens, but also set fire between readers and a Southern Metropolis Daily sports commentator, Zhang Xiaodan, who wrote about the event with a critical voice. Here is a full translation Zhang’s article and the online battle after the publication of the article. From ESWN:

(Southern Metropolis Daily via China.com.cn) Do Him! Do Him! Chongqing is a city that ‘does’ stuff. By Zhang Xiaodan. February 22, 2008.

Chongqing is a city that ‘does’ stuff.

The ambiguous verb “do” carries the juxtaposition of “humor” with “malice.” Here in Chongqing, the tall elevated bridges straddle the old city wall, a Michelangelo muscle man stands guard over the Great Changjiang Bridge, an electronic musical keyboard accompanies three classical er’wu string instruments in the tea house at the ceramics village dated from the Song dynasty, the temple festivals on the river shore shake to the beat of “We will … we will rock you …

This city has lost its Super League team, but is the desolate Datianwan being displaced by the Olympic Center? How many years pass before it will get a chance to host an Asian cup or East Asian Top Four tournament? The attendance figures at the China-South Korea and the China-Japan games were around 60% of capacity. Following the consecutive defeats suffered by the Chinese team, it seemed that the East Asian Top Four tournament was over before it officially ended, as how many fans would pay to see the chicken wishbone at the end … even though it is a chicken wishbone with a hard-on?

(Chongqing Evening News via Cat989)

Recently, published the essay in which the author Zhang Xiaodan used an almost perverse technique to slur the people, history, culture and even “gender roles” of the city of Chongqing. The article was biased and slanted in a way that smears Chongqing. This had upset the citizens of Chongqing and elsewhere. A joint notice of condemnation has been issued by more than 20 websites including Dayu, Hualong, Danhong, Chongqing Life Forum, Tianya and others…

(Southern Metropolis Daily) Apology notice. February 26, 2008.

On February 22, our page A24 published the sports commentary , which made inappropriate sarcastic remarks about Chongqing and specific Chongqing organizations. This has resulted in damage to the images of the city of Chongqing and its people. We solemnly apologize to the citizens of Chongqing, the relevant organizations and our readers…