谁是中国最有商业价值的运动员？（讲解版）

Li Na Is China’s Most Bankable Athlete—Even in Retirement
Nike recently launched a signature collection with the Chinese tennis star.

China’s biggest tennis star is still the darling of some of the most well-known brands in the world, nearly three years after her retirement.

The sportswear brand Nike recently released a China-exclusive signature collection for Li Na, the two-time Grand Slam champion, making Ms. Li the first female Chinese athlete to have such a deal with Nike, joining big-name American athletes including Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

Besides links with Nike going back two decades, the mother of two endorses seven other brands, including auto maker Mercedes-Benz and luxury watchmaker Rolex.

In a country where brands generally favor actors and singers in ads, sports stars are becoming a bigger draw, thanks to the government push to promote professional sports, and as a fitness craze catches on with the country’s middle class.

讲义

词汇

bankable ['bæŋkəbl] adj.very valuable in business 像银行一样的；吸金的

retirement [rɪ'taɪɚmənt] n. 退休
retire[rɪ'taɪə] v. 退休
retiredadj. 退休的
【e.g.】 He’s retired from the company since last month.

launch[lɔːntʃ] v. ① start to sell 发售
②火箭发射；船下水
【e.g.】 China launched its first home-built aircraft carrier.

signature['sɪgnətʃə] n.签名
signature collection 签名款

darling['dɑːlɪŋ] n. the bankable athlete 香馍馍；宠儿

well-known[,wel'nəʊn] adj. famous 出名的

brand[brænd] n. 品牌
local brand 地方品牌
a world well-known brand 世界知名品牌
brand loyalty 品牌忠诚度

release[rɪ'liːs] v.
① launch，make public 发售
【e.g.】 A movie will be released / release a movie
② let sb. go 释放
【e.g.】 Police arrested several men who were later released.

exclusive[ɪk'sklusɪv] adj.
① 专属的；专享的
exclusive footage 独家视频
exclusive interview 独家专访
②排它的
【构词】-ex（去掉）＋ –clusive（包容性的)
【反】 inclusive adj. 包含的

Grand Slam大满贯
slam [slæm] v.猛击

deal[diːl] n.合约；一言为定
【e.g.】 “Let’s do the transaction next morning at 9 am” “Deal”

joining sb = with sb

endorse[ɪn'dɔrs] 为……背书；代言
to support officially to show that you trust something
【同】 represent [reprɪ'zent] v. 代表
Miss Zhou represents this brand.
Miss Zhou has endorsed this brand.
Miss Zhou has become an ambassador of this brand.

auto=automobile汽车

luxury['lʌɡʒəri] adj.奢侈的

watchmaker['wɒtʃmeɪkə] n.手表制造商

favor['feɪvə] v.青睐；喜欢
【e.g.】 the court favors A 法院判决A胜诉

ad＝advertisement／advertising

draw[drɔː] n. 吸引

thanks to多亏；由于，后面加名词性的结构

push[pʊʃ] n. 推动

promote[prə'məʊt] v.
① 促进；提升
【e.g.】 My boss intends to promote me.
② 推广
【e.g.】promote a product / service

fitness['fɪtnəs] n. 健康
fitness 侧重于通过运动的方式保持健康
fitness center 健身中心

craze[kreɪz] n. enthusiasm 热情；热潮
crazy adj. 狂热的

sth catches on with sb: 抓住了某些人
sth is very popular among certain people.
【e.g.】 The anti-corrupt show catches on with Chinese audience.