No, I haven’t heard yet from Clyde Drexler (or anyone claiming to be him) since writing the “‘I Love China’: Clyde Drexler Cashes In” post earlier this month, but I did get a note from one astute reader (Thanks, Michael) who pointed me to a January 10, 2005 article (http://english.people.com.cn/200501/10/eng20050110_170098.html) on the People’s Daily Web site that reads:

Clyde Drexler signs with Chinese company

NBA Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler signed Sunday with a Chinese sports promotion company to become the first American NBA player promoting a Chinese sports brand.

Drexler, one of the 50 NBA Greatest Players, signed a two-year contract with Athletic of Fujian Province. The details of the contract were not disclosed.

“I’m excited to be here again,” said Drexler, who came to China for the fourth time. “It’s my ambition to promote the basketball game to more countries, to let more youngsters to like the game.”

The Athletics is planning to bring the Houston University basketball team, which was formerly coached by Drexler, to China for an exhibition game against of China’s Collegiate Super League champions.

“The Houston team is in the Division One (of the NCAA), but I don’t think they have the shot on the Final Four,” Drexler said. “I hope, in the future, we can bring the best American college teams to China.”

Drexler led the Houston Rockets to two consecutive NBA championships in 1993-95. He played 15 seasons in the NBA and retired in 1998.

Well, at least we know now that (1) Mr. Drexler has in fact been in China and (2) he really does have a contract with the Athletic company. I still earnestly would like to learn what he especially loves about China…and whether any U.S. garment manufacturers are sore at him for any sort of unfair celebrity endorsement trade imbalances. (No, wait, I guess that would that be the other way around….)

I’ll keep checking the ol’ Inbox for a message from Mr. Drexler just the same.