运动休闲－"进口"运动和运动狂热？运动也进口

Sports in America represent the international heritage¹ of the people who play. Many sports were imported from other countries. European immigrants² brought tennis, golf, bowling³ and boxing to America. Football and baseball came from other Old World games. Only basketball has a truly American origin. Even today some formerly⁴ "foreign" sports like soccer are gaining American fans. In 1994 the U.S. hosted the World Cup for the first time ever.
　　美国的运动代表着从事这些运动的人的国际遗产。许多的运动是从外国引进来的。欧洲移民把网球、高尔夫、保龄球和拳击带进了美国。足球和棒球则源自其它的欧洲传统比赛。只有篮球是唯一真正源自美国本土，即使在今日，一些原本是外来的运动例如英式足球也吸引了许多的美国运动迷。在一九九四年，美国首次负责举办世界杯足球赛。

　　Not only do Americans import sports, but they export sports fever, as well. Satellites broadcast games to sports fans around the globe. The World Series, the U.S. professional baseball championship, has begun to live up to its name. The names of American superstars like basketball great Michael Jordan have become household words the world over. Who knows? Sports seasons may even change world weather patterns.
　　美国人不只是「进口」运动，他们同样地也「出口」运动狂热。他们对全球的运动迷作卫星转播。世界系列的美国职业棒球锦标赛，也已渐趋名符其实。一些美国的超级明星，像是篮球巨人麦可乔登已经成了全世界家喻户晓的人了。谁知道呢？运动季节甚至可能会改变全世界的气象型态呢。

1 heritage   

n.传统，遗产，继承物

参考例句：

• The ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.这些古建筑是民族遗产的一部分。
• We Chinese have a great cultural heritage.我们中国人有伟大的文化遗产。

2 immigrants   

n.移民( immigrant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Illegal immigrants were given the opportunity to regularize their position. 非法移民得到了使其身份合法化的机会。
• Immigrants from all over the world populate this city. 这个城市里生活着来自世界各地的移民。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 bowling   

n.保龄球运动

参考例句：

• Bowling is a popular sport with young and old.保龄球是老少都爱的运动。
• Which sport do you 1ike most,golf or bowling?你最喜欢什么运动，高尔夫还是保龄球？

4 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。