休斯顿火箭队（Houston Rockets）老板莱利斯?亚历山大（Leslie Alexander ）1月26日宣布，火箭队将身着春节特制款球衣与其最大的国际粉丝团共同庆祝中国农历新年。火箭队将穿着这款球衣参加三场比赛。

　　“The Lunar New Year uniforms represent a great opportunity to honor our incredibly loyal and passionate fans throughout China,” said Leslie Alexander. “From the time the Rockets participated in the first live NBA television broadcast in China on June 8, 1994, to my selecting Shanghai’s native son Yao Ming with the first overall selection of the 2002 NBA Draft, to our participation in the first NBA China Games in 2004, the Rockets have always enjoyed a very special bond with our fans across the region. We are thrilled and humbled to establish the Lunar New Year uniforms as a way to honor the culture, heritage and historical and future connection we’ll always enjoy with our Chinese fans.”

　　莱利斯?亚历山大表示，“这款春节特制球衣使我们得以向非常忠诚、热情的中国粉丝致敬。从1994年6月8日火箭队参加NBA在中国的首次电视直播，到我在2002年的NBA选秀大会上用状元签选中土生土长的上海人姚明，再到我们2004年参加首届NBA中国赛，火箭队一直与中国的粉丝们有着特殊的感情羁绊。通过春节特制球衣的方式向中国的文化、遗产以及火箭队过去和以后与中国粉丝间的联系表示敬意，我们既兴奋又谦卑。”

　　火箭队发布春节特别款球衣

　　“It brings great joy to me to see the Houston Rockets honor one of my country’s most important traditions,” commented Rockets legend Yao Ming, “Mr. Alexander and the Rockets have long embraced our culture and customs and made basketball fans in China a part of the Rockets community. I’m excited to ring in the Year of the Goat watching the Rockets wear the Lunar New Year uniforms.”

　　火箭队传奇球星姚明说道，“火箭队以这种方式来纪念我们国家最重要的传统节日之一，我非常高兴。亚历山大先生和火箭队一直很愿意接纳中国的文化和风俗，并将中国的篮球迷视作火箭队大家庭的一部分。能看到火箭队穿着春节特别款球衣喜迎羊年，我很激动。”

　　The Rockets Lunar New Year (LNY) jerseys will debut on Sat., Feb 21, vs. Toronto for the Rockets annual Lunar New Year Game, presented by Kenda Tires. Additionally, the LNY jerseys will be worn on Mon., Feb. 23 vs. Minnesota and Wed., Feb. 25 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers, coinciding with the Rockets week-long Lunar New Year Celebration.

　　火箭队将在2月21日(周六)跟多伦多猛龙的比赛中首次穿着春节特别球衣亮相，这是火箭队一年一度的春节特别赛，由建大轮胎（Kenda Tires）承办。此外火箭队还将在2月23日(周一)及25日(周三) 对阵明尼苏达森林狼和洛杉矶快船的比赛中身披这款战袍。同时，火箭队还将举办为期一周的春节庆祝活动。

　　Vocabulary

　　NBA Draft: NBA选秀大会

　　comment: 发表评论

　　embrace: 欣然接受

　　community: 团体

　　ring in: (鸣钟)迎来(新年等)

　　debut: 首次推出

　　jersey: 运动衣