In America the non-stop coverage of sporting events, and the athletes who participate, is just part of daily life. In Russia, not so much, because the best athletes often join foreign sports leagues like the NHL.  But thanks to Big Boss and all-knowing leader Putin, things are about  to change, as the Russian version of ESPN goes live.  Meanwhile, Chinese media firms are also making big bets on sports: http://www.wsj.com/articles/sports-teams-score-lucrative-deals-in-china-1447398109