LC fans in China more than paper Tigers

Lewis and Clark’s state football championship was amazing in itself – the first in school history and the fourth in Greater Spokane League history.

But Rene Miller got so much more out of the Tigers’ postseason run.

In addition to seeing her son, junior defensive back Logan Miller, do his part – and avenging her husband, Mike Miller, a player in 1978 when Snohomish beat LC 3-0 in the semifinals – she received an e-mailed picture showing the breadth of LC’s reach: three Chinese friends holding a large sign that said, “Lewis and Clark Tiger Football has fans in Beijing, China!”

“With Mao’s picture behind them. Tiananmen Square. Whew,” Miller exclaimed. “Is that a hoot?”

Just outside the frame of the photo, an armed soldier stood nearby.

Leonard Wang, Tony Zhao and Louie Niu were guests of the Millers during the playoff run.

The three work with Miller, who is president of Global Reach Institute for International Education.

She develops short-term professional and cultural programs internationally, working with organizations such as Project Hope.

Wang, Zhao and Niu were in the States for meetings, where in addition to enjoying malls and grocery stores, they got a large dose of American life.

Miller said it was the activities of her two children at home that really captivated the men.

Combined with the intensity of the playoff run, there were music lessons and church group.

“They were just floored by how many things our kids have going on,” she said.

It’s not that way in China, where couples are allowed to have just one child and the pressure to succeed academically is immense.

“They spend all their time studying; there is no time for extracurricular activities,” Miller said. “They got to see how much they’re missing out on.”

Obviously it didn’t take them long to get caught up in the excitement.