There’s much to discuss in the world today.

India’s 74-year-old anti-corruption icon is set to leave prison after getting the go ahead to continue his hunger strike. Iraq is getting bombed by the Turks. Libyan fighters are set to capture Gadhafi’s last functioning oil refinery in  Zawiya, and Standard and Poors has sworn to preserve France’s AAA rating, much to America’s shared chagrin.

But someday, many years from now, when our children’s children discuss the start of World War III it may well all come down to a goodwill basketball game.

Various reports from Beijing say that the Georgetown Hoyas, who were playing the Bayi Rockets in an exhibition game, were pulled off the floor in the 4th quarter after a melee broke out between players and fans. The American hoopsters had been showered with plastic bottles and folding chairs from the stands, before players began exchanging blows on the hardwood at the capital city’s Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

Georgetown Coach John Thompson III pulled his players off the court with 9 minutes 32 seconds left in the game and the score tied at 64 after the game deteriorated into a wild brawl in which members of both teams got rough and tumble — throwing punches and tackling one another. Both CBS sports and the Washington Post have posted some pretty absurd photos from the front lines. Looks like some pretty serious team-bonding if you ask me.

This was the second time both benches cleared in a game tarnished by near-comical officiating. By halftime, Bayi had 11 fouls while Georgetown had 28 in an utterly impartially and objectively refereed game that showed absolutely no hint of favoritism on the part of the Chinese refs for the home team.

In a statement released by the university, Coach Thompson said the following:

“Tonight, two great teams played a very competitive game that unfortunately ended after heated exchanges with both teams. We sincerely regret that this situation occurred.

“We remain grateful for the opportunity our student-athletes are having to engage in a sport they love here in China, while strengthening their understanding of a nation we respect and admire at Georgetown University.”

Whatever. I just wished he’d addressed the shockingly offensive lack of crane kicks from the Chinese side.

No comment yet from the China’s Propaganda Ministry, but my guess is the People’s Republic is still smarting from the absolute obliteration they experienced on their home turf during the 2008 Olympics. In case anyone forgot, and for the obvious benefit of our Chinese readership, allow me to remind the entire world that Team USA drubbed the Chinese 101-70 in Beijing before basking in the warmth of gold medal-dom.