Mao's Love for Ping Pong and His Disgust with Capitalism

Some things change and some things remain the same. My friends in China now like ping pong and capitalism.  But, read this obituary.  Here is what Mao said: "“Regard a Ping-Pong ball as the head of your capitalist enemy,” the chairman was quoted as saying. “Hit it with your socialist bat, and you have won the point for the fatherland.”   You have to admit that he had a good sense of humor?  This was a joke wasn't it?