I think he has earned it, and besides you don't know if Yao wants to play. Until he says he doesn't want to play in the All-star game, I think people should vote for him.
This. As long as fans are the one's who are voting, this is what always will happen. I'm a Rockets fan, With Yao being our most important player he will always have my vote. To put another example, the same gos for Scola, he might not even be a top 5 foward, but he has my vote.
Jeff, I understand the idea behind this post... but there are players who don't "deserve" to be all-stars voted in every year. There is a flaw in the system, but that doesn't mean people shouldn't vote for their favorite players. Heck you want to know who I voted for last season as my choice for the West center? Chuck. Not because I thought he deserved it, but because I didn't want to vote for any of the other choices. Unfortunately, all-star games are not about who's the most productive "star" on their team... it's a popularity contest.... it's name recognition... it's promotional ability. As a Reds fan, if I have learned nothing in this past year, it's that the average fan knows only the names and not the players they are voting for... When a desperation last ditch effort is what it takes to get the second best player in the National League into the baseball all-star game, you know the "fan voting" system is broken.
I only vote for players that deserve to be an all-star. That's what the all-star game is for. The players that are playing the best. It shouldn't be a popularity contest. At this point Yao is not an all-star. If you vote for him you are taking away a spot for a player that truly deserves to be there.
So, in essence, Chuck Hayes should also be an All-Star? Shane Battier? Would you say the same thing if Yao were playing for, say, the Spurs and our center might be excluded because of him?
Agreed. If the all-star game was about the best players, the decision would not be in the hands of the fans. As long as the fans are doing the voting, actual contributions on the court are meaningless.
Yep. He's virtually a lock to be voted in as starter. Things will have to improve considerably for Yao (good health, more minutes, more numbers) to avoid this being the story when the results are annnounced.
I maybe wrong but from my understanding I thought Yao always received more votes within the US than he did from China It may have changed but I remember reading in the last 2 years that China may have more people but I believed that the # of people with internet access is about the same to to the number of people in the US
Clutch, I have a lot repect to you. But, you cannot do this. What you do only could motivate Yao fans to vote for him more. For example, I have thought I wouldn't vote for all-star games this year. But, after I saw this thread, I decided to vote for Yao everyday. Every fan has their own, independent thought. You cannot force people to do things like this...
I don't think Yao should get the All Star nod either, but who am I to talk, I don't think I'm old enough to vote.
whats the point, he is injured...he won't be playing in it....especially if its Back 2 back All-star activities.
There is the All NBA team, and then there is the Allstar team. One is based on merit, the other on popularity. One is voted by more knowledgeable coaches and media members, the other by impressionable fans. There is no "deserve" in the latter. There are a lot of people in this thread confusing the two. Including the OP.
I already voted for him like 10 times since the voting started and i'm going to continue voting for him, and I DON'T GIVE A DAMN! --RB
Have you guys looked who are the choices........................... Not one single competition. Maybe Oakfor, but half the "Normal" fans, have no clue who he was, what he did...
Stupid article is stupid. I think we can all agree that Yao doesn't deserve a spot on the All-Star team right now, but most people don't vote based on who deserves to be there. If it was based on that only, why have a vote at all? Just go with the guys with the best stats or the guys the coaches choose -- no need for voting. No, people vote for players they like (and the largest country in the world likes Yao). The sooner you realize this, the less angry you'll be, Jeff.
