Retiring Yao

Who the hell aside from YOF cares if Yao gets to voted into the All-Star team?!? Does that achievement award the Rockets any W's? Does his All-Star participation translate to any post season success? All the All-Star game and weekend does is serve as a popularity contest (NBA Pageant so to speak) and publicity/marketing stunt (do you know how much attention the All-Stars weekends get and how much cities fight for the privilege of hosting?) and to stroke the ego's of players who thinks it makes them even more special? I would rather Yao NOT participate in the All-Stars, because that is just an additional game where he can get injured. The guy has a glass foot and you bring up his unnecessary participation in absolutely meaningless games for our team as his prime achievements?

 

Whoa!!!

Black athletes were not allowed to play in the MLB. Asian Americans have never been good enough to play in the NBA. There is a strong case to be made that pre-Robinson, the best players (at least some) in the world were in the Negro leagues. Satchell Page and josh Gibson, to be certain, were at the apex of their respective positions. No Asian American player can make such a claim. To compare Yao and the NBA to Robinson (and blacks) and MLB is truly ignorant and nearly offensive.

 

Those same people probably are ok with raising division championship banners. For me, there is a much higher bar both individually and teamwise. Sorry, Yao, but being really popular isn't enough to get your name in the rafters. That is reserved for the upper pantheon of GREAT players, not cash cows.

 

Retiring a player's jersey is a testament to his individual success with an organization. And whether you like it or not, being selected to the all-star team every year is quite an achievement.

However, when you start measuring a player by his team's accomplishments, then you're detracting from his individual game. Is it Yao's fault that he was teamed up with players like Luther Head and Ryan Bowen?

You can't win this argument. Not only will Yao's jersey be retired, but he'll get into the hall of fame too.

 

this^. how is it even a question?

 

One of these things is not like the other

 

You must think his career is not over after this year. Cause he isn't a HOFer yet.

 

No, it's not.

No, he won't.

 

If his career ended today, he'd eventually get into the HOF. I don't think you appreciate the international impact he's had on the game of basketball.

 

Can you cite one example where a player spent his entire career with a team, was a perennial all-star, had a good relationship with management, and didn't get his jersey retired?

 

As of right now, exactly one playoff series victory under his belt.

If you retire his jersey with that accomplishment being the crowning one on his resume, you really are setting low standards for your franchise, especially considering the number of games he has missed.

 

Like I said, if you're judging him based on postseason success, then you're unfairly penalizing him for having teammates like Luther Head and Ryan Bowen.

 

Stop with the excuses.

Luther head and Rayn Bowen had nothing to do with Okur and Boozer abusing him playoffs. Yao failed to dominate that matchup even under single coverage (he should have devoured Okur on single coverage but he struggled instead). To me that series has been the defining moment of his career (so far).

 

CD is a Rockets lifer who has impacted the organization on many levels.Whether it be on the hardwood or in the front office, he's helped the Rockets forge an identity that commands respect around the league. A good ole boy who is wily as a fox......CD has his own special brand of genius and class.

 

Excuses? You're trying to gauge his career based on team success whereas a jersey's retirement depends on individual merit.

 

What does the team have to do wim him dominating his position in the playoffs?!?! he has failed to do that!

He hasnt done enough based on individual merit.

Like I said, Rockets may still retire his jersey but it will lowering the standards for the franchise.

 

Can you cite one example where a player spent his entire career with a team, was a perennial all-star, had a good relationship with management, and didn't get his jersey retired?

 

No, but Yao will be the first... unless he starts having all-star years again.

 

Why dont you also add "being a nice guy" to the list?

Like I said....

Lowering expectations for the franchise. LA Clippers would ecstatic with that resume.

 

How are expectations lowered? Every player who fits the criteria I previously mentioned has had their jersey retired. How many perennial all-stars can you list who have not had their jerseys retired? If anything, it's upholding standards.