Kinda funny...sorry if it's been posted somewhere. From ESPN.com: Associated Press HOUSTON -- Yao Ming is reportedly nearing a settlement with Coca-Cola's Chinese subsidiary in a dispute over use of the basketball star's photo on commemorative bottles sold in his hometown of Shanghai. National Basketball Association sources told Houston television station KRIV on Wednesday that settlement of Yao's lawsuit filed in Shanghai against the subsidiary will include an apology from the soft drink company. Yao has had an endorsement deal with soft-drink rival Pepsi. He complained in May about Coke using his image. The 7-foot-6 Houston center had demanded a public apology from Coca-Cola. Sources told the station that the apology will come through the Chinese news media. Yao, the No. 1 draft pick in the NBA last year, sought compensation of only 1 yuan or 12 cents for "spiritual and economic losses." Although Coca-Cola had signed an endorsement contract with the Chinese national team, Yao contended that did not give the company the right to use his image. The commemorative bottles showed Yao, San Antonio player Menk Bateer and Chinese player Guo Shiqiang in Chinese national team uniforms. Yao and Bateer played for China last year in the Asian Games. Representatives of Coke have argued the company has the right to show groups of at least three members of the Chinese team under a sponsorship agreement. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1639183 Pepsi's better anyways. Go Yao!
Yao needs to use his brain a bit more. He spent big bucks hiring lawyers to sue. In return he only asked for 1 Chinese buck, which is equivelent to 12 cents in US currency. Wasting time & money.
Guys, he is not sueing for the 1 buck. He is claiming back his ad right. Currently, coke is using his photo and image in China, asserting that they have the right to do so under their contract with the NCT. That of course does not go well with Yao's pesi promotional contract. If Yao let the current coke practice stands, Coke effectively gets Yao's image at a very low cost while Pesi has to pay big buck for that. You can tell why the lawsuit against coke started when Yao was about to get the promotional contract from pesi.
Trust me, im sure pepsi made him do something since they are paying him the big bucks to be endorsed by them. As far as Yao spending money on his attorneys for nothing, right now this man has plenty of money since he just got a huge check from Reebok.
Or the arrogance, right? I assume this has something to do with the situation being "not about the money". It's the principle of the matter. But then again, like most posters I can't see the subtleties of the oriental mind. Oh sorry, I forgot the exclamation point. "!"
IMHO, this post is easily the best input on this thread so far (it's not like the thread is worth writing home about anyway). Way to go acrophobia98.
