The American reporters quote unverifiable anonymous sources all the time, with Yang Yi, at least we know who he quoted from.
1. I don't think there is a culture barrier here, because some people did pretty good translation of Yang's aritcle, in which Yao was different. There is no 'Lost in Translation'. 2. Sorry, I cannot stop laughing when see this kind of argument. Somoeone posted similar thing before, it went something like '...Yao didn't expect his teamates would read Chinese.....' I'm not sure that's a insult to Yao's intelegent or everyone else's. My suggestiong to Yao is: If Yang Yi is really your friend, ask him to keep those 'insider' information private, at lease until you retire. Pull your head out of the sand big man.
Hmmm, anything wrong with what Yao said? Or where did he show disrespect to his teammates? Did you even read the above article? This YY thing is discussed ad nauseum. Take it or leave it. Leave everyone alone. Well, I guess with the long pause between the games, YY now becomes MVP of cc bbs.
That's a pretty big statement. And by the way, Yang's article should be trusted or not is what we are discussing, no conclusion yet. I am not here to prove Yang's credibility, since I don't know him or Yao. Just to make a suggestion as a person actually live in a real world, Yao should be careful about what could be revealed to the public, we are in year 2004, there is only one public.
Hi guys, one thing about Yangyi's stories though, it's all about things already happened in the past. The book he wrote about Yaoming only accounts to beginning of this season as well. (I guess I believe the stories because it does sound like Yao from reading his own posts on his official BBS, and also, it's one thing to read stuff on Sina and it's quite another to read it from a book which is officially sponsored, I guess I find it more creditble.) So at least he doesn't sepculate, saying this will happen or this won't happen. It's just entertaining read and with hindsight, thinking back to last season, it does make sense. How much stuff is true or not, we probably will never know, but since it's all things in the past, there is no harm done. If there is anything grossly untrue, I'm sure Team Yao would not sit idle and let this guy ramble on...
Oh, just one more thing...just asking, with all this debate about Yanyi, I mean do you guys want us translators to translate some of these stories or not in the future? If majority of the ppl on the bbs doesn't like these kind of stories then there is probably no point to post them?
I doubt you will find many who dont ever want to hear about them, since like Jeff said, we dont mind reading them...lets just not accept them as gospel truth... It is nice to be able to see articles from all viewpoints....I just wish that he would quit tryin to pander to the people who think that all the Rockets are just holding Yao back. Everytime he writes a article...and then says things that could be interpreted as bad towards the other Rockets...he then makes it sound like these things are being said by Yao himself... this part below is assuming that Yao actually said some of the things that YY claims: Why would Yao say the things that YY would have us believe he says? when as a team player that we all know he is, those kind of statements would not be good for team harmony...you dont see the rest of the guys coming down on Yao when he messes up do you? Of course not...they realize that he isnt perfect...and like all people, will make mistakes..so they dont say anything to the press..even if they secretly may think them... anyway...enough ranting.. to answer your question... there are few who may not want to see them...but considering that most here do...I would vote to continue translated articles unless the Crew says otherwise.
Beside culture barrier, Language barrier is another reason why Yao is different when you looking through the US main stream media and Chinese media. Many Chinese can read English but seldom American can read Chinese. It is very risky for Yao talking with an American reporter like the way he talking with Yang, because if anything go wrong (either by Yao or the reporter) that will be disaster to Yao and his future in Houston. I am also not here to prove Yang's credibility. I believe it is Yao's intension to let those messages only available to Chinese public and I guess it is just not the right time to show his aggressiveness in Rockets organization.
Actually it's long past time for him to show his aggressiveness. The Rockets organization have been asking him to be aggressive ever since he got here. Lately he's really been doing that, and that is excellent. I love Yao. But an aggressive Yao, is a better Yao, as far as the Rockets are concerned.
that is why he still uses Colin Pine when doing interviews. the only interview I have seen where he did it without Pine is when he got interviewed by Bill and Calvin after a game. It isnt that he cant speak English...he can...he just has decided to use Pine to make sure he isnt misunderstood. Im still waiting for proof that Yang is this big insider he claims to be.
My take on this issue: 1) The conversation between CD and Yao regarding who he likes and dislikes may or may not happen. Even if it really happen, it may not sounds that serious as some of the readers here tend to think. Who know the atmosphere when the conversation took place? Is it a serious one? A playful one or whatever? 2) Yang Yi is more a sports writer/columnist rather than a journalist. 3) It is very unprossional for Yang Yi to write this thing into his article as this is highly sensitive issue and could cause negative impact for the team chemistry. When the conversation is taken out of context, it can sounds really bad for us reader while in reality it may not be the case. 4) I personally don't see any difference in Yao's character in so called 'Chinese version' and 'English version'. Yao had said good thing about SF and his teammate on his Chinese forum, and this is what he said when interviewed by English media. His post on his bbs is humble, and this is the Yao being portrayed in the English media. The only difference between 'Chinese Version' and 'English version' of Yao is he is usually more playful and has more confidence in Chinese version. In front of English media, Yao seems a little shy and uncomfortable.
Wait until next season when Pine's contract is up, you'll have ample opportunity to listen to Yao in English. After all, I don't think it is a good manner to sideline your interpreter when being interviewed even if you can converse fully in English. If I was paid by somebody to do something but end up I was not needed, I will not feel comfortable even if I still get my pay.
There may be a lot of reasons why nobody in American media quote Yang Yi's report. Credilitity may be one of them, but more likely it's simply beause most sport writer can't read Chinese. Besides, you can not equate how wide a quote spread to its credibility. When Bush said that Irag has WMD, it's been quoted by every media worldwide. Does it make it more true? Well, if you said this from very begining instead of critisizing him having zero credibility, this debate would never have happened. I don't think most people who defend Yang Yi, me included, claimed his report is 100 pecent accurate. For the guys like Ford/Vescey, most time what you got is just unnamed "insider" source. With Yang Yi, at least we know that the quote comes from Yao and Yao never deny it. This, in my opinion at least, make Yang Yi's report much more credibale than the likes of Ford/Vescey. To critisize him having zero credibility is too hash and is not fair.
Heh for some reason Grant Hill popped into my head when I read this. I bet he lives pretty comfortably.
