http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Basketball/NBA/2005/04/27/1015332-ap.html China honours Yao Named a 'model worker' SHANGHAI (AP) - It's official: Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming is a "model worker." Communist China's cabinet, the State Council, awarded the honour to both Yao and Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang, Zhao Jiaxiong, spokesman for Shanghai's Office for Choosing Model Workers, said Wednesday. The model worker nominations of Yao and Liu, a gold medallist in the men's 110-metre hurdles at Athens, had sparked criticism among some Chinese who argued the award was meant to honour ordinary workers, not sports stars. Yao described the honour, usually given to workers in more proletarian fields like industry, mining and public services, as "one more honour and encouragement from society," Xinhua News Agency reported, citing Yao's agent Zhang Chi. "But compared to the contributions other winners had made to the motherland, there is still large room for me to improve," Xinhua quoted Yao as saying. For decades, the model worker award has been turning unknown miners, teachers or factory workers into celebrities in the state media. Yao became one of China's biggest sports heroes after joining the NBA in 2002 as the No. 1 draft pick. He won praise back home by returning during the NBA off-season to play for the national team. Yao already has twice received a local version of the award from Shanghai. He is also an official spokesman for promoting the city.
According to Van Gundy, Yao shows up and puts in an honest day's work, and more, every day. When Mo Taylor wins this award, then I'll join the protest.
This defies the whole purpose of the revolution. The revolution does not celebrate millionares. The revolution is a celebration of the people. The revolution is not supposed to be televised. At least not on TNT.
