http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2007-06-23/01162997481.shtml Personally I think the reporter that wrote this article probably got it right: In summary Lu Hao, Yao Ming's agent in China confirmed that Yao Ming did plan to get married this summer, but the date and venue not yet finalized. It will probably be in August, but not decided whether it will be held in China or USA. And he further added that Yao Ming's wedding will be very personal and private, and has nothing to do with the Houston Rockets or CBA. The CCTV's live TV broadcast on September 25 (Mid Autumn Festival) is just CCTV's wishful thinking as Yao Ming will probably be touring with the national team in exibition games/tournaments by that time. Besides Liu Xiang will be competing on September 22 in Stuttgart Germany in IAAF World Athletics Final; even if he can make it back to China by that time, he will still have to prepare for the IAAF Shanghai Golden Grand Prix to be held end September. Therefore it is higly unlikely Liu Xiang will be available as Master of Ceremony for Yao Ming's wedding as CCTV currently plans. The reporter further speculates that most probably it will be on August 8 , as it will be exactly one year before the 2008 Olympics commences in Beijing. The reason for choosing August 8 is simple.....as in future whenever the Chinese celebrate the anniversary for the 2008 Olympics, Yao Ming will also be celebrating his anniversary; moreover, as Yao Ming will not have much to do every summer, then he can celebrate his anniversary with his wife on August 8. Also, according to the Chinese zodiac, August 8 is a good day fit for marriage. Besides, Yao Ming had often been doubted and criticized by fans and media that one of the reasons why he had yet to take the Rockets onto his shoulder was that he had not yet married, and therefore not mature enough to bear that responsibility. And August 8 is the China Manhood Day or China Father's Day (8.8 phonetically links to BA BA in Mandarin, i.e. father), so getting married on August 8 signifies he is now matured and ready to be a leader for the Houston Rockets
Who has said it was a smart idea? I have just raised a point and asked you a question. My point: That idea is not unprecedented and it is a business proposal (if there is one). Someone has the right to ask and Yao has the right to decline. And it's quite possible that there is not even such a proposal and it is only a rumor. My question: It seems to me your main beef is that Yao has even considered it. So how do you know Yao has considered the proposal (if there is one) and who has told you about it? Is it simple enough for you now?
Wedding date is set. Looks like the wedding will be small. http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Yao_Ming_nuptials_set_for_August_5_07072007.html Yao Ming nuptials set for August 5 AFP Published: Saturday July 7, 2007 China's All-Star NBA centre Yao Ming will marry his longtime sweetheart on August 5, laying to rest weeks of media speculation about the national hero's wedding date, state press said Saturday. Yao's agent Lu Hao said the Houston Rockets centre will marry his companion of eight years, Ye Li, a member of China's national women's team, in a small, private ceremony, the Guangzhou Morning News reported. Previous reports have said the ceremony would take place in Shanghai, where both were born and began dating as they played for the Shanghai Sharks men's and women's teams. Yao, 27, has settled on an exclusive guest list that will not include any Chinese basketball officials, teammates or coaches, Lu told the paper. The 2.26-metre (seven-foot-six-inch) centre first met the 1.9-metre Ye in 1999. Ye still plays for the national side, but has been limited by injuries in recent years. Their romance went public when the two were seen walking hand-in-hand at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympics. Previous reports have said Ye is a regular at Yao's Texas home and that she has been studying English at the University of Houston. The low-key plans are likely to disappoint some fans. Past media and Internet reports said the wedding would be broadcast live on television, with China's Olympic gold medal-winning hurdler Liu Xiang acting as master-of-ceremonies. Yao has been tight-lipped amid it all while appealing for privacy. "This is a private issue. But a wedding can be done quickly and needn't be drawn out into a big thing," he was quoted as saying by Beijing's The Mirror newspaper on Friday.
