Man, people are soooo paranoid about the Chinese. I have nothing but positive business experiences with the Chinese going back to the mid-70s. My father has been doing business with the Chinese for almost 20 years (since Nixon) and has yet to be screwed in a deal by the govt. When we "accidentally" dropped a bomb on their embassy, and things got rather bad in the US-China relations arena, the Chinese oil companies didnt cancel their contracts with Catepillar, Jeep, and Bell Helicopter. They need the products to bring money to their country. Isn't Ming going be lining both the CBA and the govt's pockets? The Chinese would lose a lot of face by pulling back Ming after signing a contract. What would they gain? "Ah....you have put a naval blockade in front of Taiwan. We will get you back by pulling the Houston Rockets' starting center!!!!" - Yeah, thats pulling out the big guns. Bush would instantly pull back our navy. Ming is their chance to get the Michael Jordan of their country in the most elite professional basketball organization in the world. They are not going to blow it.
We can't draft Ming because the Chinese demand we build them a new stadium in return! (What, they don't?) Well then, we can draft Ming because they demand we send them a player in exchange! (What, they don't?) Well then, we can't draft Ming because the Chinese won't allow us a medical examination - they're trying to hide the stress fractures in his feet! (What, our team doctor examined him - says he broke his foot when someone stepped on it - no stress fracture?) Well then, we can't draft Ming because, because, because... China might invade Taiwan and set off WWIII! You can't risk a minor thing like WWIII disrupting the basketball season!
OK folks. I understand that a major incident with the Chinese governemtn is not likely. But it could happen. There are any number of things that could happen from a bump in trade relations to the Sharks losing money to virtually anything that could happen. The bottom line is that if the Sharks experience trouble or if we piss off the Chinese government, then Yao goes home. I want to make something clear. I am in favor of trading the pick for the 8 and 12 if that deal is actually on the table. But regardless, if we draft Ming, he will be our guy and I will be in line to buy my Ming jersey.
Refman, You must not have been to China before. Communism is a dead ideology over there. They talk the game, but Marx would be rolling in his grave if he saw China today. They're like us. They worship money. Some of the cities over there are absolutely spectacular and life is very modern. Shanghai is a lot like a combination of Austin and Houston, hip and metropolitan. And not some hole in the ground like Waco. I'm sure your image of China and it's people would change immensely if you take a trip over there. As for their military and nukes, I don't even recall hearing any noise from them in the last 10 years except for the spy plane incident. I'd be more worried about those guys in the subcontinent of Asia. I'm not at all worried about the Chinese gov't. The media seems to be the one that is looking to politicize this and find a reason for us not to draft him. The heck with them. We need Yao Ming!
Your points are well taken. But I never have had a backwoods bamboo hut view of China. they are a world power. As for the media politicizing this....hello...the government must clear him to play over here. We have to negotiate with the governement. That means that this IS political to a certain extent. Several people have told me that my views on China are wrong. But NOBODY has even tried to tell me that the Chinese government has not reserved the right to pull Yao back to China on a whim. He's a really good player and seems to be a hell of a guy. The problem is that he comes with a lot of baggage.
OK, so now I've had somebody try to tell me that the Chinese government has not reserved the right to pull Yao back to China. What is the authority for that proposition? What have they signed waiving that right? It all seems rosy now, but what about 2 years from now?
