Mr. Goldberg's trip in China (live)

Are you saying that the media covered Goldberg's arrival at the airport "live?" sheez. The media sure is desparate for Ming stories, aren't they?

Over here, the Rockets General Manager is saying Goldberg is just there pretty much to bow, shake hands, nod appropriately to questions and eat good food.

 

As long as the Sharks, the CBA, whatever entity, understands:

The Rockets must abide by the Collective Bargaining Agreement of the NBA. We can't give what we're not allowed to give.

I'm not worried about any of this---I gave that up before the draft---but doesn't it seem that plenty of loose ends were left to tie, considering the two sides are still discussing Ming's obligations to the national team? I thought the Rockets had reluctantly agreed to that?

Or did one of the two sides use elliptical language when making an agreement, leaving the door open to future haggling? "With all due respect, we said he could play for the national team, but you said we could have him for an uninterrupted NBA season."

 

Hmmm, that's strange. Is it possible the Rockets overpromissed in order to get Ming's FIBA clearence? Or maybe they just glossed over some issues that are now resurfacing. Whatever the case is, if the Rockets hold Ming's FIBA license, he will either play for the Rockets or not play at all, which I don't think the Chinese wil let happen.

 

Problem for Rocket is that Rocket hasn't got the FIBA clearence till now, which is reported in China media but not in us media!!!

CBA has just given the promise by fax to Rocket and won't release the clearance until the formal agreements between Rocket and CBA. CBA is trying hard by every means to ensure the presence of Yao Ming in important games. One important issue that worried CBA now is how to ensure the later career of Yao after 3-4 years contract with Rocket, which make it serious after Wang's absence. For CBA, 50% salary of yao is not important though it's a lot but CBA already lived better wihtout these money. Don't mention we don't know how much CBA will pay Yao when he stands for China in WCB, Olympic games. Most important, for CBA, it's the obligation of Yao's presence. One way they seeks is the signature by NBA, which no precedent presented. There's still more workes to do for Rocket, but don't worry that Yao's presence in next season with rocket jersey because CBA want to Yao improve by competing with the best oppenent which not exsited in China. That's just a kind of bargain in the business related to the Yao's time and both sides haven't revealed all the details to public.

 

I just can't believe that the Rockets would ever agree to allowing Yao to play for the Shanghai Sharks during the China National Games. The Asian Games and the Olympics, yes, but for the China National Games??? Give the guy a break... letting the man represent his country is one thing, but this? No way.

I'm not even sure the NBA would allow it. These folks need to get a grip. I'm just going to assume this is all hogwash, and is mis-information of some sort until proven otherwise. (geez!)

 

w&s: It should be $350K. I know numbers are counted differently in the Chinese system. In this case surely it makes no difference for 35k or 350k. But when you talk about 35M or 350M, it could be a big difference. Check it out.

 

Well, I relaxed completly after read the 10 conditions asked by Shanhai Sharks. Nothing new asked this time. They are just related to the detailed cooperation with Rocket reported before, like camping, basketball school, exhibition games, cheap TV deal which Rocket already agreed before. Even Rocket agreed all the items, no more than 1M/yr total needed for Rocket. Of course, Goldberg couldn't signed it in Yao's agreement because of the NBA rules. But he can sign another independent cooperation agreement before Yao's agreement. Goldberg must have been very happy once he saw these conditions. However, he's a lawyear. He can't sign it instantly without the permit of Les and he also want to bargain. All the reports just boosted by the reporters. They are making their living by selling the diseaster news.

 

Thanks, yin... now I can worry about the asteroid.

 

When are the China National Games? That's all I care about it. If they're during the NBA season then that could definitely be a problem.

I thought all this crap was cleared up by now.

 

yin: Thanks for posting.

One note on the "cheap TV deal." Technically, ANY television broadcast outside of only a few miles from the city of Houston (I think it is like 25 or 30 miles) belongs exclusively to the NBA. Period.

The Rockets have no rights to negotiate ANY television deals that extend beyond the radius around the city of Houston. So, I'm not sure what they are asking, but it cannot be for broadcast rights at all.

 

The biggest problem is that you can't control someone who is on the opposite side of the world. No matter how thick the rope is, it just won't stretch that far. Either Yao doesn't go to the NBA, or some sphincters are going to have to loosen. Some of the best advice in life is to not worry about what you can't control.

It doesn't matter what letters Yao, the Rockets, the CBA, the NBA, David Stern, or anyone else signs, if Yao decides he doesn't want to play like Wang did, then there is nothing anyone can do. They can send 500 people to "pursue" Yao, but kidnapping is illegal in the US. The best strategy is to let Yao do what he wants, and that will maximize their chances of benefitting from Yao's services in the future. If he is able to go back, enjoy himself playing for his national team (which he should), and then return to continue on in the NBA, then he will do it. If he has to worry about not being able to return, or not being to fulfill his obligations to one of the parties, then he is going to stay in the US (where the money is). The CBA and the Sharks are digging their grave right now by making this process difficult and expensive for Yao. There will be no good will left when they are finished with these "negotiations".

While I fully expected for there to be more obstacles because of the number of parties involved, and the selfishness of those parties, I am still irked by all of it.

 

Stern said 4 TV deals signed before Yao's draft because he wouldn't want Yao will be a hostage. However, detailes of the deals have never been revealed both in China and us. Definitely these deals must have been negotiated for years between NBA and China but without any advance until Yao's appearance. Now, Shanghai sharks asked for a cheap broadcast in Shanghai, not all China. Surely Stern could give another TV deal if Rocket don't have the right to do it. Though it apprantly is a loss to NBA but it's a penny compared to Billions yao would bring. Even before draft, a lot of reports in the us estimated that Yao could bring billions to NBA (why they made known to public, esp. to China, not keep it in secret?). Of course, CBA and Shanhai sharks would like to share one part of it. If NBA would earn 10 billion, don't you think it's pretty fair CBA can ask for 1 billion.

What do think the Shanhai shark's feeling when they read a lot of reports that Yao bring an immeadiate big market to Rocket (ticket, naming right of new arena, potential championship of NBA, etc.) though yao haven't play even one NBA game. Don't you think Shanhai shark regardes it very resonable or even not a good deal to share 1% of Les' net income. Yao's marketibility is such high as his height, even his autographed card selled $150 recently. (I regreted a lot why I am so not wise asking his autograph 3 years ago, when he gave it for free even by mail). In recent four country tournment in China, audience even pay the black-market price for the ticket of game held in the storm weather just for looking at Yao in person, thinking it's in the season of world socer games and basketball games are far hot than socer in China.

Poor Yao Ming! He have no freedom to choose which country, which city, which team to play. He's been an hostage now. Every part want to get a part of profit and bargain each other for even one dollar. He has to play NBA regular and playoff games in us, international games (bargaining now) for China. what's his time to rest? Is he really free even he's in the rest? Do you know the dream of Yao's childhood was just going to zoo (His family is so special that always been surrounded by the people)?

Surely Yao will come to Houston in the middle of Oct. But before that, a lot of deals will have to work out, many of them will kept secret. NBA, CBA are all businessmen. They would not let the billions of dollars blow away but all of them want to get the maximum of it. Only coaches, players and fans realy care about Yao's skills.

Hope #11 in Yao's jersey will bring him smooth future as he wished and bright future as his name implied.

 

But if the NBA markets him, puts him in front of a national audience and gives him the opportunity to become rich and famous and the CBA the chance to reap some of that benefit, why is the NBA responsible for the success of the CBA?

The NBA will not succeed or fail based on the success or failure of Yao Ming. It could mean money to them but, if not, they'll be just fine.

It is obviously in their best interest to support and promote Yao so they can open the Chinese market, but there was every indication that was happening already.

 

I'm intrested -

Are these types of moment-to-moment contract details routinely reported by the Chinese media? Generally, it is viewed as a distasteful for a team or a player to leak ongoing negotiations. Is this simply a cultural difference?

Finally, while I can understand the concerns in Shanghai about the fairness of the compensation, I hope that you can try and understand that this is not a move to disrespect Yao Ming, this is a system which was implimented by negotiations between the NBA and the NBA players association to control what were out of control speculative bidding on young players. These are the same rules that have applied to all of the recent stars who entered the league. Vince Carter, for instance, averaged $1.67 Million dollars for his first four years in the league. Despite the fact that he was perhaps the most marketable player in the league at the time, the rules prevented them from increasing his salary even if they wanted to.

 

Welcome to the NBA. That's the way it is for every player. No one is forcing him to play in the NBA. I want him here but don't think he should be treated any better than any other player.


os

 

This is not true. The Rockets can pay the Sharks (or any designated parties/persons) up to $4m over 4 yrs. Should I post the Larry Coon confirmation email about this, and Pau Gasol's situation last year?

If there is any arguing going on, it might very well be about how to divy up that $4m between the Sharks and the CBA, and anyone else.

 

With or without Yao Ming, NBA has its fans in CHina and is going to be big there. I watched NBA from the times of Jabar while I was in China. CBA doesn't really have a lot of bargaining power money-wise.