I, as much as anyone else, am thrilled that Yao's deal was finalized yesterday, and that he will be here next week and hopefully for the entire season. However, deep down I have this fear that Yao may not be consistently available throughout the duration of his Rocket career. It seems that I read somewhere that part of his agreement to play with the Rockets was to assure his loyalty to the CBA. What does this mean? If things don't go so well for him this year, or if the CBA starts to go downhill, or the Shanghai Sharks start stinking up the gym, are they going to make him show his loyalty to the CBA by leaving the Rockets and coming back to China? Maybe even during a playoff run, or the stretch drive of the NBA season. Will the Rockets really have full access to Yao Ming? I guess my fear is that it could be a constant battle keeping Yao over here permanently (meaning permanently during the NBA seasons). I've heard some people speculate on this topic but I'm not sure I've heard a take from the posters from China. Do you think my fears are valid, or am I being paranoid?
Yao Ming signed an NBA contract. That means he HAS to play for the Rockets until their season officially ends and not one minute sooner. He won't be shuttling back off to China during the middle of the playoffs, as some people have feared. This whole "allegience to China" crap applies only for international tournaments, which would be the World Basketball championships, the Olympics, and the Asian games, all of which are during the offseason. From what I understand, every international player that is in the NBA has gone through the same stuff that Yao Ming has gone through, only Yao has been more publicized because he was the #1 overall pick...
I understand that Yao has an NBA contract, but how valid is an NBA contract if chinese officials demanded Yao to return to China for whatever reason. What is keeping them from completely ignoring an NBA contract. It seems if the Chinese officials demanded that Yao comes home, there is nothing we could do about it other than hope Yao pulls a Wang Zhi-Zhi.
Yao Ming will always be the ultimate determinant of everything. If Yao wants to return and play in China for any reason, the Rockets aren't going to be able to sic the federal marshals on him. If Yao wants to stay and play in Houston, the CBA won't have much control either. But from a legal perspective, Yao Ming is committed to playing during the NBA regular-season/post-season. His off-time is his own, however, and it's very likely he'll continue to miss training camp some years. Because the NBA collects the best basketball players from around the globe, no major international tournaments will conflict with the NBA season. So, there will be no conflict with Yao Ming's schedule, either. There's no danger of Yao being recalled to play for the Sharks.
Title99, please do a search for the infinate # of threads where this was hashed out from every concevable perspective for the entire summer since we were awareded the 1st pick. Do we have to discuss this again?
Worth repeating. Yao's commitment is to the Chinese National Team which basically (though not totally) plays in the NBA off season. Yao Ming will return to China as soon as the Rockets season has ended. IMHO, this is why the negotiations have taken this long. So that all sides are comforable with and understand the arrangements. Page through the thread below and you will see how Rockets2K and I came up with the dates for the Asian Games, the WBC's, and the Olympics. Fundamentally, these are the only games which impact Yao since he has no further contract with the Shanghai Sharks. http://bbs.clutchcity.net/php3/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42121&highlight=asian+games
I'm not sure what you expect the Chinese to do if they do want him back. Will they send the secret police to kidnap him and fly him back to Shanghai? FIBA is basketball's world governing body. They mediated the Yao's move from one league to another based on the agreement that he'd play in the NBA and represent China in international games. They run these international games. Now, if China did defy the agreement (and kidnapped Yao with the secret police or whatever), they would face some reprimand from FIBA, possibly including a ban from international competition. If they don't want to play by the rules, they can take their ball and go home, but there will be no one to play with there. Besides all that though, you are being way too suspicious of the Chinese. They have been reluctant to allow their players to play overseas. There also were rumors that they wanted to ask for unreasonable compensation. But, they never once actually broke any rules, nor have they held the NBA hostage. All things considered, I think they have been very cooperative about the whole thing. The thing they most fear is having their best athletes (Batere, Wang and Yao) defect and not represent them in international play. Wang made those fears realized this summer and they still allowed Batere and Yao to go back to the US (along with Yao's mother no less) to play. They've been doing their best to protect their interests, but are still willing to take some chances to have their boys playing in the NBA. I don't know why you're still worrying about it. I think the Chinese' actions speak loud and clear about their intentions.
I doubt very seriously that the Chinese goverment would try to force Ming to come back during the season. As was stated earlier, he is signed to a NBA contract, which means that he is contractually obligated to play on THIS team during the season and playoffs. If he were to break that contract, there would be consequences and repercussions, and any hit to Yao Ming's paychecks is a hit three-fold to China's paychecks from him.
Li Yao Ming (SH shark manager): Hmmm, our sharks stinks, we want our big Yao back... FIBA: He's transferring under our guidline, no big fella for you sharks. Li: Screw FIBA, who cares we are China. FIBA: Fine, no Olympics for you. ... (outside voice from high above):National interest, Li, you want to go to labor camp? Li: arh, sorry my bad. Does this sum up to you?
i think it is kinda simple (1)nothing about CBA. it is a b-ball league in China. Yao is playing NBA in the US. (2)Yao will play for Chinese NT because he is the member of the team. Most international players will play for their national teams. For instance, in England, the league even stoped their pro games to let international player to play FIFA qualify games. But don't worry, all NT b-ball games are on NBA off-season. Yao will miss some train camp. it is bad but can't help, unless he chooses to quit from China NT like Wang Zhizhi. (3)Nothing about ShangHai Shark. I heard they are looking some good centers from the US. They will also get some money from Yao. That's it.
You do realize that China is the second largest Super Power in the World don't you. We may be stronger but they're no push overs. They could just as easily bomb the hell out of us because they're nuclear as well.
Not really much to add here, but I'll give some things. From what I understand, China wants Yao in the NBA just about as much as the Rockets...ok maybe not that much. However, if there best player can become WAY better, why not do it. Not to mention they get a little bit of his salary. (hehe.. a bit.) I'd assume that if they broke the rules, they would not get all there money and we would not improve Yao any longer. Just make him sit the bench or something. Not to mention that Chinese b-ball fans will kill anyone who makes Yao not be able to play. Oh yeah, and FIBA can do some stuff too.
