As word spread of Yao Ming's retirement, no one could have been surprised. There was a sense of shock, anyway. Rockets teammates had watched Yao come back from injuries, only to go down again and face the crushing disappointment and grueling rehabilitations that followed. They knew what it had taken to try again and what it took out of him. Yet, as they learned Friday there would be no more comebacks, there was a mix of happiness with the experiences and sadness that they had ended too soon. "It's a shock, but it's not surprising," Rockets co-captain Kyle Lowry said. "Being his teammate was an incredible experience. It was great. He's a man who pretty much started a country to love basketball. He started an amazing trend. It's unbelievable how much he meant to China. "When we were there, we were like rock stars. We couldn't walk around. We couldn't ride on the bus without people rushing at us. It was one of the great situations ever to experience, and it was all because of Yao. "He was awesome, one of the best. He was a great teammate. Very funny. A gentleman. A great worker and one of the best competitors I've ever met." Former Rockets forward Tracy McGrady also cited Yao's influence on marketing the NBA, writing in a tweet, "Yao Ming's talent, character and drive led so many new fans abroad to our NBA product." http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7645779.html
If Yao can say anything about his career, it's that he got to host and play in the Olympics in Beijing... I will miss this guy very much!!
Just wanna add some of the coaches' opinions: JVG: “Yao Ming, when healthy, absolutely dominated Dwight Howard. This guy’s skill and will at that size, people forget just how great he was. When he was healthy, he was a dominant player.” Adelman: “There is no doubt if he stayed healthy, we’d be talking about one of the top centers to ever play the game,” Adelman said. “He’s right there in the top 10. He had such unbelievable scoring touch. He was so dominant.”
Can you imagine the possible clash between old school Hakeemists and the YOFists if Yao were to stay relatively healthy throughout his career lasting about 14-15 seasons? This forum would've exploded. Tinman vs Pryuen.
His "best day" was in his 5th season, Hakeem had his best days later than that. So yes injuries do matter.
Pryuen and I don't hate each other, I actually tried to meet him awhile back when I was in Hong Kong on vacation, but he was busy. He grew as a Rockets fan and he started to see how great the Rockets tradition and history was. However as a Clutchfan, he would get mad if other people had broke Yao news before him or if his threads started getting less attention. That's the thing about Dream, sure he has had injuries on the court and toward his end of his career, old age injuries popped up, but when he was so dependable and durable. the Achilles heel of Yao was his dexterity. Dream could play an entire game without sitting out, including overtime. Plus he played without eating or drinking during the holy month of Ramadan. He was truly the greatest.
man, whats wrong with you? A fan posts comments praising a great Rockets player that is retiring and you feel the need to post that gargbage? Get over it, hater.
Yao was a great player, people can't realize how good he was because most of them can't remember what this league was all about when dominant centers were all washed up. Soft chinese rookie stepped on the floor to fight with Shaq, to really play the game without flopping, hack-a-Shaq and other stuff. He wasn't afraid of him instead of other players not named Tim Duncan, he wasn't trying to troll him or to use a refs help. He just went there and tried to play the game. That's why Shaq always respected the guy after their first game. He wasn't just talented and work-ethic player... He was trying to play like a man with a chip on his shoulders. Dude deserves a lot of respect and I'm glad that he was drafted and retired as a Rocket
LOL!!! You've been a member since 2006 and you're not sense the madness of Carl's World.... If Carl answers "Yes" then he means "No".... Always opposite..
You bring up a great point--Yao never flopped, played the game like a true big men, didn't complain or appeal to the refs for a call. He was a lot like Shaq and that's why he got his respect. I don't think there's any player in the league who doesn't like Yao, maybe with the exception of Josh Howard who's a punk anyway. There's a thing to be said about a commendable work ethic, respect for the game, and a worksman-no nonsense attitude that goes beyond cross-cultural boundaries. It's just a shame that so many people don't see that because Yao's so softspoken and humble. Being quiet while leading by example should never be confused with being soft. Yao was the farthest thing from being soft. He was as tough as they come.
im a bit of a lurker so I dont really remember who is who on the board...other than DD of course :grin:
You have a broken sarcasm meter? Seriously, he has just taken at jab at the idiots who call anyone who says something good about Yao a YOF.
