http://blog.chron.com/nba/2011/07/two-weeks-in-and-the-nbas-lockout-lunacy-reigns/ Nearly a week since the news of Yao Ming’s retirement plans became public and more than a month since he told the Rockets of his intention to call it a career, the Rockets still have had no comment. They have not said a word about his career or its end. They have not publicly wished him well. They have not dropped him a note, made a phone call or tapped out a text message. The NBA won’t allow it. As soon as anyone in the Rockets’ employ so much as says his name, the NBA would crank up the fine machine. If they acknowledge that Yao ever played for the Rockets, the NBA would rapidly pull the trigger on its threatened $1 million fine to anyone that mentions an NBA player. To the NBA, Yao is an active NBA player. Employees of NBA teams may not acknowledge the existence of NBA players. Even if Yao announces his retirement in three languages at his July 20 Shanghai press conference, the Rockets may not admit they have ever heard of him unless the NBA had by then received retirement paperwork from him. (It does not matter that players often never send that paperwork. That allowed several retired players to actually be traded and receive a contract to do no more than make the money match, a quirk of the collective bargaining trades rules that would end if there is a hard cap.) Unless the NBA considers Yao a former player, the Rockets cannot speak of or to him, at least without some sort of special exemption from the rule. The Rockets cannot say if they have asked for permission to mention Yao or attend the press conference because answering the question would require acknowledging they know of this Yao Ming fellow.
I would respect Les Alexander 100% more if he said screw the fine and recognized Yao in some way. It's not like Yao didn't already make him and the Rockets plenty of millions.
Could it be the Rockets are upset that he waited until his last paycheck to announce his retirement? I get the feeling like something else is up with Yao besides the injuries. I guess we will never know.
Hmmmm.... Does it mean the Rockets FO is still holding on to the Yao Ming comeback dream? OK. Let the rant begins.
