That's Shaq's knock on Bradley. But, considering Shaq congradulated Ming in person after the LA game, I won't call it totally sarcastic.
believe it or not, yao really did earned respects from shaq, in fact, shaq was standed beside rockets' bus after the game with lakers waitting for yao, and they had a friendly conversation: shaq said to yao " u played good tonight." and yao respond "that's because u were not there." shaq said "i'll be back soon." and yao said "i'm waiting for u."
Considering Shaqs elbow to the phase comment about Yao and Phil Jacksons breaking Yao in two comment a few days ago, Shaqs comment was definately a shot at both Bradley and Yao (or at least all the attention that Yao is getting). Face reality. Shaq DOES NOT respect Yao Ming, and will not do so until the Rockets beat the Lakers in the playoffs with Yao averaging at least a double-double. As a matter of fact, I get the sense Shaq disrespects Yao more then most (which is saying alot).
As of RIGHT NOW...i'd say Ming is 4th best center in Texas (of guys that can play center): 1) Tim Duncan 2) Dirk Nowitzky 3) David Robinson 4) Yao Ming 5) Raef LaFrentz 6) Shawn Bradley 7) Kelvin Cato But of course Yao will be #1 very soon .
I wouldn't call it sarcasm, but it is sort of Steve Spurrieresque. You say all the right things with just enough air around it that no one really believes you're being serious, yet they're not certain what you're really trying to say. Then, once you've lifted your opponent high enough, and then defeat them, you look that much better because you've presented them with such high esteem. Oh, and if you happen to lose, well you did say they were the best in the business, right?
3814, zki zki zki Duncan is the best center in the state of Texas. I also think Shaq's comments were dripping in sarcasm. When you are the best, why bother giving compliments to players?
I don't think Shaq is being sarcastic towards Ming.I doubt if Shaq thinks Ming will cause him any trouble but Shaq is a student of the game and watches a lot of old film of great players.He is smart enough after watching him play to know Mings got some above average skills.
As of RIGHT NOW I don't think Yao is better than Raef. He has more upside, and will eventually be better but right now Raef has the edge. He's more experienced, and his jumpshot is just as good as Yao, plus he's a better rebounder at this stage in their career. Like I said, Yao will eventually be better but not right now.
How is Lafrentz a better rebounder now? Lafrentz: 2002-03 2 games 24.5 mpg 10.0 ppg 3.5 rpg .500 FG 2001-02 29.1mpg 10.8 ppg 7.4rpg .437 FG Ming : 15.6 mpg 6.6ppg 4.0 rpg FG .684 The stats show he's as good as LaFrentz, if not better!
i agree on his sarcasm. I never thoughht of it this way before: I've lost $2 ½ or $3 million this year alone by being on national TV," Cuban said. "Because that's money you don't get from your local [TV] package. That's NBA economics. The worse of a team you are, the more money you make."
I'm sorry, but I don't believe this incident happened. If it did Houston reporters would have asked Yao to comment on the "meeting", and Worrell and Murphy definitely would have alluded to it last night. I'd bet someone in the Rockets organization has been asked about it and they probably have said it didn't happen, but no one wants to embarass anyone, especially a media member from China. The Shaq-watch going on now coupled with Yao's emergence would have made this meeting a much commented on affair. The fact that it has not been reported in America, already has embarassed someone in my eyes. If it is a reporter traveling with the Rockets, I'd imagine he's been informed to be a little careful about fabrication of any kind, because someone in the American media will eventually use it for China bashing and that's not something Yao or the Rockets need. I know it's a harmless story, but it lends credibility to Yao bashers who still think he's all hype. And regarding this thread, Shaq is being totally sarcastic. I don't think he's attacking Yao here though, it's the media and some of the Yao-Mania he's seen that he's confronting. I hate the dumb-**s things that come out of his mouth, but he is a good guy and as a center without peer, he's really shown restraint - even the "introduce him to my elbows" quotes have a WWE quallity to them. This swipe at Robinson, Duncan and Bradley are amusing though. Duncan and Robinson are going to dance on the heads of Kobe and the Lackers tonight anyway, Shaq was just trying to diminish their fun quotient. I bet it didn't work.
If I have to bet, I would bet its a true story. In a related story he wrote, there is also description of what Shaq wore at that time, black leather jacket and hat. If these are all fabricated, what a shame would that be. Would the reporter still be allowed to stay with the Rockets?
