Does anyone have a definite answer on whether or not the China votes are included? I'm really confused about this. If they are, shouldn't Yao have a considerable lead on Shaq? If they are tallied in after the U.S. votes, wouldn't Yao have beaten out Shaq last year by over a million or some other great margin? Theoretically, if the Chinese votes are counted in, shouldn't our entire starting lineup be starting the game? Maybe I am overestimating the amount of Chinese that vote? Does anyone know for sure?
1) You're overestimating the number of Chinese votes. 2) You're underestimating the number of American votes. Especially the people who go to games and stuff the ballots with tons of votes right there. 3) I don't think the NBA.com website has more Chinese users going to it than American. Also, just for EXAMPLE, I'd expect Japanese, Korean, Canadian, Mexican, and British users to all be in Shaq's favour. I think Yao will lose out by a couple of thousand votes, but will start because I guess Shaq will want to sit out due to his injury.
Either way, Yao's at the All-Star Weedend If not for the starting C, then bench If not for bench, then Rooks vs. Soph. HOHOHO!
He will be in Rook vs Soph even if he is in ASG. The other game is irrespective of the first. China votes are overrated.
If Yao is voted in (as starter) and Shaq is healthy, Yao better relinquish his his start. EVERYONE will hate him if Shaq doesn't start in his hometown.
I definitely think you're overestimating the Chinese voters. I think that the basketball fans in China are definitely voting heavily for Yao, but the casual fans and non fans have really stopped caring as much. I just got back from Shanghai, Yao's hometown and I really didn't notice any hype around Yao at all. He gets maybe a 2 min replay of a game during the news and that's it. I don't even recall seeing him on the chinese sports channel unless they are broadcasting a game. Also I rarely see Yao in endorsements in Shanghai, and like I said, I think David Beckham (soccer player) might be more popular there from the number things with him on it compared with Yao. It's a shame that I have to go out of my way to an internet cafe over there just to see how him on the rox are doing.
Sorry, I meant LA, but c'mon, if the game was in Houston, wouldn't you want Yao or Hakeem to start? Yao would have to decide between what LA wants (being nice and giving it to Shaq) or what the fans want (aka: David Stern).
I don't know if I want Yao in the Rookie Soph game, the last thing we need is for him to get posterized by Lebron or Carmelo, it could hurt his confidence and embarass him. In a free wheeling type of game like it'll be, the possibility of it happening isn't just high, it's inevitable.
Geez.. what do you think Yao is?? A little girl or a greenhouse plant or something?? He just needs to go out and dunk on someone, be it the all star game, the rookie/soph game, or regular season games.
