This guy has got the complete package." "He is going to break new ground that has never even been scratched by anyone else in the history of professional sports." "You've got an incredible passer in Yao Ming. Why not give it to him early in the shot clock. Just move without the ball and he'll get you a layup every time." "I haven't seen passing like this since Sabonis." "This guy is light years ahead of so many players, and just 22 (years old)." "One of the things that was so nice about Yao Ming…when everybody was on his case early, he didn't say a word. He didn't make any excuses, he didn't point any fingers. He just sat there and took it all in. This is a very special human being. We're lucky." "We've seen him go every direction. We've seen hook shots, sky hooks, jump hooks, drop steps, dunks, rebounds, blocks, passes. Thank goodness this guy might mean the end of the age of specialization." "My biggest concern for the Rockets. Yao Ming is playing a near flawless game and they have barely been able to win. When your main guy goes crazy, it's gotta be a blowout." "The variety, the versatility, the completeness of his game. The mental aspect and approach to his game. How it's not self-centered, it's not about the numbers, it's about the thought process. It's about the likeability, the friendliness, the joy with which he plays." "This guy is so far ahead of everything what's going on in the world, and he's an incredibly likeable person." "Go back to the early days of Larry Bird when the Celtics couldn't sell a ticket until the fans saw him. The early days of Michael Jordan when the Bulls could not give tickets away. That's the way it's going to be here in Houston. You're not going to be able to get a ticket after a very short period of time
Bill Walton was making me so mad, he was going crazy about Yao. I allmost could not watch the game because Walton was basicly worshiping Yao.
Me neither. I guess it makes you appreciate Calvin and Bill. Unfortunately since Walton does have some really good insights you have to wade through the crap to get to them. Posters on another thread claim that he is just spoofing or something.
Thanks for the quotes! Hilarious! Great stuff. As a Rockets fan it was awesome to hear Walton cheer on Yao Ming but I could see how an average fan or a Pacer fan would be upset at how GUSHING Walton was with his Yao Ming comments. Nevertheless, while Walton speaks in funny hyperboles there is a lot of truth in there as well. The Rockets don't get a lot of national attention for the most part so it was nice to see Walton give them their due on national TV. Chris
Bill Walton appreciates the "intelligent" style of basketball that Yao plays. The economy of motion, the thinking ahead, the visualization. Yao has it all, he is by far, the smartest basketball player on the Rocks....it is not even close. Rudy needs to surround him with other smart players and this team would take off. As a side note, Shandon Anderson would have thrived playing with Yao. DaDakota
Bill walton taught Ming how to play as a center before the day playing with Pacers. They played together for about 20 minutes. Ming said that "he taught me many tips under the rim." Maybe that is the reason Wilton was so excited when he saw Ming's play on the court. http://www.nanfangdaily.com.cn/ty/20021220/NBA/200212201100.asp
Wow windandsea! As usual you find another interesting article on Yao! Didn't have any idea that Walton spent some time with Yao at the West Side Tennis Club.
Listening to Walton gush about Yao was hysterical. But the funniest line, to me, was when David Aldridge??? piped in to make fun of it all. "This just in...Yao Ming has just been awarded the Heisman Trophy." I loved it.
Thanks, W&S. How come I haven't seen any American press report this story? Has anyone seen it? (I'm not questioning the credibility. Just feel that this would be some interesting tid-bit to write about, if I were a sports reporter.)
