HOUSTON -- Chinese center Yao Ming is willing to pay the Shanghai Sharks and the Chinese Basketball Association if they allow him to enter the NBA Draft. "We feel Yao needs to compensate the club properly for their loss and for the CBA's loss," Yao's agent, Erik Zhang, told Houston television station KRIV on Wednesday. "Yao is China's Shaquille O'Neal." Zhang was reached in China, where Houston Rockets officials are meeting with Chinese basketball officials and are reportedly moving closer to using the first pick in the NBA Draft on 7-foot-5 Yao. Zhang said Yao's offer of compensation is independent of talks involving the Rockets and Chinese basketball officials. He also said that the payment that would come out of Yao's income over the next five years is a frequent courtesy in soccer. The NBA does not allow its teams to pay other basketball federations more than $350,000 to transfer a player from one team to another. Zhang said the exact amount of the offer has not been determined, but he said Yao would not give up his allegiance to the Chinese National Team. That allegiance is at the center of the negotiations because the Rockets want assurances Yao can play in the NBA without interruption. The Chinese want assurances they will be able to bring Yao with them when they play in world competitions, according to KRIV. "We believe it's an honor for Yao Ming to play for the Chinese National Team," Zhang said. The Rockets declined comment to the station. Rockets officials could not immediately be reached for comment by The Associated Press. Rockets' attorney Michael Goldberg, general manager Carroll Dawson, coach Rudy Tomjanovich and director of media relations Nelson Luis have been in China since last weekend to meet with Chinese representatives who will decide if Yao is allowed to play in the United States.
Nike: Will pay Yao to wear shoes. Coke: Will pay Yao to smile and say, "ahhhhh." McDonalds: Will pay Yao to pat a Chinese kid on the head while eating a hamburger. Lisa Thomspon: Will pay Yao to stud her.
Lisa Thompson? I was thinking Lisa Moloski QUESTION: Erik Zhang, IS HE THE AGENT OR NOT!!!!???? according the sharks he is nothing Rocket River
Nah, the Sharks have always said Erik (Eric?) Zhang can be Yao Ming's personal representative... but not his agent in negotiations with the NBA. So what if he doesn't have legal power of attorney? So what if he can't actually sign off on anything for Yao Ming? Yao trusts him to speak for him when Yao can't do the talking himself (too busy playin' basketball). Like, in this case, there's no doubt in my mind that Erik is speaking for Yao, nothing else.
VERSE.. Please keep your Pornographic thaughts off this Basketball Chat .. Lets talk Rocks in a manner befitting the fact that decent people including children are frequently using the site!!!!
like your motto at the bottom says VERSE: "Walk like a champion, talk like a champion." -Champions dont talk like that, or not in a public forum at least. Probably at home or somewhere private. Be a champ verse!
J.W.D. and ron413, Get a sense of humor!!!!! Now lay off verse! Tina Thompson makes my wang go yao! ROTFLMAO!
crash5179, i think we both need to get a sense of humor.......I was clearly kidding and just using his own words against him to back up the other post... anyway, it was a funny comment but I can understand the guys feelings about keeping it semi-clean for the kids. the children are our future crash!
Chamique Holdsclaw and Yao Ming. Lisa Lesley isn't bad too. A perfect way to get Yao out of the Chinese National team.
