[ch 2 video] Yao discusses TMac feud rumors (1/15)

No disrespect, but this rumor makes for good tabloid reading, and nothing else. Three things that make this Yao vs TMac feud sound bogus:

1) It's not in Yao's character to force another teammate off the team, not to mention a player like TMac who has backed up Yao in many games in the past.

2) I have yet to see a credible inside source on this rumor. Feigen has always been one of the best inside sources for the Rockets and he never validated this rumor.

3) Lastly, and more importantly, Yao is saying this rumor is flat out fake. He doesn't even "hint" that the rumor could possibly be true.

It is sad that tabloid rumor can overrun this forum. C'est la vie

 

Gee, that's NEVER happened here before, right?

 

That is clear to me.
Yao meant that any news from the locker room should (must) be fake. And this one suprised him since that was the first time he was involved in his career.

 

I'm Vietnamese. U haz a problemzz?

 

Its pretty hard to know whats going on in the locker room.

I'm not doubting the credibility of Doc Rocket's stuff, its just when I read his statements its quite clear to me his made up his mind about Tracy Mcgrady's position and how he feels about Tracy Mcgrady as opposed to what Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets actually feel about the guy. It could be 50% true and 50% blinded by his own anger. Which most of us fans here are too. I guess we gotta sit out these two weeks and wait and see

 

(Chron) Yao: Things with T-Mac are just fine

link:

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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6213580.html

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Yao Ming, the center and centerpiece of the Rockets, did not claim these are grand times for the Rockets. Their three-game winning streak last week was not equated to the 22-game run last season. Their strong performance in a loss to the Lakers was not confused for actually winning.

He said, however, that a report of locker room discord to the point that he and Tracy McGrady do not speak and that he wants McGrady off the team is not true.

Yao spoke Thursday on topics ranging from from getting McGrady and Ron Artest back on the court to the sanctity of the locker room. But when there was doubt about where he stood, he made himself clear.

Responding to an NBA.com story that he and McGrady are not on speaking terms and that he wants McGrady out, Yao said the report is not accurate.

"I'm upset," he said, "(that) this news is fake."

That McGrady and Yao still talk, even beyond the conversations necessary as teammates, is not news. They can often be seen conversing on the practice court, in the locker room and on the road.

"We've been talking," Yao said. "The locker room is very good. In there, we're joking. I think it's been a tough time for us, for the Rockets, a lot of rumors, just like in the summer will come out.

"It's easy when a team is going the right way, going good, is winning. Everybody is good. This is a tough time for us. We need to stay together, stay tight, fight through it. That's how you show the teamwork, show how good you are.

"That (story) surprised me, really surprised me. That's the first time in my career I heard that. I heard other stories, but not about me. Now is the first time it happened to us. Whatever they say outside, I feel we need to keep inside that room, in close, and we fight like a team."

If Yao wanted the team to trade McGrady, he showed no signs of it. (McGrady was not available for comment on Thursday.)

Even before he was asked about the report that he hoped McGrady would be traded, Yao spoke of McGrady's return. He said he was worried about the Rockets making the playoffs and about their level of their play if they do get there.

And he described McGrady's and Artest's return as a solution.

"You know what: I worry about it," Yao said. "This team, last game we showed we have played very good, but you want to go deeper in the playoffs, you cannot play without Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest. Those two guys will make our team reach that level."

The Rockets had hoped that the decision to let McGrady take two weeks to work on his conditioning — along with the seven to 10 days Artest would need before the bone bruise in his right ankle would be re-evaluated — would allow them to concentrate solely on the 10 healthy players and the games to be played. Reports of discord, however, can be a distraction.

"It can ruin a team if you have a bunch of guys that read that stuff and believe it," Shane Battier said. "You don't listen to that. You know when you lose a few games, people are going to chirp. People are going to make innuendo and speak what they think the perception of the team is. We have a good team. We have a good locker room. All that stuff is good for the tabloids and good for the chat rooms, but doesn't have a place in our locker room.

"We really don't care and frankly have better things to think about and talk about."

There is no doubt that teammates have questioned McGrady's efforts in recent games and McGrady's and Artest's availability this season.

"It's going to come down to Mac getting healthy and then Mac's got to kind of be more of a dog," Artest said in Toronto.

In Boston, Artest said, "Sometimes Tracy thinks his talent is going to take him; he can just cruise his way."

After a better effort in Atlanta with Artest and McGrady out, Rafer Alston said of Artest and McGrady, "Two of our guys out, they watched and saw. They know the guys were battling their hearts out. The only thing they can do is come back and do the same."

Jokes have ranged from a player saying he would bring a note from home to be excused from games to another flipping a coin to decide whether he would play, even to kidding Artest about his "Tru Warier" moniker.

Rockets players have said the jokes are typical of locker rooms.

Before the game against Jazz — when Artest announced he could not play, McGrady said he would be out and then Artest changed his position and said he would play, eventually helping lead the Rockets to the double-overtime win — players were rolling off their locker room chairs in laughter.

"What happens in the locker room, we will not say," Yao said. "That's like a rule in there. What happens in there will stay in there, not (just) Vegas.

"Everybody keeps a secret. For teammates, it's like that. We stay there like a family. In a 82-game season, it's over a half-year. We would not let anything like that slip out. I don't know where they get news from."

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sounds good to me!

 

I think some private conversation between Yao and a friend got leaked, but I never once believed it was beyond repair.

It is all on Tmac and Artest they have to play hard, and play every day.

There is still time....I am going to wait it out and begin hoping again.

I still don't forgive Tmac for quitting, but as long as he is a Rocket I will cheer for him.....

DD

 

Wonder why not....

 

Let me see:

#1 If DaDakota doesn't believe Yao's direct and clear words, then he should man-up and call him a liar outright. I believe Yao.

#2 Why would we be surprised that journalists would exaggerate things to sell (make money) papers or get ratings? Which story draws more people "Yao hates T-mac wants him gone" or "Despite team struggles, Yao and T-mac on decent terms"

I've crafted a new moniker that we can see what the boards thinks. I think it will stick. DaDramaQueen - DDQ?

 

Tough times, but we'll manage.

Go Rox!

 

This sounds a lot more credible than any of the reports to the contrary, given that it actually cites...uhhh...the players as opposed to "mystery sources close to the situation".

Are guys frustrated with T-mac? Obviously. They also share a bond with him, and want to give him a chance. Will t-mac get his **** together? that remains to be seen. What's clear is that it doesn't help the team to speculate about rumors of locker room fueds or players being "isoed"

 

Rehabbing.

Duh.

 

I find it hard to believe Yao could have beef with anyone.

I reckon Tmac could mess about Mumma Yao and Wifey Yao and the big man
would still forgive and forget.

 

Just look at Yao's big freaking smirk face when he said "I am upset, it's fake." and tell me you honestly believe he iwas telling the true.

 

Now we are waiting. T-Mac says......

I hate the one that leaked the locker room stuff.

 

My guess is Yao's playing a little damage control. He's much too diplomatic to admit to the tension and start naming names.

But who cares, really? There's bound to be arguments and fights in the locker room during a long season. However, most get worked out by the coaches and players themselves, and some even make the team stronger in the end, IMO.

The problem is when the media gets involved and quotes get printed. Often, they makes the problem seem larger than it actually is. Even if a reporter or his source is an eyewitness to the locker room scenes, there's bound to be some speculation on the tension on his/her part.

I'm not saying that locker room tensions should not be reported, but it should be handled with care.

 

I can't understand some of the fans' obsession with news sources. Yes, to cite someone indeed makes an article seem credible from a journalistic point of view. But think about it: when Yao was interviewed, would he say that "I am fed up with T-mac. Yes, I really want that guy out" and sth like this even if he might think so?

I mean, one of the collective stereotypes about American in Chinese eyes is hypocrisy. So I bet you guys know this better than Chinese do. Yao was not telling what was really on his mind. And very few body does.

 

Yao comes off as sincere in this story. He is also pretty good with the press, despite the language difficulties.

Tracy, on the other hand, is constantly finding his foot firmly wedged deep inside his throat.

The truth is nobody here really knows what goes on in the locker room, i.e. outside the public eye. All we have are our opinions about a situation we know little about. There is a paucity of evidence coming from those calling for T-Mac's crucifiction. Yao's statements vastly overshadow all the speculation and innuendo radiating through the Clutchfans echo-chamber.

 

Part of me wishes Yao and TMAC went along with the rumors and acted like there was a feud going on. Maybe everyone would shut the hell up then.