http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040818/OLYYAO18/TPSports/Basketball Chinese officials jump on Yao over remarks Fans defend star centre after he criticized his team in wake of opening loss By GEOFFREY YORK UPDATED AT 12:00 PM EDT Wednesday, Aug 18, 2004 BEIJING -- Chinese officials have launched a furious tirade at basketball superstar Yao Ming, accusing him of disloyalty to China's Olympic team after his outspoken complaints about his teammates in a disastrous early loss at Athens. The official attack has sparked an angry reaction from China's sports fans, who are rallying to Yao's defence and accusing the government of trying to muzzle their biggest sports hero. Just last week, Yao was given the honour of carrying China's flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. At the time, Chinese officials called him "a man of integrity." But now, they are denouncing him for "splitting" the Chinese team with his "irresponsible" comments. The dispute is threatening to jeopardize the future of Chinese stars who want to jump to the National Basketball Association. Chinese media are reporting that Yao's outburst is prompting Beijing to consider tighter restrictions on transfers to North America -- even as NBA scouts are salivating at the prospect of Yi Jianlian, the 16-year-old sensation on the Chinese national team who is seen as the next Yao. The war of words began when China suffered a humiliating 83-58 loss to Spain in its Olympic opener on Sunday. After the game, Yao blasted his teammates for quitting. He even hinted he would stop playing for China's national team. "I'm disappointed in my teammates," the Houston Rockets centre told journalists. "We gave up at the end of the game. I don't think some of my teammates cherish the honour to play for the country. . . . Were they nervous? Or they would not take their responsibilities? We gave up easily every time we came across obstacles." His criticism triggered a sharp response from China's sports officials. In reports in the Chinese media yesterday, unnamed officials were said to be "strongly dissatisfied" and "very angry" with Yao. "How could he say that?" one official was quoted as saying. "How could he say that the other players weren't trying their best? Any irresponsible speech like his, any action to split the team, is definitely forbidden. This is the national team, this is the Olympics -- any word by a player can affect others and can create difficulties in future matches." The Chinese officials blamed the United States for corrupting Yao and giving him American personality habits. When he first went to the NBA two years ago, he was "an obedient child" with a "very good reputation," one official said. "Now, he has changed, he's more like an American, he dares to say anything." According to the Chinese media reports, the Yao controversy has persuaded the Chinese officials to be much more cautious about any future attempts by Chinese players to jump to the NBA. "The Chinese Basketball Association will consider more deeply and carefully about sending players to the NBA again," one report said. Chinese sports fans, however, are overwhelmingly in support of Yao in his dispute with the Beijing authorities. "Yao Ming is not always right, but in this case he is absolutely right," one fan said in a sports forum on sina.com, one of China's most popular World Wide Web sites. "The truth may hurt someone, but is it wrong to tell the truth?" Another basketball enthusiast wrote: "I support Yao Ming. He told the truth because he loves the team and China." A third fan added: "If people put pressure on Yao Ming, we shall protect him." And another declared simply: "Freedom of speech." On another website, sohu.com, a sports fan questioned the official's complaint about the Americanization of Yao. "Does he mean that Americans tell the truth but Chinese do not?" the fan asked. The controversy over Yao's comments has exposed several emerging trends in China. It showed the growing power of the Chinese media, which are increasingly free to stir up controversy and reveal internal disputes. It also showed how the Chinese people are becoming more willing to challenge Beijing's official viewpoint, especially under the anonymity of the Internet. And it confirmed the growing importance of celebrity and show business in China, especially with American money tossed into the equation. Despite all the controversy, Yao and his Chinese teammates were able to bounce back yesterday, defeating New Zealand 69-62 in their second game of the tournament. Yao scored 39 points in a dominating performance. The victory evens China's record at 1-1.
Man, I couldn't help reading that with a big goofy grin on my face thinking about Will's comment: Freedom's a b****, baby.
I think this is just a negotiating tactic to make the Chinese basketball association receive even more money when they "allow" one of the Chinese athletes to come play for the NBA.
Do we really need these 9879 threads with 109700 angles to analyse the little comment from Yao? I am really tired of it. And I am chinese too. And I'm YOF as well.
Gotta love this part. The officials are pissed because he has an opinion. Freedom of speech. Yao is starting to realize how great living in America is.
say what you want yao.,.,... if they get to mad at you ... go ahead and play for the USA team in 2008... and win the gold in China.
Yao was right in a way. He does'nt need to carry the burden if the rest of his teammates are not on the same page.
there's a million things wrong with that... the least of which is that you can only represent one country in your Olympic career, regardless of change in citizenship.
Furthermore... the whole episode has blown over. If you look at the Chinese media these couple of days after the NZL win. As I predicted, Yao is now a god. The "unnamed" teammates who criticized him are now lauding him for his inspiration. And the "unnamed" officials are carefully retreading their remarks. "Yao disproves disloyal rumors by his actions" that's the average headline these days. Please... I don't think they have anything on Yao. But clearly Yao felt the pressure.
I like Jim Rome's comment about this today: "What you (Chinese sports officials) call irresponsible, we call leadership."
I am waiting for your Photoshop freaks to paste Yao's head on the body of that guy in front of the tank on Tiananmen square from 1989 (or maybe out his head on the tank !)
100% true. Damn and I usually listen to this guy like everyday. Been playing Madden like a fiend since I got it a week ago =P
What's even more funny is how Rome will rip into an American athlete for slamming teamates. I understand he's supporting Yao's freedom of speech, but we seem to have a different standard for the athletes over here who actually have that freedom. Just look at the Kellen Winslow thread going on in the Hangout forum.
But Yao taking his teammates to task for giving up, not training hard enough and not following the coaches orders. Anytime players call out other guys for not trying hard enough, it's praised. When you slam guys for just being sucky, that's when the media gets on it's high horse. And all of Yao's comments aren't even in the same state as the garbage coming out of K2's mouth.
Actually, I'm more inclined to believe it's simply because people like Yao. Nobody likes Winslow, Bonds or others that get trashed for opening their mouths. Plus, any idiot can see that Yao IS the CNT and that his teammates could build another Great Wall with all the bricks they put up.
I would love to see Yao play for the USA team in 2008 and slaughter the Chinese national team in China and win gold for us. That with a Championship ring would be the perfect year.
