Chron: Yao looms large at All-Star game Yao looms large at All-Star game By JANNY HU Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle ATLANTA -- The unofficial "Yao Ming Press Tour" was minutes from commencing at noon Friday, and already something had gone awry. Yao was in his hotel room, looking at himself in his impeccable new suit, when he conceded that he couldn't wear it. His custom shoes had not arrived and, without the shoes, the suit just wouldn't work. "They told me the shoes got stuck at U.S. Customs -- they were made in Brazil," Yao said. "I thought the league is all-powerful, but I guess we don't own the U.S. Customs, even though my shoes are custom-made. "My GQ moment is a missed opportunity." Yao's turn in the style magazines would have to wait, but his moment in the world's spotlight comes now. From the time he arrived at the NBA's Technology Summit at the Ritz-Carlton hotel a few minutes later, Yao was turning necks left and right. And the Rockets' 7-5 rookie center would continue to do so for the next 24 hours -- despite missing shoes and being delayed by a flat tire -- as he approached his first All-Star appearance. The city known for its four C's -- the Civil War, the civil rights movement, CNN and Coca-Cola -- was about to get a dose of a fifth -- China. Back in his room at the Hyatt Regency, China's basketball prodigy was running late for his first public appearance at the Tech Summit. Unfazed by his shoe mishap, Yao donned another suit -- the same tan one he wore for his arrival in Houston last year -- and hurried downstairs to meet Rockets media relations director Nelson Luis. "Nelson," he said breathlessly, "I had to change everything in two minutes." They piled into a rental van and headed for the Ritz-Carlton a few blocks away. Yao had hardly walked through the revolving door of the hotel when he ran into NBA commissioner David Stern. Stern greeted last year's No. 1 draft pick as if he were an old acquaintance, reminding him that the two had met in Sydney during the 2000 Summer Olympics. When Yao filed into the room with his entourage, the auditorium -- mainly filled with executives from major technology companies -- quieted, and heads turned to look upward. And for one of the few times in Atlanta, Yao quickly became an afterthought as the guest panel explored the intricacies of e-commerce. As Yao tried to follow the conversation, he chatted softly with friend, interpreter and housemate Colin Pine on his right, and cousin and agent Erick Zhang on his left. Then during the question-and-answer session, an executive asked how international sales could be boosted, given Yao Ming's impact. And as if he had been waiting all morning for the right opportunity to show off his newest commodity, Stern jumped out of his seat and interrupted, introducing Yao to the audience. "Yao Ming is an interesting young man," Stern said Saturday. "And as we all know, he's the leading vote-getter in the history of any election in China." Yao was stopped upon leaving by NBA broadcaster Ahmad Rashad, who tried -- unsuccessfully -- to coach Yao about plans for a skit with rapper-actor LL Cool J at the NBA's Read to Achieve Celebration. Yao escaped the hotel, climbed into the back seat of a rental van and was whisked away to his next function -- all while drawing looks of awe. More so, in fact, than when Michael Jordan walked through those same exit doors two minutes later. Where Jordan was headed, few people know, but it wasn't to the NBA's official media session. The 14-time All-Star always has skipped the event, opting instead to make an annual donation to the NBA in the form of a $10,000 fine. This year was no different. Except this time, Jordan really wasn't missed. Hundreds of reporters already had crowded around Yao's designated table two hours before his scheduled 3 p.m. arrival. And when the big guy showed up, they were ready. So was Yao. Five minutes into the interview barrage, someone asked Yao what he would most like to do, and Yao answered with a smile: "I would like to leave this place as soon as possible." He went on to explain that, yes, he is excited to be at the All-Star Game. And, no, he isn't a better center than Shaquille O'Neal. And what he really desired at the moment was a hot pot -- a steaming Chinese stew filled with vegetables and meat. "Who deserves the nod for rookie of the year?" Yao was asked. "I don't think I should say," Yao replied. "How different is the Chinese and American media?" he was asked. "Why don't you ask each other?" Yao fired back. At the interview session, Yao wore a Chinese national team sweatsuit similar to the one he wore during the Rockets' last home game against Minnesota. Yao said it was a reminder of all the friends and teammates he missed in China. An interpreter from the United Nations was even brought in so the interviews could be conducted and translated simultaneously. Most questions were asked by eager Chinese media members, who spoke so rapidly that Yao would be halfway through an answer before his translator was finished relaying the question in English. On Saturday morning, Yao faced perhaps his most shrill audience yet. Thousands of elementary school students descended upon the Georgia World Congress Center at 9:30 a.m. for the league's Read to Achieve party. Although the only real reading was done by Rashad and co-host Summer Sanders off a TelePrompTer, the gathering nonetheless paired NBA stars with popular music artists in an effort to encourage youngsters to read. Yao waited as Usher, B2K and Christina Aguilera revved their vocal chords before testing his own English skills. He abandoned his skit with LL Cool J for an introductory piece with Rashad, to whom Yao jokingly referred as "the man." He then joined all of his All-Star teammates for practice, which provided another Kodak moment when Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal -- who was criticized for mocking the Chinese language -- walked over to Yao's parents after practice, shook father Yao Zhi Yuan's hand and kissed mother Fang Feng Di on the cheek. Yao then made his way back to the hotel before his whirlwind 24 hours in Atlanta ended up back where it started. On the way to the Rookie Challenge, Yao's van blew out a tire. So naturally, his traveling party flagged down an NBA shuttle, hitched a ride to Philips Arena and found their way onto center court. No air? No sweat. "This is something that is always very fun," Yao said. "It allows me to experience something different. Up to now, it's seems like I've been at a party." For him, the NBA and the city of Atlanta.
