You know R2K, if American players played a few more exhibition games, maybe they would not have played so abysmally in the WC and Olympics. This is merely a divergence of opinion in priority. And the priority of Chinese fans happen to be different than your own. Your claims of those exhibitions being useless is extremely... short-sighted, if not out right self-centred. And this idiotic "China is milking Yao dry for money" myth that certain American fans love to perpetuate, I don't know what the hell that is about. Believe it or not, China played exhition games before Yao was even born. The previous generation of players, though less famous to American fans, also participated in them, as well as shaking hands with politicians, among other things.
Sir, you lost credibility with me when you lump an entire group of people together just by what a few bbs posters in China wrote about JVG.
Why don't you read all the post's before you call someone out. I never lumped all the chinese fans into one group. Read the entire thread.
I did. Aren't you the one who started by stating "who cares what the Chinese think!" Also, before you label me a YOF or question why I'm on Clutchfans, rest assured that I've been rooting for the Rockets since Ralph Sampson's last second shot against the Lakers that sent them to the Finals. Maybe not as long as you have, but definitely way before Yao's arrival.
Thank you for giving me the benefit of the doubt about Yao's comments which may have been taken out of context. I applaud your research about the CNT that in no way backs up your original sentence too. I've never claimed to speak for native Houstonians, Chinese, Nigerians or for street Philly dudes. I'm simply a Rockets fan that initially attempted to call bs on many of the both sides of the early posts in this thread. That's how I saw it (still do) and really regret it caught your attention, wnes. I apologize for oh, um stating that your response could have been a mistake. Or the last one, maybe... too. But you don't read very well. The "wishes" part of my post were about Yao's wishes not the Chinese population or those of us hard-core Rockets fans: I guess the possessive apstrophe still eludes you but that post was only about trusting Yao. wnes, I don't give a damn where you're from but it seems clear that the mere suggestion that Yao can and could do what he wants is enough to make your posts explode into complete idiocy. Read carefully in the future buddy.
The sad thing is that most American players (and a lot of Americans) don't care about WC and Olympics. I forgot who it was, but during the 3rd dream team, one player was asked what did he prefer more, an olympic gold metal or a NBA championship. He gave a diplomatic answer about how it's a honor to represent the country etc etc. but he ended by saying NBA championship was more important. That's why U.S. can't even field its top players on the court during the Olympics, the Baseball world championships, etc.
According to this Chinese article, Zhang (from Team Yao) said the Chronicle article cited in this thread is "false news", CBA didn't propose to send Chinese doctors to Rockets (he said the doctor did the surgery actually called him to clarify this), they never pressure Yao to come back early and the communication channel has always been open between Rockets and CBA. And Zhang suspected the author of that article had his own agenda.
Team Yao and Chinese Busketball Administration condemn this article (reporter Zhang Qiang) just read sports.sina.com.cn. The article is a bit too long for me to translate it into English. I will just select a few sentence. Zhang zhiji, chife staff of Team Yao angrily condemned a "false news" by a Houston media: " I want to say this article is rediculous, full of mistakes and nonsense, and ill intended. I am talking with the Rockets(about this artile), and want to find out what this writer try to do, what facts he based on. Yao always wants to represent China for the WC. And China busket administration have never put any pressure on us" "This is so irresposible, I do not know how they get the conclusion. I can not comment on the extrem laguage by the fans on the internet. But CBA never said Yao needs to get ready early, must play(WC). They have always respect our judgement and decision" "Yao himself really want to play WC. He will return(to China) June. Why does he want to come back so early? Because he wants to fit in the team (get ready to play)" Hu Jiashi, a member of CBA in chage of CNT, said: " this report is totally irresposible, baseless. I want to repeat, we respect science, respect facts, and will not force Yao Ming to play (WC)"
I understand Team Yao's anger towards this article. 3 years ago, a similar article on a Dallas media stired the conflict between Wang Zhizhi and China Basketball assoication which resulted in: for 3 years Wang was banned from national team, any NBA game Wang playing was not televised in China, Wang couldn't (or didn't dare to) go back to his own country until now. That Dallas article later was proved to be based on misunistanding plus imagination (yeah the evil commi), not on truth. But it didn't matter. The damage was made. I bet Team Yao saw a sign of this crap which will put Yao's career into jeopardy. ( I can see some people would say Yao's career is only in NBA, nothing to do with China, blah blah. Yeah, tell that to Yao.) Well but I think Rockets management and Team Yao and the new-led China Backetball Association are smart enough to learn from Wang's case, and not let this kind of non-sense happen again.
I'm as suspicious of Reuters and the AP or Sina as the next guy but there's no way in hell I believe frikkin' Blinebury made CD stammer over a non-denial denial. If this story was false CD would have stomped on it and he wouldn't have had to dare Fran to print it.
\ Fran sucks, I know it's sports article but if he did turn out to add his usual "color" to his article, then he needs to go. Besides, Fran bashes the Rox way too much for a hometown writer. If CNT is really respecting Yao and not pressuring him, hats off to them. If Yao really is rushing to get back, wish him the best of luck, but I fear it might have more reprecussions down the road. But he's a grown man and can make his own choices.
This report full of assumption and animus will do nothing but provoke the innocent Chinese fans who always are also the Rocket fans !
1. This "2 doctors" event has been reported in Chinese news that it's simply a rumor. Yao's doctor (in US) got so angry after reading the news that he even phoned the Chronicle reporter. The "worse than capitalist" quote is simply some frustrated words from the chatroom on the internet. Chinese basketball association official said to the media that they can't control fans' expressions on the internet, but they'll definitly respect science and act according to what's best for Yao. Of course, what's best for Yao is what's best for Chinese basketball. 2. Even if Rockets denied Chinese doctors to come over, they still can come. They have legs, right? And you think Yao would deny that?
