[Chron] Long flight aside, Rockets excited about trip to China

Long flight aside, Rockets excited about trip to China
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2842835

Not long ago, the very idea would have seemed preposterous, like a punch line or hyperbole to describe a long road trip.

It might say something about how greatly the world has changed that the notion the Rockets would take off after Sunday's game at Toyota Center for a week in China was accepted so casually.

There was some talk, though most of it was about the length of the flight. A few players planned shopping trips. Others talked about tourist outings.

But the Rockets have accepted the idea of playing a pair of NBA preseason games in China, and of going there with their star center from Shanghai as the most magnetic of draws as the sort of thing NBA teams do.

"The future always has a surprise waiting for you," Yao Ming said. "Maybe something you didn't think would happen can happen now. Maybe after a couple years, in 10 years it can happen, even China.

"Maybe the next game will be on the moon. Who knows?"

If there are shirts and shoes to sell there, the NBA might indeed find a way to host a lunar exhibition.

"It's business," Rockets forward Jim Jackson said. "They sell a lot of NBA jerseys and paraphernalia. There are a billion-plus people over there.

"But to me, it's an experience. I had an opportunity to go to China ... then 9/11 happened, and I couldn't go. I had my visa and was ready to go. Now, it gives me an opportunity to see another part of the world. I was going with Nike on a tour. I love history. In order to appreciate where you're at and appreciate where you are in the world, you have to go see other places in the world."

That said, and even allowing for the marketing benefits, there is a sense that this trip is about other things, if only because the Rockets will arrive in Shanghai of all places and find themselves treated as the home team. The NBA did send the Washington Bullets to demonstrate the league's basketball in 1979. But 25 years later, the Chinese get a chance to see teams and a league that are now as well known, and in some ways as popular, in Shanghai as anywhere in the world.

"The NBA has gone this global, but it's definitely amazing to me that we're going to be there and we're going to have fans there," Rockets forward Maurice Taylor said. "It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How many times will you get to go to China in your lifetime? It's definitely something to look forward to.

"I've just got to get there. It's the plane ride that's killing me. Once I get there, I think it will be a great experience. Until then, I'm just dreading the plane ride."

The Rockets left after Sunday's preseason home game against Miami and were scheduled to arrive in China at 5:45 a.m. Shanghai time. They were to practice later in the morning.

"I'm not a big traveling guy," coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "But to go to another country, especially when someone I like as much as Yao is from that particular area, I'm interested to see it. I've never been to a communist country. I'm interested to see what the differences are.

"I think we're going to get a lot done and have a heck of a lot of fun."

First, the Rockets will have to get there.

"I'm not looking forward to the 18-hour flight," Tracy McGrady said. "But once we get over there, I think we'll make the best of it.

"I don't like to do all that. It's just playing basketball. I might enjoy playing basketball over there, because I've been in (other) countries and know how people love basketball and how crazy the fans are. It might be a great experience. I've been to Taiwan. I've been to the Philippines. I've been to Paris.

"I do want to see what it's like for Yao there. For him to be one of a few guys to come out of China and play on the professional level in the United States, he'll be like a god over there."

The trip might be as odd for Yao as for his teammates. But while traveling to China is strange for the rest of the Rockets, leaving after such a short stay will be difficult for Yao.

In between, he will be as much the center of attention as ever. He will go from Rockets practices to NBA and Reebok events between games in which he will take the court as a national hero. Fans have slept on the street for as long as 72 hours to get tickets to the games.

"Of course people are excited about us coming," Yao said. "But for me, it's kind of a strange feeling. It's odd to go back for such a short period of time. If I go back, I'd like to go back for more time. It's never a good feeling to have to leave."

jonathan.feigen@chron.com