http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4242600.html Shoes blamed for Yao's toe woes Van Gundy says Reebok has failed to solve problem By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle AUSTIN — With Yao Ming's sore left big toe keeping him off the court Friday, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy pointed directly at the culprit he suspected of causing Yao's ongoing problems. It's got to be the shoes. "This is a reoccurring issue with Yao's feet, and he's not getting the shoe on time from Reebok," Van Gundy said. "He is not getting the shoe fitted properly so he doesn't have reoccurring issues with his toe and feet. Yao's got to be more demanding of this company. He's not getting the results he wants. It puts him at risk. "It's the same issue here this year. Nothing's changed. It's problematic. Some things can't be prevented. This one I think can be with more attention to detail on the shoe he's getting from the company that really should care about him." Yao, who along with the Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson is one of Reebok's top athlete-endorsers, missed Friday's practice and will sit out today's workout with a bruised left big toe. Rockets trainer Keith Jones said Yao could return to practice Monday. Reebok officials, however, said the shoes being redesigned for Yao are not late and that he is playing in the ATR Pump shoes he prefers with the revisions he wanted. "The product guys here at Reebok work very closely, not only with Yao but with all our athletes to make sure the products they wear are sufficient to perform in," Reebok spokeswoman Denise Kaigler said. "The feedback taken is very specific and incorporated into the product." Reebok's Kevin Leary, who works specifically with Yao, said the Rockets' center, like most big men, requested the collar of his shoe be raised with stiffer foam. If Yao's problems had been caused by sliding inside the shoe, Leary said the stiffer, higher collar might have prevented the foot moving within the shoe but that he did not know the nature of the injury or its cause. Yao lost the nail on the toe last October, leading to an infection and eventually to surgery Dec. 19. He missed 21 games because of the condition. He missed the season's final four games after breaking his left foot. Yao has used a variety of orthotics and linings in his shoes, but because of the injuries on both sides of his foot, the fit is particularly crucial. 'Repetitive thing' "This is a repetitive thing," Van Gundy said. "It plagued him last year and cost us dearly. We're staring down the same thing. Someone has to step forward, take control and get it corrected. It's important for the Rockets, important for Yao Ming and important for Yao's teammates. It's problematic. It's a huge concern, and it's disappointing. "Last year started the same way. We never got it right, and ultimately he had to have surgery. Anybody who dismisses this as something minor is overlooking the bigger problem. Why does this continue to happen? Why don't we solve this issue yet? Somebody has to step forward with Yao's best interest at heart." Yao developed his most recent problem during Wednesday's morning practice but practiced again that night and the next morning. No Reebok representative has been to the Rockets' training camp since the problems began, although Leary said he would have been in Austin if the Rockets had requested he make the trip. Yao's agent, John Huizinga, who is the primary contact for Yao with Reebok, said he does not believe Yao's current foot problem is related to his shoes. "The fact of the matter is, he is wearing the same shoes now he wore all through the World Championships," Huizinga said. "It doesn't have much to do with the current situation. He is wearing his favorite shoes, the ones he loves the most. "They continually try to adapt the shoes to whatever is going on at the time. I'm not saying nothing could be done to make them better. I'm saying I don't think shoes are inherently the problem. I don't know where Jeff is coming from. Maybe he (Yao) is allergic to Jeff Van Gundy. For him to pick out the shoes, I don't know what he's talking about." Yao tried shoes this summer in Shanghai and sent them back for several revisions. He had yet to receive the newest pair through Friday's practices. Huizinga said he "shares Jeff's frustration," but he said opponents have routinely stomped Yao's foot as a way to defend against him and that the toenail has been damaged so often it does not grow in correctly. Going heavy-duty "You could have him out there in steel work boots," Huizinga said. "But they're big and they're heavy and it's tough to play basketball in them. If a part of your body is injured enough, it takes awhile to come back." Yao had blood drained from underneath the nail Wednesday. He is being treated with antibiotics to prevent infection, although there is no sign of one yet. "It's not serious at all," Jones said. "A couple of days, he's going to be fine. We're just playing it smart." Van Gundy, however, called for more preventive action. "Yao has to take a vested interest in being so demanding it gets solved," Van Gundy said.
i would think that if the shoe is doing damage to yao's foot he would have to be able to feel at least some discomfort. but his agent sure sounds like he has his lips firmly sealed on reeboks ass.
lol word... Yao can get contract from ANY brand in the world. He has that kind of marketing power. The ball is in his court, and he's got to let Reebok realize he will settle for nothing less than perfection.
You are misinterpreting. While Yao may or may not like JVG, that has nothing to do with what his agent said. Let me break it down. His agent said: 1. Yao's shoes are not a problem. 2. Yao wore the same shoes during the Fiba WBCs without a problem. 3. JVG is coming from left field saying the shoe's are at fault. 4. Yao only got hurt now, during training camp, so he must be allergic (snide remark) to JVG, because if it was the shoes' fault then Yao would have been hurt before meeting JVG at training camp. JVG was laying the smackdown on the shoes, and Yao's agent smacked back. Simple logic. None of that means "Yao doesn't like Jeff".
Reebok as a basketball shoe scares me. I remember they seriously messed up an Iverson shoe; regular wearing would practically guarantee plantaar faciitis. Iverson wore it for one game and never touched them again. It may not be the cause of Yao's foot problems, but the fact that he needs so many revisions should raise some red flags.
I never liked Reebok, I think their shoes' quality is pretty poor for such a name brand, compares to Nikes or Adidas... I used to own a couple of paires of Reebok basketball shoes, heavy, uncomfortable, and easily damaged. Maybe it is just me.
They should just switch Yao over to Adidas already. Who still buy reebok's shoes anywaY? Move Yao to adidas and they can start making cool commercial with both tmac and Yao.
Yeah, many Reebok shoes have sucked bad. I bought the original Stevie Franchises silver and white. Man, the heel slip on those suckers were so bad. I tried everything like wearing extra socks. Those messed up my left toe so much that it lead to major bruising that took over 7 months to completely heal. I think I showed some Clutchfans members my foot at the 2002 or 2003 gathering at the Sonics game. The toe was quite disgusting. But I'm sure that with Yao, Reebok is probably much more careful. It's not like they're totally inept. They have made some good shoes before.
Disaster PR for Reebok and Adidas. Nike must be smiling now. How stupid is Reebok? Can't even make its top prized property protected. Can't they make the shoes with like titanium toe protection so nothing will crush Yao's toes? How difficult could that be???
For real. If steel or titanium is too heavy, surely there must be some strong plastic or other synthetic material out there that can protect Yao's toes. Reebok has failed here, and they're not helping their cause here by trying to pit themselves against JVG ("maybe he's allergic to JVG" -- wth?!?). It would be hilarious if Yao decided to switch to Nikes.
Oh boy, let the (shoe) war began.Van Gundy vs Yao's Agent.... Nice. So, this is what training camp is all about? Can't wait for the real season.
i had some bb2600's that lasted a good while. but i also had their ERS shoes. those were a joke. in about 3 months the soles became damaged where the ERS tubes were located. never owned a pair since.
Wow you couldn't possibly have misinterpreted that anymore than you did. that doesn't begin to imply that yao doesn't like jeff. thank goodness for that keith jones quote that puts my mind a little at ease.
If stuff like Titanium is too heavy...then what about Nanotechnology? Seriously. It can be done. .....umm.... Git 'er Done!
should have sticked with Nike, Yao. Way to go Steve-O. even though it has nothing to do with you, i am still blaming you.
i remember Barkley saying Reebok shoes suck ass and can injure a player. and got all this crap from reebok.. barkley said nike should be the only shoes allowed or something to that extent.. reebok must suck .. great going yao.. sigh a deal with ****ty ass reebok
