And of course the recent Olympics have shown us how unimportant it is for a team to actually practice together. Guys - if it comes down to a choice of NBA vs Team China, we are going to lose. Don't ask for a decision, you will not like the answer. (As if we had the power to force a decision, but you get my drift.)
you know there arent many of your posts i agree with but i must say you do speak the truth here yao should do whats best for him, but that is a very american approach about it. these asia games i believe are very minor if he stays and trains here over the summer in the us and gets rest he will be better for it and in fact it will help the other players in china grow because they wouldnt be dependent on yao doing everything like last year where no one else outside of yao did anything. once the games of 2008 roll around china would have a much stronger team all-around
I do think right now what's best for Yao's development is what's best for everyone - Houston Rocket Fans and Chinese fans. But I think the only way that could happen if the Chinese people believed that as that is the only kind of pressure the Chinese National Team could gracefully accept and let Yao take this summer off - especially if they make a long run into the playoffs.
Nobody is disagreeing that Yao needs some rest and have some time to work on his game. What I take exception to is somehow this is all CBA's fault for expecting Yao to represent his country in an international tournament. If they are the blood-suckers some here like to portray, then so is the NBA, so is the Houston Rockets organization, so, in a way, are us fans. What would actually solve the problem for everyone, for Yao, for other international players, and for those American players who may have wished to represent their country in international competition, would be for the NBA to shorten its unreasonably long season, bringing it more in tune with the international season. Why don't I hear anybody petitioning David Stern?
Lessee here... we have folks wanting a petition distributed, or the Rocket org pressuring the Chinese govt, or the Rick Perry to do something 9which might be a first for him!). Folks, is it just possible that Yao, an honorable and patriotic man, might actually *want* to fullfill his commitments and play in the Asia Games and play in the Olympics? Heh... someone even touched on NBA players avoiding playing in the Olympics. And just look at how most American's hold those players in disdain. yet we Houstonians should want Yao to not play for his country (or play in games that are important to his country)? My take... we can either kick up a hissy fit that in almost all likelihood will only cause a scene and not keep Yao here anyway. A scene that might even lessen the chances that Yao re-signs come new contract time. Or... we just accept the minor challenges we knew we were getting when we drafted Yao.
If you still do not know, a lot of people here talk like they know exactly what Yao's thinking in his mind.
The Asian Games is in 2006, not this year. This summer Yao is asked to play for Shanghai in a "Chinese Games" where provinces compete with each other. Yao should not play in that game.
No, YOU are merely showing prejudice, and you are making a REDICULOUS assertion by saying "why should Yao give a f*k about playing for Houston?" Let me make it simple for you: The reason why is because Houston is paying him his f*king money, do you people have thick skulls or what? He is making his livelihood RIGHT HERE in Houston, if there was a buck to make playing b-ball in China, he wouldn't be here! This guy will be making $13+ million a year after his current contract is up, so he better give a f*k about the Rockets, or otherwise he is a scam. However, if you are right that Yao Ming shouldn't give a f*k about the Rockets, then why the hell are we wasting time building a team around him?!!!! Can you answer that? If you are right, then the Rockets are basically being SCREWED! Then based on your assumption, the ONLY feasible and smart business solution for the Rockets to end the scam job China is perpetrating against the Rockets is to trade him away and get another player for him to build the team around, alongside McGrady or whomever else. That way they would end all dealings with China and get out of that headache. Manu Genobili does NOT fit the Yao example, because he doesn't screw over the Spurs' future by going overseas to play every single summer and r****ding his development. No one is saying that Yao or Manu or whoever else shouldn't compete for his country in MAJOR international competitions, I am saying that r****ding your development, and thus directly hurting your team's championship aspirations, IS wrong! Look, I understand you and many many other posters here are of a Chinese heritage, and thus you have a certain pride that Yao is representing your country, and you should be, but if you think him placing his commitments to the CNT ABOVE the Rockets (IF that is indeed what he is doing), which is the party writing his checks, is the right thing to do, then you are dead wrong. I don't care if it is China or another country, NO OTHER player in the entire league and NO OTHER team in the whole league has to deal with this headache like the Rockets do. Where is the appreciation and reciprocal "good will" from China to the Rockets? Isn't it supposed to be a two-way street, with mutual consideration/benefit for the two parties? Besides, as I have mentioned before, if Yao stays here in Houston to develop his skills and improve in his overall game, this will NOT hurt China in anyway whatsoever, but the exact opposite, it would BENEFIT China and increase its chances for success in the 2008 Olympics and beyond. I wish they would consider this point before they insist on giving Yao no break and continue to push him beyond his physical breaking point.
No one says Yao shouldn't play for his country, but what's wrong with taking a summer off - the summer after the Olympics no less, to work on his game? Of course, it's fine...Yao will play in every tournament until his body breaks down. And we already see the results of years of basketball without a break...the guy looks haggard. Also, people aren't meant to play the same sport year round - it's really unhealthy. But it is shorted sighted. Shorted sighted by the CBA, short-sighted by the Rockets to tip-toe around it. No one wants to piss of big red, but in doing so they will sacrafice Yao when in two years he's nothing but a scrub ending his career at Golden State.
The NBA shortening its season will never happen. There are far too many vested parties (including the players) who would stand to lose from that. I think there's a reason why the World Cup is only once every four yeats. I think the same thing should happen in basketball.
Tiger - breathe in....Breathe out....breathe in....breathe out Nice vent, and an even better post. Completely agree with you.
No need to blame the Chinese government here, it's just the culture and Weltanschauung differences. I don't think either one is superior over another, but sometimes it's hard to understand another view of value while we are so used to our own. In Yao ming's case, sure he's been making millions of Benjamins living in the US for almost 3 years , but that doesn't compare to his 21 years in China, and he is Chinese after all. So I'd think he is abided by the Chinese culture and most importantly: the Chinese view of value, which is "love you country, love yourself, when the two conflicts, sacrifice yourself for you country". it's hard to understand, but that's how China survived over several major wars in the last century.
And my respect for JVG just tripled after reading this. that's one of the differences between a real coach and a know-all-you-listen-to-me-now-fan coach.
It is all up to Yao himself. I believe Yao has the power to negotiate with CNT to ask for one or two summers off before Olympic 2008. CNT officials definitely will consider it because Yao is the most important player in the team. Yao's interview with Chron is almost laughable. What is up with "You ask, and then I go, if you don't, then I can rest"? No NTs will ask its best player NOT to play. Spain will certainly invite Gasol to play for any tournaments and Argentina will ask Manu do the same thing. It is up to them to ask for the break and they did. Of course, Chinese NT is more difficult to deal with, but Yao certainly should make an effort to convince them that it is CNT and Yao's best interest to let him rest for one or two summers before year 2008. You can't certainly please everyone. Heck, Yao can't even let everyone happy in this BBS. Someone said: who cares Houston Rockets? I want Yao play for my CNT. Others are on the contrary. So it is all up to Yao himself to take a stand, make a decision about what is the balance between protecting his best interest and serving the country. That is it. Let us see if Yao has balls to make decisions and take actions himself.
As a Rockets fan and a Yao fan, it's in Yao's best interest to stay here in the US in the summer to take some time off and hone his skills. It's also in the best interest of Chinese national team to have its best player to elevate his game, Yao will have a good showing in 2008 Olympic. Which should please the Chinese officials and Chinese national pride. No doubt Yao is proud to represent China and its people, and he should be. However, why waste Yao's talent and risk injury in stupid Asian game? It's like you know you're going to win, because the competition sucks. Of course, it's gonna boost Chinese pride by beating some weak talent in Asian basketball game. Instead, Chinese officials should let Yao stay in US and work on his game, and THAT is gonna really help Yao develop as a player and enable him to play better in 2008 Olympic game.
I don't think Yao has the say as to whether he would play in the Asian games and such as many of you believe. If Yao doesn't play and stay in US like Wang Zhi Zhi did, (which I totally think it's within Wang's right and in the best interest of National team), he will be painted black and portrait as a ungrateful traitor or whatever name they're calling him in Chinese press.
ok lets settle this once and for all: What Wang Zhi Zhi did was inexcusibly wrong! He deserved all the consequences. He was ranked major in Chinese military. It's not within his right to disobey a order. it's a crime if I would exaggerate it a little. Please try not to think you know everything. now it's a different story for Yao Ming, but again, try not to think that you know everything, don't judge the Chinese government and Chinese media based on your "heard them all". Yao has all the reasons not to play for the summer games, i.e. like the other poster said, rockets pay him millions so he should commit to the organization wholely heartly. But on the other hand, he/she tiger made the same mistake, he doesn't know what exactly Chinese government is like, he doesn't know what exactly Chinese culture is like, the worst part is he doesn't want to know. People like that will never learn.
