Is it that he is afraid to let his fans down or that he is afraid to create controversy? He's not saying "I must go back to honor the people of China", he's saying "well, if they make me go, I have to go". My grandma never made me do anything. I went because I wanted to go, not because "the choice isn't up to me". I think the right analogy is when your wife forces you to go to your in-laws despite the fact you feel you are getting sick. Yes, you'd like to take it easy and rest without stress....but NO, your wife says "YOU BETTER COME OR THERE WILL BE **** HITTING THE FAN". So you go, reluctantly, not to honor your wife but because you are afraid of rocking the boat. You go, and you get sick. By the way, comparing Houston to a tropical island beach is just hilarious!!!!!!! I am sure Yao would much rather spend his free time in China then Houston, he's not trying to get a vacation, he's trying to do what's best for his extremely valuable body. A body that is valuable to China, the people of China, Houston, the fans of Houston, and most importantly, himself.
I'll take your word. Based on this then....it's clear these Chinese basketball beaurocrats only understand politics, and not basketball. Doubt that they know what's best for Yao...unless you mean what's best for his political status in China...
I'd say you are the "tiring" one, not mention prone to BS. And your definition is fundamentally flawed. How are they putting their eggs in one basket? I'd say counting Yao for the entire future of their basketball is putting all their eggs in one basket. Go ask what? Fine, I'll go ask any physical therapist if they count their entire life's earnings on one client. Somehow I think I know what the answer will be. Also, I didn't say CBA/CNT/China was thinking what was best for Yao. I said don't assume they aren't thinking what's best for "Chinese basketball." Isn't that what you were insinuating from the start? Funny you changed lines half way through.
You are full of it. Lets see: 1. At this point, SOME officials wanted Yao to go back for the national games and Asian games next summer. But last time I checked, it is still SOME officials. And the chances Yao going back this summer and next summer is improbable at best. Yet you speak of it as if it's already happened. 2. Believe it or not, there isn't some faceless Chinese basketball official. For example, the folks that wants him to go back this summer (the Shanghai folks) aren't the same as the CNT folks. I expect the Shanghai folks to look after the best interest of Shanghai while the CNT folks to look after the interest of Chinese basketball. That not so subtle difference essentially killed your BS. 3. Out of the many plausible reasons in which the "Chinese Basketball bureaucrats" would want Yao to go back, you took two of them (they want to earn money, they are playing with politics), one of which being very improbable and spoke of them as if they are the truth. 4. You assume they are thinking in the best interest of Yao instead of in the best interest of Chinese basketball. The two are not mutually exclusive but definitely different. 5. China has (I think) 5 players in European soccer leagues. Mind you Chinese soccer suck as much as their basketball and their players play on second class (at best) European leagues. And I hardly think they are honing their skills to a significant extent in say... 2nd Bundesliga. And I also hardly think the CFA is counting on these stars to win the World Cup for China. However, their contract clauses still stipulate that, if there is a national game, an Asian games, or the Olympics, and if the CNT says they go back. They go back and play. So what's going on here? OMG, players whom the "Chinese bureaucrats" can't make a buck off of and whom can't bring China WC victory, whom fans are less inclined to see and whom political bureaucrats are less inclined to play politics on are also in the same boat as Yao. That kind of throws out your BS about the political games doesn't it?
One thing to keep in mind, Yao is not the only player in this situation, and the CBA not the only national association who expects their NBA players to represent the country in international competition. Nowitzki, Ginobili, Gasol, etc. all played for their countries in the Olympics (AND the continental qualifying tournaments before-hand). Nowitzki chose to play for Germany even though Mark Cuban openly said that he didn't like it.
This is not really a conflict between China and the Houston Rockets, but more a conflict between the NBA and the international basketball system. Instead of expecting the other side to make all the concessions, the NBA will also need to start thinking about some serious changes. (And if it doesn't want to, it will be forced to, as sooner or later the NBA will need the world more than the world will need the NBA.) Shortening the season will solve most of the problems. And if that's not plausible, at least start with something smaller, like paying international clubs reasonable fees for taking their best players, like another poster mentioned. The European soccer leagues do this, why cann't the NBA? The international leagues around the world are not obliged to be the NBA's developmental league, you know.
Sorry for the seperate posts, but I have just one more thing to add. Remember when Yao first came to the US and it was rumored that the CBA and his old Shanghai club will take 50% of his earnings, and everyone went berserk and jumped on those "evil Commies" for sucking Yao's blood? Well, nobody bothered to mention that the root cause of the problem was that the NBA would not allow its clubs to pay reasonable fees to the international clubs for taking their best players (300K only allowed, peanut money). You cann't blame the international clubs to want to somehow recoup their investments in developing that player. Therefore the European players have to buy out their contracts with their own money, and the Chinese players have to agree to give a percentage of their future earnings back to their old clubs (which btw is much much less than than the rumored 50%).
That will only happen when the international leagues become as profitable and as well known as the NBA.
What the business with Shanghai? My understanding is that once Yao did his FIBA transfer, he was no longer allowed to play for the Sharks at all. He'd have to get FIBA's clearance to switch back.
How do you know that is much much less than the rumored 50%? Do you work for Team Yao or Chinese sports officials? What percentage is that? Just curious.
Id really like to hear how you figure that. Seriously...why do you believe that? Cause..let me tell ya....NBA basketball will do just fine without the FIBA clubs...They dont need them now...adn I certainly dont see that changing anytime soon. The NBA makes moire than enough money from it's existing audience...and in every country you hear about players dreaming of playing in the NBA as the end-all be-all of their careers....notice how players that cant hack it in the NBA go overseas?? IT is because the overseas leagues arent stacked with the kind of talent as the NBA has....it is easier for a player with less skill to make it in a foreign league. As for the shortened season....dream on. It aint happening...ever. That would be a MASSIVE loss of money for all involved....the NBA, the networks, the players, and all the support staff league-wide. Juan V, I recall hearing that also...Yao has been formally released by the Shanghai club....by all accounts from Day 1...his only committment is to the CNT. Who was it that was reporting earlier in the season that Yao was going to have this summer off?...I remember reading a report that said so.
I think it has more to do with their best players wanting to leave then NBA teams stealing the players. The only thing in the way is the contract and I believe the team drafting the player does buyout the contract or doesn't draft them at all
There is no contractual obligation with the Sharks at all. But there is a contract clause in his contract which the city of Shanghai put in that says he plays for the national games. The Shanghai Sharks folks never asked for him to go back.
is that for the Shanghai team or for the CNT? excuse us for not fully understanding what the difference is between National games or the CNT-required games. and also....what proof do we have that there is indeed a contract clause with the city of Shanghai?
Can't believe this is still going on, I think JVG has already summed it up perfectly. In case you missed:
I think you've lost touch with reality to be honest. Let's just stop this argument, it's no longer benefiting anyone but your speed typing skills.
Sometimes I avoid this place, and sometimes I come back in with my hip boots on and my barn shovel in my hands and I wade thru the cr@p. One thought here: maybe in the future the Chinese team Yao is practicing with and playing for might be able to come to Houston and practice against some higher level competition and everyone wins.... Maybe sometime. Waiting for the reasoned and level headed responses..... We'll have fun fun fun 'til daddy takes the t-bird away!!!!
