pgabriel..please try to understand what i'm saying. i'm not saying i believe the Houston Rockets are making more money because of Yao Ming. i'm not saying they're making more money off jersey sales or anything like that. i'm saying i belive Les Alexander absolutely, positively benefits financially in ways he would not otherwise because of his association with Yao Ming. that's it. Yao opens doors for Les that he wouldn't have even known existed before. That he wouldn't have had access to prior. I say that not because I can point to a specific dollar figure. if you don't agree with that, that's just fine. carry on.
Les Alexander went from being worth $80 million before he drafted Yao, to being worth over $1.2 billion just a few years later. Yep, no financial benefit at all for Les. And yes, that is a financial benefit to the Rockets. Because the owner of the team got so much richer he can spend a lot more money on the team.
Oh ok its like you gonna show your payslip to your random mail man? Right thats why you assume Les would share his income with a fan?! Theres never gonna be a figure, les wont tell you. But to think he didnt make significant money off one of his employee who happened to be the most popular dude in the world's largest market? Its like saying broken condom charge on Assange was legit. Its all common sense really.
As hard as it is to believe, there were the Rockets before there was Yao Ming. And once this franchise realizes that again it will be for the best. We can't be constantly relying on one of the most injury prone players to ever play the game to be our centerpiece or even a bench player. He is never going to reach the level of play that he previously had peaked at, and as for the $ aspect of it. Everyone argues about it but nobody has proven statistics to back these money theories up. None of the other teams have major asian market players and most of them do just fine on the financial fronts. I guarantee a player like Melo/Paul/Kobe/Wade/James or any star in this league can be just as profitable as Yao if not more given the right circumstances. For example add a healthy globally known star such as Chris Paul on this team and then success on the court such as Conference/Finals appearances and you easily dwarf whatever revenue Yao brought to the table. Championships> Yaos "Revenue" And we aren't getting a championship with Yao on this team, no question about it. It's hard to imagine a time when the same Rockets players weren't being decimated by injuries year in and year out. Its greatly frustrating seeing so much money continually rot on the bench knowing that that $ could be used to improve the club. The Rockets have hardly ever been able to take full advantage of their roster, due to Yao/Mcgrady we have never been able to be at full strength. I for have had enough of the teams money being tossed away because of consistent injuries. Pisses me off to no extent knowing we could be so much better.
Wow, I thought this was a bump of an older thread, just shows how commonplace this type of announcement is. Not even surprised.
This is definitely a smart strategy. The team's chemistry is on right now and this 24 minute thing will only disturb it. When we can get a fully healthy Yao who can play his regular 32 minutes, this team can adapt easier.
This is exactly what I mean about Rocket's organization.... We Fans really have no clue what is going on. -Is Yao really hurt -Is it Chemistry issues -Is it Rick -Is it Punishment for Yao saying he will be back Dec 7th -Is it because we are tanking (not like they will declare this) -Is it because he is up for trade (they showcased him already) -Is it because of insurance money (a new theory) Its bull****. Either play his ass (bench or starter) or declare they want to move forward without Yao and proceed to trade him and develop Hill as our starting center. Do something besides every week, making up a new excuse. He practiced last Thursday, so holding him out of practice this Wednesday is freaking stupid.
this is all i'm saying. when you're affiliated with a cash cow...a man whose been on the top of the world in endorsement dollars...a man who companies crave to associate themselves with...a man who is a groundbreaker in terms of reaching a continent....those are the kinds of affiliations that make a savvy businessperson lots and lots and lots of money. not necessarily directly, even...but as a byproduct.
Pretty much what I said back then. Also, we've seen rick isnt too crazy about players with limitations either. I'm willing to bet when brooks get back, jordan hill will start along with him..
Still we dont have the figure, those guys are gonna be ignorant and keep asking the same question. You know what, they really need to ask how much money artest, scola, steve freaking francis, shane battier, patrick patterson made off of being Yao's teammate.
Have to say, it is kind of sad that the majority of kids on this website are already hating on Yao for his injuries and saying we kept him because he is Asian and is a massive cash cow. Everyone has forgotten the guy who averaged 25/9 post injury and dominated the league, that was when he signed his massive contract.... Kids, grow up and move on, enjoy watching the Rockets and stop b****ing about a guy just because he is not durable, if he had a choice, do you think he would want to be injured?
from 06 Forbes article http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/54/biz_06rich400_Leslie-Alexander_7XL9.html This is where you got your 1.2BB number which is probably less since the recession. I guess kids getting their student loans through less because of Yao
I have a hard time believing that Les Alexander, savvy business man that he is, cannot turn his association with Yao Ming into a profit driver.
You've convinced yourself in the same way a conspiracy theorist does. When people demand specifics you ask "Isn't it obvious?" No, it's not obvious and not everyone has the same low standards for their assumptions that you do. Even if I entertain the notion that what you say is true, you have not done your part. All I said was "you'd have a hard time convincing me that Jews don't control the media." That's it. And so far no one has done anything but play semantics to prove me wrong. See how ridiculous it is to make a claim and expect others to prove your non-evidence wrong?
A couple of things I found around the web to support the idea Les MIGHT be benefitting from his association with Yao, other than direct benefit to the asset he owns which we call, The Houston Rockets. Ask yourself if you really believe Les would have these opportunities but for his connection with China's most famous export. Seriously, this isn't even debateable. http://www.nba.com/rockets/community/Leslie_Alexander_Biography-307773-822.html After six years of cultivation, Alexander launched Leslie Wine in 2008, which is currently selling four exceptional 2007 vintage wines exclusively in China. http://www.mlive.com/business/ambizdaily/bizjournals/index.ssf?/base/abd-3/1206340805182170.xml http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=146352 In the latest venture through his Rocket Capital Investment company, Alexander has teamed up with San Antonio billionaire Billy Joe "Red" McCombs. The joint venture has invested in Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd., one of the country's largest automakers. Alexander's other holdings in China range from railways to mining, but the automotive deal represents his largest direct investment in a publicly traded Chinese company. Kenneth Huang is the key executive behind the scenes at Alexander's company. The managing director and senior partner of Rocket Capital was the first college graduate from China to work at the New York Stock Exchange in the 1980s. Huang now focuses on partnering deals for investments in major Chinese state-owned and private enterprises. He met Alexander through SportsCorp China, formed by Huang to promote closer sports and sponsorship ties with the United States. SportsCorp China players include the Houston Rockets, the National Basketball Association and the New York Yankees. http://chinalegal.blogspot.com/2008/03/private-equity-firms-hot-in-hong-kong.html . Rocket Capital Investment The firm was established by the mainland basketball star Yao Ming's finder of Leslie Alexander, to cash in on his new mainland business connections. Mr. Alexander is its sole investor, and Forbes magazine estimates his worth at US$1.5 billion. In 2007, the firm poured US$200 million into some of Hong Kong's biggest IPOs. In 2008, the firm is planning to invest another US$200 million to focus instead on buying listed shares and making other types of investments, but will be more careful this year, according to its managing director of Kenneth Huang...
