No, the ego is something ALL human beings must grapple with. Fame is seductive. Can Yao resist, and stay focused. Only YM knows for sure, but human nature is what it is. Plus, you ignored my point about the CBA dipping into YM's basketball salary. That can't happen with any movie he makes. Raven
Yao never pay much attention to money. He even turned down the HUGE contract with Nike just because he felt uncomfortable. So whether Yao leaves or not afther the rookei contract depends on the the team, Rockets. Believe me, Yao would go for Championship rather than just money. So, build a team around Yao for the next Championship! Go Rockets!
You forgot the fact that he will instantly be treated like a god by the national media and he will be free to foul as much as he wants without ever fouling out. Man, that would be sweet. On a serious note, those are the same fans that call the Spurs the Sterns. Come on, how can we possibly take them seriously? Lets save all this talk for a couple more years at least.
i can confirm that: SF3 might be the most HATED NBA player in China right now. how hilarious that is! if the ROx stays put and let this pathetic guards play continue to exhaust Yao's patience, don't get shocked if he considers other offers and i bet Lakers would be high on his list. those who think Yao being the next great Lakers center is a "ridiculous" idea simply have their heads in the sand. You think Yao gives a damn to Rox and you fans here if he can get what he wants elsewhere??? remember how Shaq dumped Penny and the Magic? a rude awakening is on order. peace.
MFW2310, I'm about as sure of what I believe as you are with the Rockets actually building a team around Yao within the next two years. You say Steve will be traded........but where? Who will take on his contract if he continues his play into the following season?
some truth in it. but, first of all, yao is not shaq. this is so obvious and doesn't need any elaboration. you think the fans voted yao to start the asg just because they like new stars? wrong! the fans like yao as a person not some tough desiel truck that runs over everything it comes across (even this is not true anymore for the once "mde" player). so quit comparing yao with shaq on characters. secondly, like some other posters already posted, if the rocks continue to build around yao and if by the time his contract about to expire the rocks can be a real champ contender, i don't see any reason for yao to leave. a new team means he has to go through the rebuilding process all over again. no matter how good the crew are it'll take time and tremendous effert and you can't guarantee the end result. so i think the foremost important thing for the rocks to keep yao is to really build a team around him and if it means to sacrifice the guards, so be it. only championship can keep yao. money alone can't. besides he can make tons of money wherever he is.
If Yao leaves, I predict the Stevie haters will dwindle in numbers. ........and the board member count will fall by 40%.
Wow! good job, MFW2310. Why not email Shaq or post on LG.net BBS. I'm most willing to do it for you, buddy.
God, I hope Yao doesn't go to the Lakers. They are my most hated team! Anyone but the lakers that have a winning record. I seriously think the Rocket's GM will try everything to keep him after his contact is up...but nothing is impossible in the NBA.
qrui, basically we agree on the bottom line: the Rox has to build a contender to keep Yao. the same thing happened when TD tested the market several years ago. but characterwise, don't put down the big diesel. he's honest, stays out of trouble, and generally a likable person who speaks fondly of Yao. IMO him, TD, KG and Yao are the 4 pilars of the NBA characters. name any other superstar who's as clean and likable as these 4. it's everyone's right to pursue what he wants. Shaq wanted to rap and play in movies, what's wrong with that?? what you described was his style of playing ball, not his "character". pls, quit hating him because he destroyed everything that comes across his path ON the court. Yao is the new generation of superstars who are as shrewd and smart as his management team will allow. coming from the same cultural background, i think his goal will be to seek the biggest impact he can have on both the game and the society. so it's not about money, as he has shown the world. it'll be the IMPACT factor, i.e. potential for rings, size of the market, etc. he'll be loyal to his motherland because loyalty is valued as important as playing ball in his case (i'd be shocked if he thinks otherwise). and if he can get a better chance to help his country and people, he'll consider that. peace.
The refs will immediately stop calling ticky tacky fouls on Yao. No more BS offensive fouls called on Yao. Most of the opposing starting centers and PFs will be fouled out after they hack Yao in the double team. If I were Yao, I would serious think about leaving for LAL. Not only will he enjoy better PG play, but also getting an average of 3-5 more calls/game even if he does not do anything more. That is equal to 5-8 ppg/game, which will boost his season avg to 22-25 even this season. And more $$$ more deals for team Yao. And more championships, more worshipper, more Hollywood movies, more MVPs. Why not consider going West to the shrime of basketball?
Contrary to what you believe, desiring fame is not human nature. It's a cultural specific occurance. Even then you can't generalize it's effects. Simply assuming fame is addictive to all humans is neither falsifiable or parsimonious. And that is from a psychological PoV, not even from some made up BS. Let's do some simple math here. Yao gets paid 17 mil for the next 4 years (6 million per year). How much does the CBA takes? The IRS takes the first cut of 40% (2.4), the CBA only takes 1.8 mil per year. Assuming in 3 1/2 years Yao signs the MAX, he'll be getting 14-15 mil in Houston. The IRS takes 6 mil, CBA takes 4.5 million. He'll be left with 4.5. LA can offer him 11 mil. The IRS takes 4.4 mil, CBA takes 3.3, he's left with 3.3. Which means he'll have to have an AFTER TAX income of 1.2 million just to BREAK EVEN with what he earns in Houston. And to do that, Yao has to play for the Fakers, play for the Chinese NT while STILL shooting movies on his vacation. Think about it. You are also assuming that Yao actually cares about money. I'm guessing that's why he took LESS THAN HALF the money he could have had to sign with Reebok instead of Nike.
This question is so ridiculous I'm not sure how to respond. Can't we (at a bare minimum) trade him to Utah for 2 first rounders?
ridiculous? It's a serious question that the Rockets have to, and at this point might be facing. Who is coming out in the next couple of years that people are so sure of? What team(s) would be a possibilty for a trade or two? You mention Utah(at bare minimum), but why the hell would they take him and his contract. Remember, not only is he playing like a chump, he's getting paid MAX dollars. I'm not saying that it's a sure thing the Rockets won't change in the next couple of years, but if the core is the same unit.....Yao is as good as gone to another team.
I feel the same way. From the Nike case, I can see Yao is not the type of guy living just for money. A ring means much more to him. I even thought Yao may sacrifice his salary for the Rocket to sign a good player. Just like Malone did. hope i'm not dreaming.
I totally agree the Lakers are the NY Yankees of basketball. If Yao does go to the Lakers i'm going to be one of the first to boo him.
