Headlines across the country

Great job. Now find all the Non-AP articles and post them here

 

I know. Ive read the AP article and was interested if any of them wrote their own.

Basking in the glow of victory is always fun. Especially when non-interested parties write about our great win.

 

Great idea for thread, we need so much more of this. Nice job Free Agent!

 

Yes,...very impressive to get this exhibited for us. I am gonna read a lot and smile.

 

Ming for a day
Yao, Rockets get last laugh in OT
By Art Garcia
Star-Telegram Staff Writer


AP Photo by Pat Sullivan

Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal is defended by Houston Rockets center Yao Ming during the first quarter Friday in Houston.


HOUSTON - The joke may not have been that funny and the buildup too excessive, but the first NBA meeting between the present and future of the center position proved awfully fun to watch.

Yao Ming, one of the few people in the world who can look down at Shaquille O'Neal, didn't win the statistical battle against the Lakers' behemoth, but the Rockets' rookie did win his respect and his team won the war. And that says more than any off-color barb made six months ago.

"I felt like I was underwater for a long time," Yao said after the Rockets edged the three-time champs 108-104 Friday night in overtime before just the fourth sellout crowd at the Compaq Center this season. "I can finally breathe."

After a slow start, O'Neal finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds. Yao, eight years younger and four inches taller than the 7-foot-1, 30-year-old O'Neal, grabbed 10 boards and scored 10 points, including an uncontested dunk with 10.2 seconds left.

O'Neal, perhaps the best center of the last 20 years, has measured himself against the best of his era -- Hakeem Olajuwon (who was seated courtside), David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning -- and passed. Yao's only test, in an age of power forwards masquerading as centers, is O'Neal.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson likened the matchup to a heavyweight title fight, one bigger than media-driven controversy.

"Yao Ming is a reality in this league," Jackson said. "He's become a factor. Now it's a personal thing."

Judging by his size -- 7-6 and 296 pounds -- and skill, Yao is the only player, on paper, who is suited to challenge O'Neal. But even Yao realizes where he is.

"It seems to me that, physically, I may still be needing a little bit," Yao said before the game, adding he could use a "suit of armor" against O'Neal.

As it turned out, Yao didn't need any protection and if he felt any pressure, he wasn't showing it. His early returns were promising.

On the first possession of the game, O'Neal lowered his shoulder and took it at the rookie. But instead of punishing the rim, Yao altered the shot -- he was credited with a block -- and O'Neal missed badly.

At the other end, Yao took a pass from deep in the lane and knocked down a smooth hook shot over O'Neal.

Much of the same followed for the next few minutes. Two more blocks against O'Neal were credited to the Rocket -- one was legit -- and the Yao knocked down a 10-foot turnaround and beat O'Neal down the court for a layup.

Yao wouldn't score again until late in the fourth period, but he remained a factor. All of his rebounds came after halftime and most of his six blocks came against O'Neal.

O'Neal nearly gave the Lakers the win at the end of regulation, but his put-back came just after the final buzzer. O'Neal scored 10 in OT, including a vicious dunk over Yao, but several suspect calls played a major part in the outcome.

A questionable flagrant foul against O'Neal against Steve Francis, who scored a career-high 44, and subsequent technical against Jackson helped the Rockets push out to a 102-98 lead heading into the final minute.

O'Neal and Yao could have met two months ago at Staples Center, if not for O'Neal's surgically repaired big toe, which kept him in street clothes. Yao scored 20 on that night, prompting O'Neal to say afterward: "He has all the tools, can shoot, dribble -- he can play. He's no slouch. ... He shall be 'The Man' in a few years to come."

Maybe a little sooner.

 

Yao has great sense of humor and how can't you like the guy!!!!!

 

links please, for those articles

 

Here is mine:

Rockets Win! Rockets Win!

 

"I don't think that I took over," said Francis. "I just felt that I was in the flow of the game. I thought the shots were there when I hit them, and I was able to play with the flow of the game. It was one of the top performances (of my career).

This is why I've never ever seen Stevie play any better. By far the best game of his career. Both he and Cat's shots were in the flow of the game (no stupid selfish jackupshots). We are one scary team if we play smart and as a team. Very scary for everybody.

 

Yao gets last laugh

-Chicago Tribune

 

Can any of you guys find anything on the LA newspapers?

 

These are from LA times.

<b>Rockets Take Center Stage </b>
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baske...972.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba-lakers

<b>A Tall Tale Ends With Yao in Good Standing</b>
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baske...279.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba-lakers

 

Thanks Lancet. Here is the articles incase if you are too lazy to register.

<b>A Tall Tale Ends With Yao in Good Standing</b>
January 18, 2003

By Tim Brown, Times Staff Writer


HOUSTON -- It was a sight, Shaquille O'Neal a head shorter than the man he defended, stooping to gather basketballs that had been swatted from his fingertips, straining to find the way over or around another man.

<b>Not outplayed. Just pushed.</b>

When his first four shots were blocked, three of them by 7-foot-5 Yao Ming, it was O'Neal who took the expression of a man who knew then that he was in a fight.

And when O'Neal backed into Yao, "boom-boom" first, he said, it was Yao who leaned over and draped himself on O'Neal's shoulders, a human cape for Superman, into overtime, where the Houston Rockets eventually defeated the Lakers, 108-104, Friday night at Compaq Center.

The event was O'Neal, whose body of work stands with Chamberlain and Russell and Abdul-Jabbar and Olajuwon among great centers, against the rookie Yao, 22, fresh from China, all raw game and grace. O'Neal had 31 points, 18 in the fourth quarter and overtime, and 13 rebounds. Yao had 10 points — on five-of-14 shooting — 10 rebounds and six blocks.

O'Neal, who frequently called Yao "my brother," said, "That just shows I get respect. He's 7-5 and they still have to double- and triple-[team]. Don't say 'he' [blocked my shots], say, 'they.' "

While everyone gaped at the 7-footers, the 6-footer, Steve Francis, stole the game.

Running more than a foot beneath Yao, Francis scored 44 points, some of them while being hounded by Kobe Bryant. The game turned finally on a defensive play, and a referee's call, and on Phil Jackson's reaction to it, costing the Lakers three points and a 102-98 deficit with 1:11 left in overtime.

O'Neal fouled a driving Francis, referee Monty McCutchen called it flagrant, giving the Rockets two shots and the ball, and Jackson was called for a technical foul arguing it.

"I'm sure in replay he'll have second thoughts about it," Jackson said of the call.

Regulation turned finally on a missed free throw by Bryant, the second of two with 18.8 seconds left and the Lakers leading by three points. Francis made the three-point basket that tied it.

"It would have given us a one-point lead instead of going into overtime," Bryant said. "That simple."

Bryant scored 22 points, but missed 16 of 21 field-goal attempts. Cuttino Mobley scored 29 points for the Rockets, for 73 points for the starting backcourt. The Rockets won for the sixth time in seven games.

The Lakers lost for the first time in six. They missed 18 of 23 three-point baskets, and they believed they were jobbed by McCutchen's call late. But, in game, televised nationally, that also reached at least 112 million Chinese households, impossibly hyped for the regular season, the focus was in the middle, on O'Neal, who'd been accused of racism for his mocking Chinese dialect, and on Yao, who forgave him quickly.

They took it to the court before a hysterical crowd, and Yao played well enough early.

"He got some credibility, I think, in this game," Jackson said.

The promise of Yao brought nothing new from O'Neal's game until the fourth quarter. He was still playing around the rim, rather than over it, what coaches and teammates presume is a result of September surgery.

Houston Coach Rudy Tomjanovich sent strong-side guards and small forwards to O'Neal. So the Lakers attempted three-point baskets, wildly.

But, O'Neal, a new fu manchu mustache pushing its way from around his mouth, began to force his offense on Yao, who appeared to fatigue. Late in the game, O'Neal drop-stepped and dunked on Yao, who tumbled backward.

In Yao's first 27 starts, no opposing center had led his team in scoring.

"He wore me out," Yao said.

O'Neal met Yao near the sideline and whispered something in his ear, and Yao grinned.

Yao stood much taller than O'Neal. Still, most of his offense came falling away from the basket with jump shots and hook shots, while O'Neal's came moving toward it.

"One of the positive things about America is that everybody can fight for equality," Yao said, and then smiled. "But, on the court, sometimes there's inequality."

He laughed, as did many around him. Yao seemed satisfied with his effort, with his first go at O'Neal.

There is a notion that someday Yao will dominate as O'Neal has, and that in the meantime O'Neal will get his best low-post fight since Alonzo Mourning was healthy and in his prime. It will take time. The matchup was interesting, and often entertaining, and by the end it belonged to O'Neal, who made 13 of 26 shots.

Yao made three of his first five shots, blocked a dunk attempt by O'Neal, and when his teammates slapped his hand, he shrugged and shook his head, as though he were somewhat amazed too.

"He's a nice guy and I have nothing against him," O'Neal said. "I have no enemies, the Asians, the blacks, the whites, they are all my brothers. This was a good game for Yao. I was maybe trying a little too hard. Yao Ming is my brother. I'm disappointed in the media making a big deal about what I said."

 

<b>A Tall Tale Ends With Yao in Good Standing</b>

By Lonnie White, Times Staff Writer


And the first round goes to the rookie with a rocket on his jersey.

It wasn't exactly Chamberlain vs. Abdul-Jabbar, but the long-awaited showdown between the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal and Houston rookie Yao Ming lived up to the hype Friday night at Compaq Center.

At times, O'Neal was as dominating as ever; he finished with a team-high 31 points and a game-high 13 rebounds in 47 minutes. But the big story was Yao, who was impressive in the Rockets' 108-104 overtime victory.

At 7 feet 5, 296 pounds, Yao proved that he's far from a weakling. He played tough and with skill in an impressive debut against O'Neal. Yao, who injured his left index finger blocking a shot by O'Neal, finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots.

First half: The basketball world wanted to see how Yao handled himself the first time O'Neal tried to overpower him under the basket. They found out early Friday. Not only did Yao stand up to O'Neal, he blocked the Laker center's first three shots by standing his ground and using incredible timing.

On the offensive end, Yao had his game flowing as he knocked down a soft mini-hook and mid-range jump shot in O'Neal's face to start the game. Six minutes into the game, Yao definitely had an edge with six points to O'Neal's zero. But that did not last too long.

Although Yao showed plenty of heart against O'Neal, he paid a price, getting roughed up while trying to block one of O'Neal's dunks. Because O'Neal was able to establish deep position in the post, Yao did not have great leverage and suffered a finger injury as a result.

O'Neal prides himself on his power moves and loves to wear down opponents. A muscle-dunk here, a turnaround bank shot there and by the time the first quarter ended, O'Neal and the Lakers were in control.

But for some reason, the Lakers decided to go away from O'Neal when he returned to the game for the last half of the second quarter. Neither O'Neal or Yao did much heading into halftime. O'Neal had 11 first-half points, four rebounds and three assists to help the Lakers to a 47-46 lead. Yao had six points, three blocked shots and zero rebounds.

Third quarter: Yao, who had an unusually high eight field-goal attempts in the first half, continued to struggle to gain firm position on offense in the third quarter and it hurt the Rockets. Yao wasn't able to move O'Neal outside and when he did, the Laker center moved his feet well enough to disrupt Houston's half-court offense.

But it was a different story on the offensive end for the Lakers. Yao consistently beat O'Neal to his favorite spot on the floor. He was able to take the ball out of O'Neal's hands by forcing him outside the paint. When O'Neal bruised into the paint for a fadeaway, Yao was ready and blocked it. The next time O'Neal got the ball, he was called for an offensive foul for banging into Yao.

Yao may not have been scoring but he did little things to help the Rockets surge into the lead after three quarters. Yao stepped up with five rebounds in the third, while limiting O'Neal to two points and two rebounds as the Rockets took a 71-69 lead.

Fourth quarter: After O'Neal got rolling and scored a couple of baskets over backup center Kelvin Cato, Yao returned with nearly eight minutes remaining and the score tied, 77-77.

O'Neal hit a difficult turnaround shot from the baseline over Yao to give the Lakers a two-point lead at 6:35. After forcing a Yao miss, O'Neal displayed some great footwork with an up-and-under layup two minutes later.

O'Neal became a rebounding force, grabbing an offensive rebound that led to a Derek Fisher basket, a defensive rebound that led to a Kobe Bryant basket and another offensive rebound in the final minute.

But Yao set a huge screen that opened Steve Francis for a tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime.

Overtime: O'Neal delivered two statement dunks sandwiched around a tough reverse bank shot to keep the Lakers close.

But with 10.2 seconds left, Yao got the dunk that counted most in the Rockets' win.