If there's nothing in heart, it won't matter what is in brain.

I'm not suggesting that Yao is only smart but has no heart of a champian. I know he has, just hasn't shown it here. Year 2002, Shanghai Shark met "8.1 Rocket" in the CBA final. Before those games Yao said to the media that those Rocket players, mostly his own teammates in the national team whom he loved and respected, were just "a bunch of old dudes". After the final was over he explained that there's no offense. He said that just to encourage himself and his team because that's the last chance for him to lead the team winning a CBA champainship. He really wanted it.

And he got it, with a full-hearted monster performance.

There're couple of things now that I have problem with --

1) "Yao is the pride of China. He's also the bridge between 2 cultures." Yes he's done a great job in that which I'm very proud and thankful. But now it's time to put those burdens down. Just being himself is good enough. He can not always carry the pride of all Chinese, and he doesn't have to. He should start to focus only on basketball itself. As much as I love this guy, I really want his career to be successful. It's unfair to put too much other pressure on him.

2) Yao's favorite computer game. I know it's rude to comment on other people's hobby. But that game (don't know how to say it in English, sorry) requires much thinking which can move your focus away from the business. Of course that's a good way to release the intension, good for health. Letting intension to build up is dangerous. It could destroy a person. But if you keep running away from it, you never have the chance to really face that challenge and overcome it. I know it's tough and unfair, but at my understanding, that's the only way to achieve greatness.

Well maybe it's just I suck in gaming and that game doesn't actually require thinking. In that case I appologize for saying this.

3) Yao's attitude towards Shark. 3 years entering the NBA he is still joking about where Shark will retire. Yao really shouldn't be that humble because he's not that great yet. I know he tries hard everytime he meets Shark. But he needs to speak out loud about beating Shark, leave himself no room to hide, then he may really beat Shark. Even if he eventually fails, so what, he'll still gain the respect.

4) In his CBA career Yao had a clear goal -- to beat Wang Zhizhi and the "8.1 Rockets". That drove him progress everyday. Now Yao still seems quite lost. I wish he already have a clear and reachable target. Just concentrate on that, put all the effort in, then success, pride, money ... will be just side affect. NBA champainship and 2008 Olympic medal won't seem so far away like right now.


Houston has done a lot for Yao Ming. The team was built around him. Majory of fans here still love him and enjoy any of his good game. As valueable as he is, I think Yao is still lucky to be in Houston. It's never questionable that Yao has a heart for the team, but hopefully he also realize that he need to develop the heart of a leader to carry the team to next level. T-Mac would love that, so would CD, Sura, the team, and us fans. If he doesn't make it here, he ain't make it anywhere.

 

Sorry I failed to find a place in those 500,000 Rockets threads to hide my post which make you post twice against this . I started this thread because I think that I have a point and also Yao's development is important to the team. Maybe to you it isn't.


Thanks for R2K's remind. Though I called Shaq 'Shark' because that's his nick name in China.