Is it just me, or does it seem there's a lot of backlash against Ming?

i hear ya, i get that same feeling. it sucks, but as rocket fans i think we're used to it by now. is there ever a time when local radio isn't talking crap about the rockets? we just need to win and shut everyone up.

 

It's not just you, CK. Ignorance is bliss... there's a lot of happy chumps eager to slam Yao and the Rocks. They'll get over it. ;-)

 

I'm with you, Crisco. It is frustrating. Everyone everywhere seems to be bashing Ming lately as if it was the "in" thing to do. Every sees that he is is 7'5 and can shoot, so he immediately becomes a Rik Smits type player, at best. Sometimes I wish I had attempted to become a sports writer...doesn't seem too very difficult judging by the success of some of these morons.

 

I know exactly what you are talking about.

Last night I was listening to Todd Wright on ESPN radio, and he was going on and on about how the Rockets should let somebody else take the gamble. He said that with the first few picks of the draft, you should take the player with the least question marks...also he asked the question of when has a player as tall as Ming made a significant impact in the league?

I totally understand casual fans having their doubts, and although glynch's thread was closed about this, I think it also could have to do with mistrust of the Chinese and prejudice among SOME people (maybe more than we would be willing to admit).

BUT, what I do not excuse (in addition to the possibility of race being an issue), is that media people, specifically media people whose job it is to cover sports, are so UNEDUCATED in terms of Ming's game. It makes me wonder how they get along without doing the research.

If Todd Wright took the time to seek out footage of Ming, I doubt he would have the same opinion. He would realize that the fact that nobody of Ming's size has amounted to anything in the NBA, is indeed what can make him so special. I doubt anyone can watch that clip of him stealing the ball at halfcourt and then dribbling down to flush it, and then turn around and mention him in the same breath as Shawn Bradley.

My rant is now finished as well.

 

Yao Ming will shut everyone up at the World Championships.

 

Jealousy can be so ugly

 

This is just my observation but going by what you hear from callers to 610 radio in Houston, there are many African-American males in Houston who seem to have a big problem with the idea of a non-African-American being drafted No. 1. Many of them appear to have a problem with any non-black NBA player. Call it what you will.......

 

No, I think there's a lot of backlash against you *and* Ming...

Ok seriously now... yea I agree, I think there are a lot of people who're hoping Yao will fail, simply because people like seeing car accidents. Nothing would be more enjoyable for the vast majority of NBA fans than to see Troy's predictions to come true: an implosion of the Houston Rockets team, followed by a teary confession on national TV by CD that he's a bad, bad man.

But I think that will change once Yao gets here. His personality will convince the band-wagoners that there's more entertainment in cheering him on, rather than hoping for his failure.

 

It really sucks when people question his aggressiveness or talk about how soft the CBA might be when they haven't seen a CBA game in their life. Im not going to sit here and say based on what I've seen he is good/bad for this team because just as everyone else its no where near an educated assessment. But I believe people that have witnessed the game in China and the players first hand really tell the story. I posted this chronicle story a few days ago but I think its appropriate for this topic.

Houston Chronicle

 

I live in Atlanta and I haven't heard 1 good thing about Yoa yet. Doesn't matter though, I could care less what everyone thinks.

 

Don't even GO there! Blaming this backlash on black people is ignorant. The majority of the "experts" are white. Rick Majerus is white. Mark Cuban is white. Don Nelson is white. How do you explain that? I just find it interesting that you actually think there's a conspiracy by black people to downgrade Ming. You think all black people are racist against Ming!?

 

The NBA Draft is on TNT tonight. In the past some of the personalities that have participated on their show include the likes of Hubie Brown, Rick Majerus, Charles Barkley, Rick Patino, and John Thompson and of course the host Ernie Johnson.

We already know that Majerus and Barkley are not that high on Ming. So be prepared for their negative comments on Ming tonight on the draft if they are there. Don't let them get you down. I am a big Hubie Brown fan so I hope he will come through for us with positive comments on Ming.

I have generally found that those that know MORE about Ming have favorable things to say about him and those that don't know much about him tend to just generalize about him. It is about ignorance. People that truely have "informed" opinions tend to be the ones I most care about and those "informed" opinions have many positive things to say about Ming.

Chris

 

I just hope someone is saving some of these articles talking about Yao like he's Yinka Dare or something.

 

What I usually do Deuce is turn on the radio and listen to their coverage of it along with T.V. Fox, and especially ESPN, do a great job of covering the draft.

 

I feel ya. I guess is 100 people at out there doing something
he is the type of guy to point out the 12 black guys doing it.

90% of the callers to 610 are white and absolutely HATE the idea
of drafting Ming. . one even say he'd be a Rocket fan IF THEY DON'T
PICK HIM!!

Rocket River

 

Some people are not sold on how well he is going to adapt to the physical play and NBA style of play. At first I was against the idea of drafting him but hey, what can you do. I'm optimistic but i'm not going to pencil the Rockets in the playoffs just because we draft Ming. The Rockets have ALOT of issues to face (esp defense and how play it for 48 min. The bottom line is people are afraid of the unkown and right now alot of people don't know exactly what we are getting. Its a fair argument. The only way to shut them up is on the court.

 

I agree with the main sentiment that all I hear is negatives about Yao when 90% of them have never seen him play. I was convinced before I saw the 4 min footage of him that he was the right choice. After seeing it I am totally convinced. Man the moves he made are freaking unbelievable.

Can't wait until he's tearing up the league and all Rocket fans can say I told you so.

 

Don't even GO there! Blaming this backlash on black people is ignorant. The majority of the "experts" are white. Rick Majerus is white. Mark Cuban is white. Don Nelson is white. How do you explain that?

My original post only addressed AA callers to one radio station in Houston. Your question doesn't directly reply to that post but rather goes off on an unrelated tangent. I assume b/c you have no actual direct response.

I just find it interesting that you actually think there's a conspiracy by black people to downgrade Ming. You think all black people are racist against Ming!?

I don't think it's a conspiracy just a group prejudice. And, I would not phrase it so narrowly as you do. I don't see it as anti-Chinese, I see it as anti-any-non-AA. To state it more succinctly for you, my observation is that the majority of AA males who phone into the radio station mentioned do not think non-blacks have NBA caliber skills.

I realize the politically incorrect nature of this idea may anger or frustrate some of the more sensitive posters and I'm sorry for that. But that doesn't mean it's not true or worthy of a discussion. Besides, I didn't ask the original question, I was only responding with a quick observation based upon a narrow survey.

 

I love how everyone thinks that the NBA level of competition is so high and mighty these days.......our dream team struggled with a couple international teams and nearly lost to Lithuania.....sorry if it's not spelled correctly.

The big man is about as abundant as the dinosaur, so a project like Ming shouldn't even be questioned IMO.
Especially when there are so many talented 2 guards and small fowards either currently in the League, or will be in the future.


Anyway, I'd say go with Ming, but the main issue of Ming practically playing year round worries me.
At 28/29/30, I don't want him to be either tired of the game, or just plain tired and his body just begins to give up on him.