Here is an article from http://www.woai.com Yao Ming’s showdown with Shaq the talk of the country, and is it just me or is this guy totally over hyped. Yao scores ten points against the Lakers. Six real early and then wasn't heard from again until late. Shaq meanwhile goes for 31, totally takes over in overtime, abusing Yao for a dunk, but since Houston won, Yao is the talk of every highlight show in America. He's good going to be very good, but when asked to compare Yao to other centers. The admiral didn't give out names like Hakeem, Ewing, or even O’Neal. “If I had to compare him to anybody it would be like a Rik Smits sort of player, but potentially better than Rik Smits,” explains David Robinson. “If you watch him on TV he doesn't move like he's that big. But he's got good size hips and legs, a good base and that really helps against some of the players. I mean you saw him against Shaq he held his ground pretty good.” Pretty good, is accurate Yow's getting way to much hype for his production? Yao's numbers comparable to Rik Smits, not David or Shaq as a rookie. Look at David’s season averages - 24 and twelve that's hall of fame, 13 and eight is not. Yao is simply the product of David stern's marketing machine. There is no way he should be starting in the all-star game - debatable if he's the best rookie much less best center. Stern and the NBA see millions of fans in china, and billions of dollars. Truth is. Yao is a 13 pt, nine rebound rookie nothing more, nothing less. In the marketing world he's Refrigerator Perry. But let's not get popularity confused with ability. The ESPN's of the world are quick to point out his 23 pt twelve rebound games, but they quietly ignore the eight point four rebound nights that happen just as often. The other night against Shaq, he had conquered the world with ten points, ten boards. In other words just another Rik Smits kinda night. That's my point. Email me yours at ExtraPoint@Ticket760.com or call me on SportsTalk San Antonio from 4 to 7pm.
