http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...ary_nicole_nazzaro/08/05/yao.china/index.html How some of the so-called Rox Fan don't appreciate Yao more than they do. It still baffles me how people label him "soft". Well to me soft = no heart. But this guy is ALL HEART. Just cuz he doesn't go "ghetto" doesn't mean he's less of a man. And in fact, it probably makes him even more of one.
Any gigantic center that's not strong and athletic like shaq or dwight will be seen as soft by many people who just want a center to bully others. Yao has plenty of heart and is pretty strong, he just will not play dirty. He will just dominate by scoring on you at will. I like that.
I feel for the slaughter China is going to get from team USA and like of Kobe, Lebron, Wade and Howard. Too much firepower!
Yao will never be accepted as dominant to a lot of people because the fundamentals of his game aren't always evident to the "sportscenter and streetball mentality fans". IMO Howard plays against weaker competition most of the year and I'm sorry the dunk contest antics are right up Shaqs alley. Look at me..... I'm big and strong. Make a free throw both of you and Dwight that was not a dunk, it was a throw in. Once again people are enamored with the sportscenter mentality. Its sad to say but the only way Yao is going to get his props is to obtain the hardware..... it happened to Dream.... and he was doing it for years and they still rode Shaqs jock, until......he added another ring. That's entertainment.
I want Yao and China to fall flat on their face and be completely and utterly embarassed by the US team.
Ghettocheeze, team USA better bring defense and a jumpshot if they intend on guaranteeing anything. Just like in the NBA if you force these guys to shoot jumpers the whole game you stand a great chance of beating them. I expect you to have better sense from my tax dollars.
The soft label probably comes from the fact that people hit him the whole game, every game....yet he doesn't give it back. I'm not advocating dirty play, but a drop step with an elbow in the chest or neck of a defender who is draped all over him would help to rid him of that label. When Okur fouls over and over with no call, Yao has to pay him back with a similar blow. He's a quiet, respectful, gentle giant. It's who he is. But soft may be an accurate label in some respects too.
"Soft" refers to his toughness and demeanor on the basketball court during games. Very few question Yao's character or how hard he works out, practices and prepares for games.
kareem was pretty soft and had a good amount of winning. This argument is not worth it because no matter how hard or soft a guy is, if his team doesn't win it all it means nothing! So as of right now since USA didn't win the gold in the last olympics or other tournaments afterward they are soft and losers.....coming from a houston born and raise American.
Soft is the rockets since 1996...... so this team was soft before Yao. I remember a couple days ago a thread Yao was dunking on guys and it wasn't that soft. If he's not throwing it down in peoples faces he's soft we get it........ Bill Russell was the softest of all time I guess?
The "soft" discussion regarding Yao goes WAY beyond that. Maybe you haven't been on the forum long enough. Tracy is also "soft". This is part of why so many are excited about getting Artest.
There's a fine line between "hard" and looking like an idiot. Although "hard" to most people just means beating your chest and yelling after making a shot. Is Amare "hard" or "soft"? To me, he's easily soft. The guy turns his head and runs away from contact or playing defense. Just because he throws down easy dunks, he avoids being called soft.
NIce article... on the other hand, i notice how most of the time they put the most unflattering and ugly pictures of yao on these articles, is the man really that un-photogenic?
when you're a 7'5" highly skilled center and opposing midget PGs are not afraid to layup the ball in front of you, or give you a hard foul, or even try to swat the ball away from your hand, you're soft
A 3po i've been in the forum long enough to know "soft posters" and watched enough basketball to know being "hard" isn't what makes you a winner. This argument is so overplayed....I mean Dream was soft compared to Shaq, c'mon! Name 5 other hard players besides Shaq, Howard, Artest...... I guarantee they are debatable on alot of different levels....oh this guy is tough but he can make a jumpshot, free throw or layup......5 players....thats all i want to hear and we can go from there.
