The following are some of the high points from an interview that was just conducted on ESPN Radio's Dan Patrick show by guest host Chris Moore and Rob Dibble: On Yao: He speak a lot of English now, and you can't talk to him about things like the "latest cars," but if you want to talk basketball, he can understand you fine. On clubbing with Yao: He's one of the younger so doesn't go to clubs, I think he goes home with his parents after the games. On the Super Bowl: I didn't do much. I stayed in. There were too many people in this town. When asked if there were too many foreigners in his town: This ain't my town. It's JVG's town! On Van Gundy: Playing for JVG has been great for me. He's given me a starting position and a chance to show what I can do. Jeff's a great guy, and he's not all basketball all the time like you think, it's only about 90% of the time that he's all basketball. On the "rift" between JVG and SF: Steve is a great player in this league, and he's just trying to get point across. He's starting to learn it's going to be Jeff's way or no way. I don't view this as a problem. They get along fine. We actually do a lot of stuff off the court together as a team. On SF suspension: It cost him the game, but not us. We have a system where anybody can replace anybody at any time. We just got outplayed by the Suns. On suspension becoming a season long distraction: No, SF is the leader of our team. Regardless of how they get along, SF will do what he does and be one of the greatest players, and JVG will be one of greatest coaches. On his "Barry White-like" voice: Maybe I'll do broadcasting when I'm finished playing ball. I've never brought up to anybody. For now, I'm focused on being a better basketball player and on getting a new deal so I can be like one of these guys who's been around 10, 12 years. On his dad's voice: My dad had a great voice, too but he was always doing a lot of yelling to keep me out of trouble. Closing comment by Moore: JVG says Cato has taught Yao toughness and how to get it done in this league.
Man, Cato's reputation has really taken a turnaround thi slast season and a half. If he did an interview 2 years ago everyone would be dogging him (and not for anything in particular he'd say). I'm glad Cato doesn't have to hang his head in public anymore. Hopefully, I can say the same of Francis next season.
Silly contract aside, Cato's my favorite Rocket right now. The guy has really flourished under Van Gundy. Much like JJ, the guy just shuts up and does his job the best he can. A real star power forward would be great, but in the absence of one I think we really tend to forget how incredibly lucky we are that Cato has been able to step up as much as he has this season. Once he can hit that 15-footer consistently, I figure the contract won't seem so awful anymore. Sure, I think he can do it, but then again, I'm rooting for the guy.
Why does it take a NEW DEAL to stick around 10 or 12 years? How about just playing hard? He seems to be doing better than in previous years, but one sucker contract is enough, thank you.
Yao's parents need to let go. Looks like not every one considers Super Bowl to be a once in a life time event.
Now what kind of a question is this? I would think having foreigners would be good for Houston economically and help create some sort of diversity.
Yes Cato is one of my favorite players. Although he's a liablity on the offensive, his attitude & defense makes up for it this past 2 seasons. He's a quality backup center to Yao Ming. I can live without him showboating though. Also he's gotta stop complaining to refs every single plays... its get old after awhile.
Not everyone likes Vanilla ice-cream either... please get past this and just talk about BBall. Lionheart, I might be wrong, but I think it was a reference to people from other country coming in to see the SuperBowl.
Yeah, I should have specified more clearly here. By foreigners, the interviewer actually just meant people who do not live in Houston who were in town for the Super Bowl (of which I was one!). This was in response to Cato saying he stayed home because there were too many people around town. I too think Cato, along with Mo-T have really started to play better in the last year and a half or so. But let's not forget, these are the levels that we were expecting them to play at when we first signed them. By the standards of today's NBA, they are now just slightly overpaid as opposed to a few years ago when they would both easily be considered grossly overpaid. I hate to think where this team would be right now without the two of them. In the stretches where Yao is simply ineffective, Cato really does a fine job rebounding and playing defense, and Mo-T sometimes looks like the only Rocket that can score. No matter what you think about the guy, you have to admit he's a gifted offensive player (seems to get every roll, spin, bounce) and has even been improving on the rebounding. On a side note, one of my college friends used to call Cato "Baloo" after the bear character in the animated Jungle Book movie. Anyone else see the similarites in terms of unadulterated bulk or unprecedented lethargy?
Hard to believe this is "our" Cato. Major props on a good interview. Some of the other Rocks could take notes.
Something tells me that Mr Cato has blown all the money he has earn in the NBA up to the point. Yeah we will resign him $1.2 per season for 3 years.
I think cato realizes he doesn't deserve the deal he got right now, so he wanted a new deal that is more fair.
Yes, we're incredibly luck to have Cato getting 6 points and 7 boards on 43% shooting, while being so offensively inept as to allow opposing teams to play 5 on 4 on defense with impunity. His play has been slowly regressing as the season has worn on. And I think you'll see me out there consitently hitting the 15 ft jumper about as soon as you'll see Cato.
I really missed Kenny Thomas everytime they talked about Cato!! This is why? Kenny Thomas 11.7Pts 9.8Reb Kelvin Cato 6.2Pts 7.6Reb Now you know why, past is hunting me!!
