Thanks for the translation. If the man's game matches his poise in an interview, his selection of responses, then WOWSERS for Scola/Morey/Rox. Many Q/A's I appreciated, this perhaps the most? Are you aware that that you are going to be sharing the court with with two authentic stars of this sport: Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady? - They are really two great superstars and everything is going to be worked around them. We must try to help them in the best way possible so that the game is easier for them.
Here is another article Luis Scola article - El Clarin July 21, 2007 <i>Basketball: The Houston forward will be the eighth Argentinean in the NBA; however, prior to arriving he will partake in the pre-Olympic qualifiers.</i> <b>Luis Scola: “Now I am only going to think about the National team” </b> “We are going to have a very competitive team” he said about the Las Vegas tournament. At the present time, the word that describes Luis Scola’s mood is happiness. The Argentinean forward just arrived back from Houston where he signed a contract for three years for 9.5 million dollars and attended a press conference where he then gave this interview with el clarin. The Ferro ex-player discussed his new career with the Rockets and of the current status of the Argentine national team. <b>What was the first thing that you felt after you signed with Houston?</b> - I was very happy. It was a very positive trip, which in principle I did planned in doing as it didn’t seem necessary. However, the truth is that I am glad that I went, because I did very productive things in this trip. But from here and on I am only going to think about the national team. <b>How much does it change things in the end that the team that you will be playing for is Houston instead of San Antonio?</b> - Nothing could have been done on the matter. The situation was as such and I believe that it was solved in the best possible way. It is a good team and with a beautiful city. I couldn’t have asked for more. <i>The 2004 Olympic champion (Athens) is referring to the situation when San Antonio obtained his rights in the 2002; but due to financial reasons an agreement between the champions of the NBA and the TA, where Scola played, could not be reached which prevented him from joining his friends Emanuel Ginóbili and Fabricio Oberto.</i> <b>What do you think of Houston as a team?</b> - I believe that it is a great team and that we are now going to have a competitive team. <b>Did you ever think that if it did not occur now, that it would never had happened?</b> - It was possible, more than nothing because of my age (27 years). I don’t want absolutely rule it out, because you never know how things may work out. But I am sure that this one was the best opportunity presented. <i>On the other hand, the runner-up world champs (Indianapolis 2002), emphasized on those players of the national team, who decided not to play for pre-Olympic qualifiers (August 22nd through September 2nd). “I don’t have anything to say. I understand and respect their decisions, but I believe that it does not serve its purpose to continue speaking of this subject because we are still going to have a very competitive team”.</i> <b>Was your commitment to the team in the Las Vegas tournament ever in doubt?</b> - I have always said yes to the national team and my presence was guaranteed. It just happens that they never asked me. <b>Do you think that if the national team gets an automatic spot for the Olympic Games of Beijing, people are going to say that this was what they had to expected of the team and if the team does not qualify that people will use the excuse that so many of the Argentinean star player refused to play?</b> - The truth… I don’t know what people are going to say. What I do is that some will be very critical and others will be very supportive. I imagine, there will be a little bit of everything. Equally, I believe that we have a good team and that we have a good possibility of qualifying.
What a refreshing difference between Scola and Spanoulis. Spanoulis was saying how the Rockets promised him minutes. Scola when asked: "I don't know" and it depends on how he plays. I like that he's realistic about having to adjust to the NBA, that he has to prove himself again in a new league, that there willl be an adjustment period, and his job is to help Yao and Tmac. From the translation, he sounds very well-spoken. He bob and weaves through some of the questions like he's an attorney...i.e. saying the info about price of buyout was privileged and also dodging questions about San Antonio's handling of him. Any chance Scola becomes a borderline all-star on the level of Ginobli?
LOL at some of you revisionists comparing the *characters* of VSpan and Scola. VSpan was nowhere near a malcontent in the preseason, and we heard nothing about his insistence on playing major minutes when we signed him up. It's alway good to hear sweet talks from a new Rocket, but don't we know any athlete with a brain is capable of doing that nowadays. I have high hope for our Argentine player and I love him as much as the next guy on Rockets (except JL3). But Let's be honest with ourselves, it's still the preseason and talk is cheap.
