I saw several sports sections of the local news in the New York area. Van Gundy has a lot of support in New york media and they all basically laugh at Mr. Stern.
It's not government-owned. Basically I just view them (those Chinese journalists) as intalented people who can only live on amusing people with NBA. If NBA is proved to be dirty, they will lose their income.
Calm down. Not all things are like what you thought. I don't see any reason that Chinese government wants to get involved in this issue. Unless something happens that really hurts Yao Ming. How Yao Ming came to US is another story. And I know a lot of Chinese media support JVG. The one, Sports Weekly, which is a very popular newpaper, decided not to back him up. Their journalists are with Stern - I think it is stupid. If they keep doing stupid things like this, I expect to see a large fall-down of their sales in the future.
I wrote a lengthy message, but before I was able to submit it around noon, it just disappeared To summerize my thought: I agree that Chinese government or officials would be very cautious to interfere such matters, unless Yao's seriously hurt or humiliated or mistreated. I agree with the notion you just mentioned. That particular newspaper, in my opinion, is not really freelancing media, it's supported and run and inline with official voice (I could be wrong). Same as those scandals in soccer and other sports, they were always on the side of offical stand, willingly or unwillingly. JVG stood up for Yao couragously, any basketball fan applauds that, no matter you are a Yao fan or not. However, right now, the heat is on JVG from Stern, which put Chinese counterpart of NBA officials in a difficult situation. To openly support JVG, they would offend Stern, which would affect their collaboration. To support Stern, certainly it's not in their interest on this matter, and it would be a slap on JVG who backs up Yao, their own man. I don't really buy the idea that sending Yao to NBA is to strengthen Chinese National Team. I would rather see that as a symbal to build the bridge, open the road for cooperation, business and sports wise. I think it's very possible, that some officials pick up the phone and talk to Stern or his assistants to raise their concerns, and also show respect to Sterm and maybe some fake understanding as well. But I certainly don't believe they would openly criticize him. What's the benefit? You drive him mad and force him to play the hard ball, maybe also play political or independent card. Americans, generally, don't like other people to tell them what to do (who does?), especailly, given the general consensus is not really fond of Chinese government. Of course, those are all my personal opinion and wild guesses. However, one thing I am pretty sure, general fans, Chinese or not, they are all on the side of JVG. The officiating problem in NBA is really reaching the point really outragous. We all want to see real compitition, and let the players decide the outcome of the games. It's especially painful to experience what we had in the series, being a Rockets fan and a Yao fan and a basketball fan.
Why do they need NBA players at the ref camp? Couldn't they get like college or development league players?
I assume we¡¯re talking about Chinese mainstream media. So let¡¯s check out where the Chinese mainstream media stands: ¡°Sports Weekly¡± (China¡¯s biggest sports newspaper): It¡¯s not in Stern and NBA¡¯s interest to initiate conspiracy to target Yao, so there is no such a thing as targeting; and it¡¯s always the losing side that gives the referees hard time. ¡°Basketball Vanguard¡± (China¡¯s biggest basketball-related newspaper): From its chief editor Su Qun: No black whistles (a slang which means bad calls made intentionally), no conspiracy, the bad calls in game 5 were more attributed to the pressure raised by Stern¡¯s presence in the game. Xu Jicheng (one of China¡¯s top bball experts who wrote articles for newspapers) : Had it not been for bad calls of the referees, Rockets should have beaten Mav 4:1, but at the end of the day it would be down to China¡¯s big market to decide which team will get to the second round. So he suggested all these fusses were about rating and Stern would finally worked Rockets through game 6,7 (I found this one ironic). Zhang Weiping (another bball expert and top commentator for CCTV¡¯s broadcasting of NBA games) : Yao is not targeted. I think Chinese media just missed the point here. What JVG intended to address was not the conspiracy but the fact that the referees actually succumbed to pressure outside the court and called players individually and that fact costed his team dearly. On the other hand, some of Chinese media people were still critical of JVG¡¯s way of utilizing Yao¡¯s strength and I think that¡¯s where the reserved tone came from. That¡¯s why I said Chinese media doesn't seem passionate to take JVG's side. Chinese fans, though, is another story.
everyone kind of been saying that JVG doesn't know what he's getting himself into but i have a feeling it's going to work the other way too. there is going to be a HUGE BACKLASH AGAINST STERN in all of this and could cost him his "job" as well.
Stern is pretty secure with the owners. They owe him big time for the explosive revenue growth of the NBA over the last 10+ years. They won't dump him over this because he has shown them the money. That said, Stern doesn't have many years left. After the CBA is finalized, he'll probably leave within a couple of years (on his own terms).
