I originally want to just post this in the Official Thread of Yao Ming's 2006 Summer Activities. But I think it warrants a separate thread for further debates and discussions. My question is the same as the writer has: Can Yao ?
Yao and "The other Coach K" are right, the Chinese basketball officials and the pro clubs need to get their heads out of their asses and send the more talented young player to overseas leagues. When I saw Yao in 2001 during a Sharks game in Shanghai, the competition was so bad taht the big guy looked flat out bored out there. The same bad competition is hindering the career of a other young players rightnow. Problem probably is that all the local clubs don't wan't to lose their star attractions and would rather hinder the development of the youngsters and of the national team just to make a few more bucks.
I think it's the government that prevents them from going overseas?? I could be wrong. I know that Chen Jianhua wants to train in the US, but they won't let him..
hm, i wish yao wouldn't play so early. wasn't he supposed to hold off until mid august? gay if you ask me....
You just wasted another few second posting in this thread. If I'm right you are not good at accounting.
I may be wrong, too... It's just a hunch, though, on my part. The central basketball authorities have more incentives to want a player overseas than the local clubs. Having a high visibility star in the NBA (like Yao) is good for the overall popularity of basketball in China (I think the domestic basketball league has gotten more popular since Yao's move in 2002, correct me if I'm wrong), but not so great for the player's old team (Yao's Shanghai Sharks have floundered since his move). Then again, even the central bball authorities seems to think that hiring a foreign coach and having the national team play some exhibition matches vs Euro teams is enough to prep their players for the big international competitions. So may be their heads are up their asses, too. In any case, some of China's top players, whether young like Yi and Chen or the vets like Wang Zhizhi and Bateer really should go play in the NBA or one of the better European leagues if the national team wants to make any kind of noise in international competitions. Incidentally, Chen's work ethics and attitude have been questioned by his coaches in Guangdong... I'm guessing it might just be boredom.. why work hard when you are already better than everyone you play against?
What's accounting have to do with it? I think it's more related to economics (how to use the scarce resources which is the poster's time in this case). Correct me if I am wrong here.
Depend on how you look at it. Accountants are good in numbers. So I assume calculating the seconds in term of plus and minus is in the field of accountants.
Yao Ming, on CCTV5: "The only way for China to become a basketball power is to improve League competition." China doesn't play basketball so the NBA can make money.
Then send them to Maccabi Tel Aviv. Chinese league play could be significantly better in 20 years with experience from different leagues OR in 120 years without it. Your choice. MLS soccer is doing the same thing. The best American players right now are overseas - but you can't deny that the domestic league is headed in the right direction. Chinese league basketball now is where the MLS was 10 years ago. Yao's right, domestic play needs to be better; but it doesn't mean that China doesn't need help - from NBA or Euro.
Let's be quite honest, the MLS is NOWHERE near the top level competitions, nor is the US soccer team close to being top level. In fact, the only reason for the marginal improvement in US soccer is because they have the MONEY to bring better players from overseas, a plan which isn't very realistic for the CBA today. Sending players overseas improves the domestic league how? If the best players play overseas, it would further reduces league competition, unless you are suggesting bundling the whole league over the Israel, Europe, the US or what have you, which is obviously impossible if your players aren't too good to be selected by foreign teams in the first place. It's actually funny that you think they'd improve in 20 years when in fact Chinese basketball was BETTER, by quite a bit too way back in the 80's compared to where they are today, except Yao Ming of course. And let's also be quite honest. China is far from the only country looking out for its own league. The way NASCAR b1tches about even holding races in Japan or bringing foreign car makers (many of which much better the domestic US car makers) into the competition shows it's all the same. Yet somehow when the same thing comes up regarding China, it becomes a cardinal sin.
"Headed in the right direction" != "top level competition" I was pointing out that they're better than they were 10 years ago. Yes, the league is open to foreigners (that's the main difference I overlooked) but the money is only enough to raise the competition floor, not cieling. How many serious soccer players are going to leave Latin America to play in a worse league and be payed less than a 15 year old? We're not talking about how they used to be, it's about how they are currently. US Soccer used to be good in the 40s. So what? Time (20 years) by itself is not a reason for decline, just like it won't be a reason for improvement. A different philosophy (not the only factor) will be able to affect change, that's what will show over time. The proposition here is that Chinese basketball has stagnated and a change in the Chinese basketball development philosophy could lead to more immediate improvement. There's also a difference between completely depleting your league of talent and allowing players to outgrow the league. Removing the best player promotes parity. If Yao (at his current skill level) was still in the CBA the title would be a foregone conclusion every year and he'd carry 90% of the team's W/L responsibility. Since he has left Shanghai the team has floundered, but it leaves room for another player to grow into a star. If there are other players that have outgrown the CBA (possibly Yi Jainlian) then it might suit the league to allow them to play overseas. China is obviously allowed to look out for it's own league - but like you said - they used to be good 20 years ago and now they're not. Clearly their model isn't working. You don't want to be incestuous like NASCAR - and no one's saying that all the leagues in the United States are 100% correct. The NHL had it's lockout, the NFL is "ballet on turf", and the MLB is possibly the only league dirtier than track and cycling COMBINED. Also I drive a Toyota, and it is better. But 20 years ago, it wasn't.
i say China need to let their top players play in euro or NBA. if the chinese teams are no concern with losing stars attraction, then they should hire players from NBA or euros. you have all the undraftees left over from nba that are either playing in the NDba or in euro, well, why not in china?
First of all, I don't know how you can consider bringing in foreign players and increasing the bottom level not helpful in raising the top level. You are not just raising the abilities of the worst players. You are raising the level of the ENTIRE competition. Secondly, let's be quite honest. Other than a handful of players, most Americans are playing in 2nd tier competition in Europe or rotting on the bench on first tier teams. Certainly, they can learn some training techniques. But just watching and not playing helps their game how? It is the same concern for the CBA when it allows its players go abroad. Also, even in soccer there is often high levels conflict between the national sides and professioinal clubs in allowing players to return to national duties. Considering how some here b1tches and bemoans about Yao playing for his national team, what makes you think it would be any different with other Chinese players. As I've said already (this is true for other foreign leagues as well), China doesn't play basketball so the NBA can make money. Thirdly, I think you don't know too much about Chinese basketball. Chinese basketball in the 70's and 80's WERE NOT professional. Professional league (the CBA) is a new animal since the 90's. Unless you are arguing that professional leagues staunts players' growth, I don't know what your point is. It doesn't make any indications as to whether Chinese basketball's cirrent system (ie. hiring foreign coaches/trainers) etc isn't working. And what does it matter whether Toyota is better 20 years ago? The fact is, NASCAR still DOESN'T allow foreign car makers and/or races held on foreign tracks (other than Mexico) today.
Not a Toyota fan huh? That's a shame. You have to admit though, you like at least one thing about Toyota ... that the Rockets play at the Toyota Center and not in some other city. Anyway, I'm not convinced that the CBA shouldn't allow it's players to play in other leagues. It worked for Yao. And you're not convinced that allowing players outside the CBA is the answer. We've both made our points and from here on out it's just nitpicking at different examples. So i'm going to drop it. Thanks for playing.
