http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/topstory2/1621395 Oct. 17, 2002, 1:43PM Rockets say work to seal Yao Ming deal is done By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle PHOENIX, Ariz. -- The Yao Ming watch is over. Rockets general counsel Michael Goldberg said today that the work freeing the NBA's top draft pick to play for the Rockets was completed early today Houston time and needs only an exchange of faxes. Calling the many steps necessary to bring Yao to Houston "finished," Goldberg said Yao is scheduled to leave Shanghai and arrive in Houston on Sunday, following a lavish local celebration and sendoff on Saturday in China. "I'm very proud of our organization and the work we've done to get this finished," Goldberg said. "I have felt positive that we would get to this stage. But with almost every day people asking me if the big man is here yet, it's a tremendous relief to finally be able to say 'yes.'" "Every day, for the last three weeks, I would get a call from CD (Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson) telling me that the big man hasn't showed up yet. I'll be happy on Sunday, when the call is the big man is here." Dawson said he never was concerned that Yao would not receive clearance after the Asian Games, which concluded on Monday, but that he did feel better when Yao's mother, Fendgi Fang arrived in Houston last week. "That was just our joke. It's how we started every conversation: 'Here's the camp report. He's not here,' " Dawson said. "Her showing up calmed me down quite a bit. But going over there, everything went so well, I was pretty confident the way things would go." "I felt after our trip that we would get him. That's why we drafted him; we felt we would get him. But Mike felt like when he translated the last deal, he liked the way it read and would get done quickly." Goldberg, speaking from Seoul, South Korea, where he was tending to unrelated matters, said he had just reached agreements with China Basketball Association commissioner Xin Langchen on the language of their agreements. He said that will allow the CBA to forward the release needed to validate Yao's contract and allow Yao to play for the Rockets. Goldberg said he expected to receive the contract to sign Friday morning Korea time (at about 8 p.m. today in Houston) and would then return it to Xin for his signature. Goldberg said he planned to bring the release with him when he returned to Houston on Friday. Yao agreed last week to a four-year, $17.8 million contract (including an option year). "We have been working on this all week," Goldberg said. "A few hours ago, we reached agreement on the terms for the release. In a few hours I will sign the agreement, send it back to the commissioner, he will sign it and send it back to me here. "We reached the final agreement on the release. The paperwork will be finished sometime today. But we're done. We're done." Yao averaged 32.4 points, on 72.1 percent shooting, and 19 rebounds last season in the CBA. He averaged 21 points, on 75.3 percent shooting, and 9.3 rebounds, in eight games in the World Championships last month in Indianapolis. "He's got a lot to learn," Dawson said. "It's a different situation, a different league. The sooner he gets here, the better it will be for us and for him. Fortunately, he's a smart player and a quick learner."
Glad to get some confirmation on WHEN he will be here. So it looks like Yao Ming will be in Houston on SUNDAY. I guess then there is a chance he could get a few minutes in the Tuesday Oct 22nd game. Chris
Sunday is the 20th. This is what Rockets officials have been claiming the entire time. The Chinese media thought the arrival date would be the 22nd. Yet another knock on their credibility. I'm looking forward to Yao being over here -- I think it will clear up this HUGE misinformation problem we've been having with the Chinese.
Uh, yea, because the American media has been so thorougly accurate with the Yao Ming case for the past half year. Yao Ming has been quoted in the past few days, repeatedly and without any discrepancy, as saying he believes he "should" be leaving the 21st. That's been the extent of Chinese commentary on the matter. We'll find out this weekend who was right. I doubt Yao Ming purchases his own plane tickets, and I doubt any of these plans are written in stone. But regardless, you need to get off your anti-Chinese media (anti-China?) kick... since I've seen you post this almost identical message multiple times. It's undeserved.
If he leaves Shanghai, I find (on the Internet; yes, I'm bored)... ...a flight leaving Shanghai Pu Dong Airport at 3:55 p.m. on the 20th. The flight stops in San Francisco, then he would transfer (no direct connections) either to Continental Flight 430 and arrive in Houston at 7:36 p.m. on the 20th (we've discussed this funky International Date Line thing) or to Air China Flight 6111 and arrive at 11:04 p.m. I would obviously bet on the earlier flight, in bold. That's what the Internet gives me, anyway. Any of you in Houston gonna greet The Big Tired when he gets here? (If they don't just whisk him away in a limo, that is.) Or someone with a cell-phone can stake out Rudy on the 20th. I don't know if I can trust travelocity.com.
As the season that ends the Dream! Is the season that the Dynasty's begins! Look out NBA there,s a NEW big man in town and it all starts next week. Every Rockets fan loved the Dream....As every Rocket fan welcomes Yao Ming the next big man in town....
I hope he is here by Sunday morning our time. That way he can just be at the Compaq Center for the Magic game. No need to play the tired big fellow, but I just wanna see him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yea, Last news I heard was that the Rox would have a chartered plane to take him from Cali to Houston..Maybe he will finally be able to stretch out after being in a commercial plane. Even if he's in 1st class, how comfortable could he be?..
From ESPN, about the same stuff. Yao given permission by CBA to come to U.S. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press HOUSTON -- Yao Ming has cleared all the hurdles necessary to begin his NBA career with the Houston Rockets, his agent, Erik Zhang, confirmed Thursday. "I think it's done,'' Zhang said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. "We're trying to get him to Houston Sunday or Monday. We're ecstatic. This is great. Everything has turned out great.'' Yao was the Rockets' first pick in the NBA draft and has been playing internationally for the Chinese national team. He has missed Rockets training camp, including their first five preseason games. "He's not going to miss any regular-season games,'' Zhang said. "He'll have 10 days to get ready, although he missed a lot of time in training camp.'' The Rockets host the San Antonio Spurs Sunday in a preseason game. After completing his obligations with his national team in China, Yao had to give assurances that he would return for future international events. "Yao has signed an agreement with the CBA (China Basketball Association) basically affirming his responsibilities as a national team player,'' Zhang said. "Houston has reached agreement with the CBA on various issues. The key was allowing Yao to play for the national team.'' Zhang said Yao's mother already is in Houston and that his father will travel with the 7-foot-6 center. "The plans are for his mother to stay for the season to help him in his adjustment,'' Zhang said. "His father will stay for about a month and then return to China.'' The last hurdle was thought to be a release from the international basketball organization (FIBA), but apparently that was not the case. "Yao informed me that the CBA told him it is not necessary to wait for the release from FIBA because it is forthcoming and that he has fulfilled his national team obligations for now and he is free to go to Houston and they wish him the very best,'' Zhang earlier told Houston television station KRIV. Yao already has received his visa and signed his allegiance to the CBA, also requirements to become a Rocket. Michael Goldberg, a Rockets attorney, told the Houston Chronicle and KRIV by telephone from Seoul, South Korea, that he has worked out the terms of Yao's release and the signing was expected early Friday morning in China, which is Thursday evening in Houston. "I'm very proud of our organization and the work we've done to get this finished,'' Goldberg told the Chronicle. "I have felt positive that we would get to this stage. But with almost every day people asking me if the big man is here yet, it's a tremendous relief to finally be able to say 'yes.' "Every day, for the last three weeks, I would get a call from (Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson) telling me that the big man hasn't showed up yet. I'll be happy on Sunday, when the call is the big man is here.'' Yao has agreed to a four-year, $17.8 million contract, including an option year. "The paperwork will be finished sometime (Thursday),'' Goldberg said. "But we're done. We're done.''
I'm just happy it's all done with. I just hope has not too jet lagged to play in the Orlando preseason game. I heard they are at least going to put him in uniform if they can.
