A Chinese reporter sat beside Rudy at that game and observed every reaction and listened every word of Ruby during the game. Rudy: "I am very satisfied about Ming. He gave me a great surprise. He can play NBA right now." "I don't like those players who don't care about what is happening on the court when they are substituted and sitting on the bench. Yao is a great player. He cares everything on the court. Many times, you can find the weakness of opponents when you sit beside the court." "This is not a basketball game. It is more like a wrestling. I was worried that Yao cannot adapt the rough NBA games. But now, you see, he is fine. He can play NBA games right now." When Number 23 hit Ming's back heavily with his elbow and grasped the rebound, Ming just took a look at the ref and didn't say anything. Rudy said, "Nobody can keep calm when he is pushed and fouled by opponents for a whole game. Yao can do this. He is more mature than I thought. He can adapt NBA completely." http://sports.sohu.com/86/85/sports_news164808586.shtml
Rudy thought the Canadian game was more physical than the average NBA game and he was so pleased that Yao had handle it very maturely. Great stuff. Thanks for the link w&s
3814, I can read Chinese. w&s didn't make this up. Rudy also said that he didn't want to give too much praise to Yao. He said what Yao needed now was not praises but objective critiques and advices to help him fit into the NBA as fast as possible.
windandsea, you are a fountain of much appreciated knowledge. Keep it up! We're just getting more excited about the season here. I can't wait to see Yao in a Rockets uniform (even the terrible ones we have now!).
3814 bow down in front of W&S and say you sorry.... j/k damn it just a charity game and the canadian played so damn real and rough>
No wonder he has such huge legs. Imagine how much effort it takes for a player his size to get out of a chair that low to the ground!!
It will be nice to have another guy that deals with officiating the way that Eddie Griffin does it. Ming and Eddie are so calm and cool the refs will never have anything to get mad at them about.
Look at that! No wonder Yao can't get any touches. His point guard is that "makin' copies" guy from Saturday Night Live.
