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Translated Article of the Day: Sharks deny Yao Ming has Manager

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by heech, May 23, 2002.

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  1. heech

    heech Member

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    Link: http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2002-05-23/23276323.shtml

    From: 'dongfan tiyu ribao', Eastern Sports Daily (probably closely tied to the basketball club)

    Time: 05/23, 15:00 local time (05/22, 3 AM Houston)

    Title: Eastern [aka Shanghai Sharks] Men's Basketball Team Issues Statement Denying Yao Ming has Manager for the NBA Draft

    Yesterday, the second day after the NBA Draft lottery, Yao Ming's distant cousin in the United States Eric Zhang publically declared he received a telephone call from Rocket's General Manager Dawson. He also indicated that he welcomes contact from more teams, and that he has decided to return to China within the week to Basketball Center (Chinese basketball authorities) to negotiate Yao Ming's NBA agreement.

    This statement caught the attention of the highest levels of the Shanghai Sharks, since before now Yao Ming had publically announced that he did not need a manager (agent), and thus the Shanghai Sharks hadn't previously paid attention to Eric Zhang's spoken words. In view of this situation, the Shanghai Sharks executive in charge of the situation wants to issue some basic facts to clarify the situation.

    The basketball club executive indicates:

    "- From the basketball club's perspective, it only knows that Yao Ming's so-called "agent" Eric is his spokesperson (representative), and not his agent or manager. Thus, everything Eric and Professor John say should only be considered to represent their individual perspectives.

    - Next, the basketball club manager managing Yao Ming's draft and the basketball team has the final decision-making power. (Both of this refers to the Sharks.)

    - And again, whichever team wanting Yao Ming must have a relationship with the (Sharks) basketball club, in order to discuss the process of Yao Ming joining the team as well as other issues. Ultimately, the issue of whether Yao Ming can or cannot join the NBA must be decided according to basketball center (?) rules."

    As the NBA draft rights (order) become more clear, many teams have begun various "activities". Amongst these, many basketball teams have already established relationships with the Shanghai Sharks. As to the issue of where Yao Ming goes, it is too early to draft conclusions.

    In the United States, as soon as the NBA draft order came out, many experts have composed speculation on who will be selected first in the draft. These experts in general believe the Rockets will select Yao Ming, and the Bulls will select Jay Williams.

    American experts evaluating this year's draft are unified in using Yao Ming as a frame of reference for comparing other players, with even more confident Yao Ming will be selected in the first three picks. As far as where and how China's Yao Ming will finally join the NBA, the American media has unexpectedly interviewed Eric Zhang, who has also taken on the identity (role) of Yao Ming's manager in these interviews.

    In accepting an interview with the Houston local media, Eric Zhang said: "Mr. Dawson (Houston Rockets General Manager) gave me a phone call, telling us that the Rockets have great interest in Yao Ming." But the Shanghai Sharks executive indicated that the Shanghai Sharks has not actually received any phone calls from the Houston Rockets, and is thus now acting to clarify the truth to the public.

    And to repeat yet again, any team interested interested in drafting Yao Ming is welcomed by the Rockets, but while choosing Yao Ming must also discuss an agreement with the Sharks, for now Yao Ming's contract is still possessed by the Shanghai Sharks.

    It is also reported that the day before yesterday, the Shanghai Sharks discussed the issue with Yao Ming's parents. (ED: Chinese Parents are very significant in decisions such as this.) The Shanghai Sharks executive in charge indicates that there is no question whether Yao Ming will play basketball in the NBA, but everything must follow the rules stipulated by the Basketball Center. The basketball team will work very diligently to help Yao Ming play basketball overseas.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    And, my unofficial translation:

    The Houston Rockets needs to stop dealing with Eric Zhang except as a personal conatct for Yao Ming. I'm sure from the perspective of the Shanghai Sharks, they see too much attention paid to Eric to be a slight loss of face.

    I know from the Houston side, Yao Ming has been perceived as a draft pick... someone to be selected (and wooed in order to play well) to join the team. But Shanghai obviously sees this as closer to a trade deal, with the only distinction that the NBA team that actually takes up the other side of the trade still not yet determined.

    The Houston Rockets management will have to deal with Shanghai as soon as possible. I certainly recommend sending over an official envoy, and possibly inviting the head of the Shanghai Sharks over to Houston for a visit in the near future. The price will not be high for Yao Ming, in my opinion, but the Sharks believe it must still be paid, and to the right party.

    Anyone follow baseball? Remember, the Dodgers paid $11 million to a Japanese team for the *right* to even negotiate with Kazhuhisa Ishii. Houston has skipped over that step right into the negotiations with Yao Ming. Something to consider.
     
    #1 heech, May 23, 2002
  2. barbourdg

    barbourdg Member

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    Somebody needs to tell the sharks (stern) to kiss the NBA's ass.
     
    #2 barbourdg, May 23, 2002
  3. heypartner

    heypartner Member

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    thx for the translations heech...we need them all.

    Dammit Carroll and Eric. Don't step of their toes. They still own his contract. In China History 101, everyone knows that they take titles very seriously. You can't negotiate through someone who they don't acknowledge.

    btw: they have no problems with US agents. Yao was represented by Bill Duffy, and they talked to Falk too. See this article:

    http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200103/19/eng20010319_65358.html

    I have seen other articles where Bill Duffy is referred to as Yao's US Agent.

    Aside from a cultural faux pas in not properly announcing an US negotiator, these two paragraphs in heech's article remain a constant theme:

     
    #3 heypartner, May 23, 2002
    Last edited: May 23, 2002
  4. aelliott

    aelliott Member

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    <i>Anyone follow baseball? Remember, the Dodgers paid $11 million to a Japanese team for the *right* to even negotiate with Kazhuhisa Ishii. Houston has skipped over that step right into the negotiations with Yao Ming. Something to consider.</i>

    Baseball is a different set of rules. There's really nothing to negotiate on that point under NBA rules. The NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement limits that amount the Rockets could compensate Shanghai to $350,000. That point isn't negotiable.
     
    #4 aelliott, May 23, 2002
  5. heech

    heech Member

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    I don't really think financial compensation is the goal, anyways. Again, the team is owned by a company under the Shanghai government. Any reasonable amount that could be paid by the Rockets is pretty small fry compared to, say, the city budget.

    I think the real important stuff are the "priceless" assets a NBA team brings to the table.

    Access to NBA players, for one... (And everyone is laughing at the idea of, for example, sending Collier to China. Well, if Collier is given the option of receiving a NBA-calibre contract playing in China or being waived and playing in the NBDL... which would he take? The 12th best player on the Rockets' roster, whoever he is, being replaced by Yao Ming, I'd think might take the opportunity.)

    ... exhibition games, for another...

    ... co-marketing? co-training? ...

    Etc, etc.
     
    #5 heech, May 23, 2002
  6. DCkid

    DCkid Member

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    I thought the way this Eric Zhang guy has been carrying on seemed a little fishy to me. I mean, who the hell is he? A distant cousin? Does he have any connection to the Chinese Government or Shanghai Sharks? Doubtful.
     
    #6 DCkid, May 23, 2002
  7. Timing

    Timing Member

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    This is absolutely nothing like Ishii. Foreign players aren't eligible to be drafted in Major League Baseball so the Dodgers were negotiating Ishii's rights as a free agent, not as a draft pick. Yao Ming by entering the draft cannot negotiate with a team as if he's a free agent. I'm not sure how long NBA teams retain the rights of foreign players that are drafted but it would seem much cleaner for someone to draft Ming and retain his rights in the US until the Sharks no longer hold his rights. For how long do the Sharks own his rights? As the world turns...
     
    #7 Timing, May 23, 2002
    Last edited: May 23, 2002
  8. crash5179

    crash5179 Member

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    Don't believe the HYPE! :p remember?
     
    #8 crash5179, May 23, 2002
  9. Relativist

    Relativist Member

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    Well, things are becoming more clear. I hope CD has called up the Sharks by now. A simple introduction should suffice. I don't think there's a question the NBA league office will have to be involved in all of this, so they can't really do too much right away. But as long as CD acknowledges them and acknowledges what they have to say, I think things can be smoothed over. I envision many three-way conference calls between CD, an NBA exec, and a Shanghai Sharks rep.
     
    #9 Relativist, May 23, 2002
  10. heypartner

    heypartner Member

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    heech,

    Does Shanghai TV or Oriental TV own the Sharks. I get conflicting reports. Regardless, the TV industry is supposed to be one of the most openned markets in China.

    They can get compensating handsomely through the NBA Office via TV Advertisement paid for by American companies who are insterested in Shanghai TV's 100 Mil viewers. How much do you think Coke and Pepsi would promise if Ming became a #1 pick and was guaranteed to play in the NBA! Imagine if Stern just works out that deal.

    Here's a good research paper on TV companies in China and specifically mentions Shanghai TV and Oriental TV.

    http://www.mbcnet.org/archives/etv/C/htmlC/china/china.htm

    heech...does Oriental Televion own the Sharks, or does Shanghai Television. If OTV does, then they are fully commercialized. If STV does, then they'll barter with the NBA office for NBA advertising right to compete with OTV. Don't you think.

    We need Stern involved in an compensation talk exceeding $350K.
     
    #10 heypartner, May 23, 2002
    Last edited: May 23, 2002
  11. bsb8532

    bsb8532 Member

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    If Zhang is Yao's rep then he should be the first person we talk to. We need to find out from him what Yao's thoughts are and how to deal with the Sharks (assuming he knows anything about that kind of stuff). I find it highly doubtful that CD hasn't contacted the team whom his likely #1 pick is under contract with. The only way I see him not talking to the Sharks is if Stern and the NBA head offices have told CD to wait a little while during which time the NBA would work with China. Right now we're just looking at players, but the NBA has already learned how to deal with players under contract with other teams in other leagues (the Euro players) so there's no way they have decided to totally neglect the Sharks.

    Something isn't making sense here. Why would we talk to Yao's unofficial representative and ignore the #1 obstacle in getting Ming? That makes absolutely no sense unless Zhang has valuable insite to our team on how to deal with the China, the CBA, and the Sharks along with providing insite on Ming.
     
    #11 bsb8532, May 23, 2002
  12. Relativist

    Relativist Member

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    Just for fun, I worked out what CD should say to the Shanghai Sharks, with a little bit of help from Francis Ford Coppola. Apologies in advance for the sacrilege. :)

    Carroll Dawson sits in a small sidewalk cafe waiting to meet the Shanghai Sharks general manager.

    [Eric Zhang brings out the Sharks GM, and other team officials emerge from the cafe. The Sharks GM looks irate]

    CD: Eric-- translate for me

    Eric Zhang: Hao

    CD: I apologize if I offended you... (Eric Zhang translates into Chinese)

    CD: I am a stranger in this country... (Eric Zhang translates)

    CD: And I meant no disrespect to you, or your franchise... (Eric Zhang translates)

    Sharks GM: (In Chinese) Who is this? He sounds Canadian.

    CD: I am an American -- hiding from Jerry Krause. I traveled to Shanghai to build up my frequent flyer miles. I can use them with Delta as well as Continental. (Eric Zhang translates)

    CD: My name is Carroll Dawson, and my associates and I intend to draft Yao Ming with the first pick of the 2002 NBA Draft. (Eric Zhang translates)

    CD: There are people who'd pay a lot of money for that information... (Eric Zhang translates)

    CD: (after the Sharks GM nods) But then your star player would drop down to Memphis at #4, where there are only 311.2 people of Chinese descent, all Taiwan separatists... (Eric Zhang translates)

    CD...instead of gaining a husband - wait...<looks at script> ...I didn't mean to say that. Alright, who switched my cue cards? Here we go... Ahem...- instead of playing for the most promising up-and-coming team in the NBA, the Houston Rockets.
    (Eric Zhang chokes suddenly, hesitates, then translates after CD gestures)

    Sharks GM: {Something in Chinese:) Ah --

    CD: I wanna meet your daughter... (Eric Zhang translates)

    CD:...with your permission...(Eric Zhang translates)

    CD:...and under the supervision of your franchise, the Shanghai city government, the Chinese Basketball Association, the Ministry of All-Things-Related-to-Yao-Ming in Beijing, your mother-in-law and anyone else who would like to trigger my migraines... (Eric Zhang translates)

    CD: With all -- respect (Eric Zhang translates)

    Sharks GM: (In English with a thick Texan accent) Weren't you folks inter-sted in Yao?

    CD: Ummmm...yeah. Does he have a sister? And is Yao his first name or his last name?

    Sharks GM: His last name.

    CD: Bene.
     
    #12 Relativist, May 23, 2002
    Last edited: May 23, 2002
  13. heech

    heech Member

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    Oriental TV owns the Sharks. And that's an interesting article snippet you included.

    But just to clarify, although Oriental TV might be fully "commercialized", that doesn't mean it is necessarily privately owned/operated. It just means that it receives all revenues directly according to market rates, and receives no subsidies of any kind from the "state".

    Maybe I should take back some of the things I said before... I don't actually know who owns/controls Oriental TV. I was under the impression it was the Shanghai government, but perhaps not.
     
    #13 heech, May 23, 2002
  14. JoeBarelyCares

    JoeBarelyCares Member

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    Hilarious, Relativist.
     
    #14 JoeBarelyCares, May 23, 2002
  15. Relativist

    Relativist Member

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    thanks, Joe. :)

    Heypartner, do you think there is any way Stern won't be involved? If the Shanghai Sharks stick with their demands (and they've been pretty consistent), I don't see how we can successfully negotiate with them without involving the NBA. The Rocks can't just send players over there. And I'd be surprised if, as you noted, the financial compensation the Sharks will be satisfied with will be under $350,000. Maybe Stern can convince them to accept that amount from the Rockets and then work out some revenue sharing cut like you were talking about. Even so, it would still involved the league. I'm not optimistic that CD could or should handle this by himself.
     
    #15 Relativist, May 23, 2002
  16. Achebe

    Achebe Member

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    LOL Relativist
     
    #16 Achebe, May 23, 2002
  17. heypartner

    heypartner Member

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    that's pretty damn funny, Relativist.

    You should do a sequel with Rudy presenting his two daughters to the Chinese delegates, and they end up forgetting what they are negotiating about like CD did in your translation...ending in the Chinese Sharks demanding a trade--Ming straight up for Rudy's daughters. And Major Brown stepping in and saying, "Hey, they tried that trade on George Bush when they held the Spy Plane pilots hostage."
     
    #17 heypartner, May 23, 2002
  18. Old School

    Old School Member

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    How were you able to translate that text??


    os
     
    #18 Old School, May 23, 2002
  19. saleem

    saleem Member

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    If the Sharks own Ming and we need their approval to get him,then I'm surprised that the Rockets have not contacted them yet and are talking to his cousin.
    I hope we will able to get information about what we need to do to get Ming on the Rockets soon.
     
    #19 saleem, May 24, 2002
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