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What are Yao's commitments to China and its National Team?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Glendelicious, May 17, 2005.

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  1. Glendelicious

    Glendelicious Member

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    A few questions that beg informed responses:

    1. Is Yao's commitment to the Chinese National Team a commitment to the Chinese National Government as a citizen of China?

    2. Are Chinese citizens required to perform any service, in any capacity, for their government? Are there any conditions under which they may refuse assignment for national service?

    3. If the Rockets wish to renegotiate Yao's national commitment, with which body would they do this? Whose authority supersedes the National Team’s? Is there no distinction between the National Team and the Chinese National Government?

    4. Have the Rockets made any attempt to convince whatever powers hold sway over Yao that it's in China's best interest for him to spend non-Olympic summers resting (anywhere) and then training in America? If Yao were to reach his full potential and China surrounded him with good shooters and passers, regardless of their other skills, China could be competitive.

    I don't wish to suggest that Yao's a prisoner, but uhhh...well, Yao sounds like a prisoner to the will of his government's National Team. Yao has toed the line and said all the right things in public, but as for Feigen misunderstanding Yao, nonsense, Yao's English is fine. His later statements are (barely) subtle retractions; clearly, he was reminded of his commitments shortly after his statements about staying in Houston.

    You can debate all you want about whether Yao might desire to play for his country, to honor his moral or contractual commitments (over which he had no control), or to visit his homeland—if he doesn't have the CHOICE to refuse, then he's just a gladiator, and that makes me sick.


    There, I've said my piece; how's your mother?
     
    #1 Glendelicious, May 17, 2005
  2. EMAN34

    EMAN34 Member

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    #2 EMAN34, May 17, 2005
  3. W-Mac

    W-Mac Member

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    Yao needs REST!! He will not dominate the NBA until he gets an off-season. This China CRAP is really pissing me off. No wonder he breaks down at times during the 82 game season.....he freakin play year around!

    GIVE YAO A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
    #3 W-Mac, May 17, 2005
  4. Blatz

    Blatz Member

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    #4 Blatz, May 17, 2005
  5. Glendelicious

    Glendelicious Member

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    Yeah, I read all that info; that's why I asked the questions. Everybody talks about what Yao seems to think or want. Does anyone know his rights, what the laws of his country require? I want to know who has the power to make decisions about Yao's fate, because it has always seemed that he has very little say in what he does with his life.
     
    #5 Glendelicious, May 17, 2005
  6. PeeeMeS

    PeeeMeS Member

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    Why don't the Rockets give him a break during the pre-season? What about during the regular season?

    Much more important for Yao to be training with the national team imho.
     
    #6 PeeeMeS, May 17, 2005
  7. MartianMan

    MartianMan Member

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    You guys do know that if China takes your argument about Yao needing rest seriously, Yao wouldn't be getting rest during his China commitment. In fact, it'd be the other way around, where Yao doesn't honor his US commitment to the Rockets. China views the NBA as entertainment, which it is. Yao commitment to China is about National Pride, which is much more important to China.
     
    #7 MartianMan, May 17, 2005
  8. W-Mac

    W-Mac Member

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    The pre-season is like a month long.....he needs A LOT longer of a break then 1 freakin month. He needs the Summer (4 months) to chill. Honestly, who gives a rats ass about the Chinese national team? Who cares about Olympic basketball?

    His training with the National team will get him no where....have you seen how much bigger he has gotten since being drafted by the Rockets? He has put on a lot of muscle.....screw the Chinese team!!!
     
    #8 W-Mac, May 17, 2005
  9. catch&shoot

    catch&shoot Member

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    The Chinese basketball team is always going to be a pathetic group of underachievers & sissies. That's the reason there's an "Asian Games", because teams from this particular continent have no chance in the Olympics or any legitimate tournament. It's a waste of Yao's time & energy to have to be called back to China just so some macho government tossers can get off by ordering this NBA giant around. Yao should get all of his family to the USA & then declare asylum. :p Just saying all of this because each summer I get more & more terrified that he blows out his knee or the like playing for the Chinese National Basketball Team. Even that doesn't even sound right. Stick to ping pong, gymnastics & diving. :D
     
    #9 catch&shoot, May 17, 2005
  10. PeeeMeS

    PeeeMeS Member

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    The Chinese government do... and Yao has signed contracts with them. Olympic basketball represents way more than the NBA... politics/national pride is at stake. Obviously, you dont understand the full sitation and you think this is just about "basketball." You don't understand the chinese culture.

    In the long run, NBA means nothing. Honestly, who gives a rats ass about measly entertainment basketball? :cool:
     
    #10 PeeeMeS, May 17, 2005
  11. Master Baiter

    Master Baiter Member

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    It is about basketball. Why do you think all of the best players around the world play in the NBA? Because it is real basketball. I'd much rather the Rockets win the championship than the USA win the Olympics.
     
    #11 Master Baiter, May 17, 2005
  12. W-Mac

    W-Mac Member

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    Olypmic bball SUCKS.....plain and simple! I have NEVER watched Olympic bball because it doesnt mean CRAP! No, I dont understand the Chinese culture obviously, because I grew up in the US.....but it IS about basketball. Why do you think all the guys over seas want to come to the NBA? ITS ALL ABOUT BASKETBALL!

    China should allow Yao to do what he wants..not what THEY want.
     
    #12 W-Mac, May 17, 2005
  13. Almu

    Almu Member

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    I bet you that if Yao gives this commitment up, he will pick up at least a full second on his 40 yard dash!!

    Seriously...how can you NOT get tired during the year?
     
    #13 Almu, May 17, 2005
  14. YallMean

    YallMean Member

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    So ...
    So it's up to Yao to make the choice. He wont last this way for too long. Also Rockets need to have a sit-down with CBA. Back door deals work in China. Invite the CBA officials over to Houston, nice dinner and such, RPD accompanied. Promise to provide facillity for the CNT to train over the summer so that Yao doesnt have to go back. So far, I havent seen CD done any of these.
     
    #14 YallMean, May 17, 2005
  15. generalthade_03

    generalthade_03 Member

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    Hey PeeeMeS, I understand your nationalistic pride and everything but honestly, how long do you think Yao will last by the rate he's going? Think about it for a second, YAO is no good to anybody, not your precious CHINA or the Rockets if he breaks down and no longer be able to perform!
     
    #15 generalthade_03, May 17, 2005
  16. ToothYanker

    ToothYanker Contributing Member

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    PeeeMes,

    Chinese basketball is a disgrace. They look and play like women. It'll take a lot more than Yao training with those no-talent scrubs for the team to get anywhere. Instead of calling Yao back every year so that he can play with unskilled players, they should look in the mirror and see where the real problem with Chinese basketball lies. The moment china changes the way it's teams are managed, coached, and trained, is the moment chinese bball becomes a legit contender. Until then, they're nothing.
     
    #16 ToothYanker, May 17, 2005
  17. Glyyde

    Glyyde Member

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    playing for national team is not about basketball.... its about pride for your own country.... patriotism.... which obviously is a long lost culture for US-borned NBA players.....
     
    #17 Glyyde, May 17, 2005
  18. NewYorker

    NewYorker Ghost of Clutch Fans

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    I'm sorry dude, but 10% of this board could probably play on the Chinese National Team and make the team. Maybe that's an exaggeration, but it's just so sad to make someone commit to such a low-level of play.

    International competition is just a joke. The NBA is just entertainment? I'm sorry, it's the highest forum for the sport and it is the world stage. Anyone who thinks winning anything associated with FIBA means anything doesn't know basketball.

    The NBA is the only place where serious basketball is played, any NBA playoff team could easily blow out any world champion...and the champion of the asian games wouldn't be able to beat the NCAA WOMAN's champ for that matter.

    Making Yao work to acheive medals and fake honors is a waste of his talent. In the long run, it doesn't serve the Chinese people.


     
    #18 NewYorker, May 17, 2005
  19. NewYorker

    NewYorker Ghost of Clutch Fans

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    Threre's no honor in having Pete Sampras lay waste to your high-school tennis club.

    When winning becomes the only thing that matters no matter what the cost, then the sport is lost and the athletes are merely pawns.

    Frankly, I don't care if big US stars skip the olympics and international competition. They are smart...they know the U.S. is the best, and there is no need to blow out the world and damage their bodies to prove what every American already knows. Why the Chinese need to do this equivalent is beyond me.

     
    #19 NewYorker, May 17, 2005
    Last edited: May 17, 2005
  20. ToothYanker

    ToothYanker Contributing Member

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    NewYorker is right.

    It's not about loyalty, patriotism, or pride. It's about control. The Chinese Basketball association and the chinese sports institution wants to exert control over Yao and they are doing so. Why else would they publicly release statments to the effect of "Yao's coming back and that's final" ? Yao's too nice to stand up for himself and too nice to demand time off so he can improve and reach his full potential. The result? Crooked chinese officials can line their pockets, the Houston Rockets will suffer, and Chinese basketball will suffer because Yao won't be able to get better.

    Chinese basketball is a joke. Yao will only lose skill by hanging around with those complete losers.

    From personal experience, I played ice hockey in college in an area not known for hockey. Now where I come from, everyone plays hockey so the level of competition is quite high. Needless to say, I felt myself slipping bit by bit whenever I was playing with my college team to the point that when I went home during winter breaks, I was absolutely schooled during pickup games.

    Now imagine Yao dealing with the same thing except the skill disparity would be even greater. Yao playing for the crappy Chinese national Team would be like Michael Jordan being forced to play in a wheelchair baskeball league during his prime. It's that bad.
     
    #20 ToothYanker, May 17, 2005
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