With Shaq East-bound, Yao will be the All-Star Starter for a LONG time!

i think asian fans will still vote for him just because he played with yao. Recognition. I sure hope he gets in.

 

It's already been a whole month?? My how the good times fly

 

So what are the chances that TMac becomes the leading vote getter in the NBA? Will the increase from Rocket/Yao fans who didn't vote for him before be enough to put him at the top?

 

Don't forget that Francis was voted in even before Yao got to the Rockets. Lots of folks here in SA always griped that Steve was only voted in because of the Asian vote. Not true.

 

When Francis was voted in 3 years ago, He was at the top of his popularity, a promising young star.
But after that, his popularity vanished. He actually had to rely on Asian votes to secure the spot.

He'll still get the Asian votes though, which may carry over for several years.

 

Do you have statistics to back up that claim?

I'm guessing that Asians are the same reason Francis was found in a city-wide survey to be the most popular athlete in Houston. Of course, Yao wasn't second, so that doesn't make sense, does it?

I don't mind people not liking Francis. But, don't make claims like he was only an all star because of the Asian vote when you don't have a clue if that is true or not.

 

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/special/04/sb/2370887

Houston's favorite local male athlete, however, is Steve Francis of the Rockets (18 percent), followed by Texans quarterback David Carr (15 percent), Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell (13 percent), Rockets center Yao Ming (11 percent) and Clemens (9 percent).

For reference.

 

didnt that poll change then. I remember yao lead.

 

oh, come on ! KOBE is that EGO person and that 's why he'll never get along with Shaq!!! LAKERS is Shaq's team !!! Even though Shaq didn't get to start in the ALL-STAR, he deserves that spot!!!

 

No, there was a "poll" on the Chron website that showed Yao with the lead. The article was referring to this...

That dual loyalty is among the findings of a telephone survey of 504 residents of Harris, Fort Bend and Brazoria counties, conducted last week for the Houston Chronicle by pollster Richard Murray of the University of Houston's Center for Public Policy. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Poll respondents were asked about favorite spectator sports and such topics as Pete Rose's candidacy for the baseball Hall of Fame, whether college football needs a playoff system, what should be done with the Astrodome, and whether newly acquired pitchers Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens will lead the Astros to the World Series.

Murray is one of the most well-respected pollsters in the United States. Comparing his results to an internet poll is like trying to survey the general public's opinion by listening to AM talk radio.

 

Absolutely.

What is frustrating is this idea that the sun rises and sets with Yao. I love the guy and I get the fan support, but he isn't the center of the basketball universe. The idea that Shaq's decision to leave the West or Francis' popularity in the All Star voting hinges on Yao is ridiculous and has no basis in fact.

Yao wasn't in the top 15 in jersey sales in the NBA last year and the Rockets weren't top 10 in merchandise sales according to the NBA and ESPN. So, it is pretty damn tough to make the argument that Yao somehow influences things as far-flung as Francis' addition to the all star game or Shaq's move to Miami.

http://espn.go.com/sportsbusiness/s/2003/1202/1676476.html

Top NBA Player Jerseys (as of December 2, 2003)

1. LeBron James, Cavaliers
2. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
3. Tracy McGrady, Magic
4. Allen Iverson, 76ers
5. Kobe Bryant, Lakers
6. Jason Kidd, Nets
7. Shaquille O'Neal, Lakers
8. Paul Pierce, Celtics
9. Allan Houston, Knicks
10. Tim Duncan, Spurs
11. Vince Carter, Raptors
12. Latrell Sprewell, Wolves
13. Kevin Garnett, Wolves
14. Rasheed Wallace, Blazers
15. Gary Payton, Lakers

TOP NBA TEAMS IN MERCHANDISE SALES

1. Lakers
2. 76ers
3. Cavaliers
4. Knicks
5. Nuggets
6. Celtics
7. Nets
8. Bulls
9. Magic
10. Spurs

 

hehe Is that the reason shaq want to go to Eastern Conf?
He feels he deserves to be the Allstar Starting Center, and he can't stand Yao taking the spot-light, now he has a chance to duel it out
haha

too bad, shaq will find out Yao has Nba first team as his team mates. OUCH

yeah western allstars stars is sick. man so many stars...

Duncan
KG
Bryant
T-mac

 

Well.....Yao fans is smarter......$60 for a jersey?
u can buy one in china same quality for $6 ....hahahahaha

 

thats not the point! Yao isn't the reason Shaq is moving East

 

Hmm...so who's the favorite male athlete for the other 34%?

 

The rest are probably made up of random athletes with 1 or 2 percent.

 

with shaq starting in the east and yao starting for the west, this means there will actually be a reason to watch the trash that is the all-star game. from years passed it just seems like a waste of time, but it might change with shaq not wanting to look stupid with yao laying the smackdown on him. and if someone actually knows the real numbers for how much the networks are gonna loose from not being able to showcase shaq v. yao 4 times a year, please post em

 

Another will always come along. Yao's reign will not last long.

 

Jeff, thanks for doing all the heavy lifting!