Sucks for the people attending hoping to see Yao. Article link Player at center of firm’s ad push Garmin gathering is short a tall star NBA’s Yao can’t join shareholders Yao Ming, NBA superstar and spokesman for Garmin International, couldn’t make it to the Olathe company’s annual meeting Friday. But just the possibility that the 7-foot-6-inch center for the Houston Rockets might show up at the Ritz Charles Conference Center in Overland Park for the yearly session drew a record number of shareholders. Min Kao, Garmin’s chief executive, noted the record turnout and told shareholders that Yao was unable to attend. He offered them a tour of the company’s recently completed $60 million corporate expansion project instead. Garmin designs and builds Global Positioning System equipment for the consumer and aviation markets. Yao is the centerpiece of a multimillion Garmin TV advertising campaign. During the meeting Friday, Garmin executives talked about the company’s financial performance in 2004, and stockholders elected three directors. Kevin S. Rauckman, Garmin’s chief financial officer, told stockholders that company sales have grown from $346 million in 2000 to $763 million last year. Garmin is projecting sales of up to $915 million in 2005. The company plans to introduce 60 new products this year. Rauckman also said Garmin now had assets of more than $1.1 billion, including $603 million in cash. Elected to the Garmin board were Donald H. Eller, a retired Magnavox executive and board member since 2001; Clifton A. Pemble, Garmin’s director of engineering and a board member since last August; and Charles W. Peffer, a retired KPMG executive and board member since last August. Garmin shares closed Friday at $43.43, down 82 cents.
I'm happy he didn't show up for it. Yao needs to just rest. So instead of playing ball he should run around making personal appearances around the United States? Blah. Blow them all off so he can train and be ready for next year.
What a great advertisement for Garmin. Yao is using their navigation products, but he can't find the conference room. Just kidding
Nba players might not show up for an occasional practice, but I don't think they would ever miss an opportunity to make money. Yao has got it all wrong. He should set his priorities straight. Attend your business opprtunities and don't show up for practice. Even when he tries to fit in, he simply does the wrong thing. When will he ever learn?
Maybe Yao is tired of all these events, just want to stay in the gym where nobody bothers him and just work on his game and taking a break.
No where in the article does it say that Yao was expected to attend. The following line implies that Yao wasn't necessarily expected: "But just the possibility that the 7-foot-6-inch center for the Houston Rockets might show up at the Ritz Charles Conference Center in Overland Park for the yearly session drew a record number of shareholders."
Yao was scheduled to be in Chicago to shoot a Gatorade commercial. The shoot was scheduled before the event.
Man, training isn't resting. He needs to rest! He should not get out of bed until October. Colin Pine can bring him food and clean out his bed pans.
