I am a Chinese. So I will support Ming forever, no matter how good he will be in NBA. But I really worry about the recent ¡°Steve issue.¡± 1. I have posted over 100 threads to support Ming. I thought he was perfect. Now I find that he might have one shortcoming. His shortcoming is: As a person who grew up in the biggest city of China, Ming is not as humble as Wang Zhizhi, who was a captain of Red Army. Ming became the starting center of Sharks at 17-year-old; He joined Chinese National Team at 17-year-old; He became the ¡°core¡± of Sharks team at 19-year-old; He is the organizer of almost all the attacks of Sharks. So he has the capabilities to be not that humble. Before, I thought : no humble = the desire of winning. It is good for him to survive at NBA; Now, I think: no humble = no Steve-first-thought. It is bad for him to survive at Rockets. 2. Shanghai Sharks and Bayi (red army) Rockets have been opponents for many years. Their fights for championship were very fierce. Yao Ming told a story at his diary. Each time after they finished the ¡°battle¡± with Bayi Rockets, the best PG of Bayi, Fan Bin, would stay with Ming at the gym and told Ming: in the past game, where Ming didn¡¯t play very well and in which way Ming could improve himself. They stayed at the gym and practiced and practiced¡¡ Didn¡¯t Fan want to win the championship? Wasn¡¯t Fan Yao¡¯s opponent? Yes. But Fan knows that Ming is the hope of Chinese basketball and helping Ming is helping Chinese basketball. After the last game, in which Sharks defeated Bayi Rockets and won the championship, Ming grasped the hands of Fan and couldn't hold his tear. I¡¯ve never expected that the players of other NBA teams, like Kobe Or Kidd, will stay with Ming and help him after each game. Now I found that it seems no players of Houston Rockets would like to do such things too. Even worse, they are waiting to tease Ming when he is struggling at NBA in his first year: ¡°I said that he would be a bust.¡± 3. This is a interview of Ming. Ming said: ¡°The another reason I like Grizzlies is it is composed with young players. I hope all the teammates are like brothers. We are united as one and fight together. I detest to have a player in the team who is like a ¡°big guy¡± and everyone else should listen to him¡¡.¡± Maybe the Rockets is not the team of Ming. Yao Ming and Fan Bin
I agree with all above what you said, windandsea. Steve Francis either has to get along with Ming and support this team, or get the HELL out of Houston....and find somewhere he thinks he can be a somebody...we don't need another crybaby Nick Van Exel..
I think Steve's views toward Ming stem partly from the fact that he wants to win now and he feels that Ming will take too long to develop. Therfore, I am sure that after a few games, Francis will realize what a great asset Ming is to the team, and begin to support him. Remember, Francis felt the same way when the Griffin trade happened last year, and now he, as well as everyone else, is very happy that the trade happened. I feel the same events will occur with Ming.
Chill out, nWo! I'm getting sick of your repetitive posts on your opinion of Steve. We know you hate his ass. Just calm down. Put your thoughts in your sig or something...anything... I think Yao will be fine here. As long as the players learn to accept someone of a different culture and a different way of living/playing ball, Yao will fit in perfectly.
Windandsea I understand your concerns. And I cannot say that they are completely unfounded but I believe that once Ming is here and he shows everyone the type of player he is that they will embrace him... Steve Frances is not a bad kid, he just had is heart set on bringing in some players who he thought would help the Rockets win right away. Once he sees that Ming is the real deal he will be okay. And I can assure that Rudy will do whatever it takes to help the team embrace. Also for the record I believe that reading these posts can sometimes make you believe things are worse than they are. I am sure the fans will embrace Ming once he is here. They already very excited as you can see by reading these posts. And his teammates will also. Just be patient.
Hopefully winning will cure all, like what happened in Kobe and O'neal. Actually Francis was the only player I heard of (you know Olajuwon left and Rice was still in LA ) of Houston team before all this Yao stuff stirs up, and I still hope that he and Yao will work out -- I see no issue with him if he can act like a realy team leader (Jason Kidd-kind) and not a crying boy.
I admit that what we're hearing about the Rockets players puts a big damper on optimism, but it's too soon to throw in the towel. Let's just wait and see and how the season goes. I'm confident that things will be dandy once they start pulling down those Ws.
The issue is not one of different culture/living/playing, rather it is one of teamwork-ship in Francis.....maybe both Yao and Francis!!
WINDANDSEA You have become a victim of the Chat at Clutch BBS You should not be influenced by all us crazies. Reality is The Rockets Management, the Rockets Coaching & Training Staff and the Team. The majority of Fans who have moderate views and dont even know Clutch BBS exists. Houston is so excited about Yao Ming and are getting ready for Yao Mania.
Francis has a long long way to go before he can be a Kidd type leader. If Francis has that much of a problem with Ming being drafted, there wont be a chemistry problem. Because Francis will be gone.
Ced, yeahhhhh... Steve drops in the winning 15-footer at Game 7 of the WCF's, then jumps up and down. Then, to everyone's surprise, instead of jumping in Cuttino's arms, he runs up to Ming and Yao cradles him in his arms laughing as they both pump their fists.
I wished I hadn't noticed this, but it seems on 610 Radio that most of the anti-Ming callers are black, and most of the anti-Ming players seem to be black and most of the pro-Ming players and execs seems to be white. I don't want to immediately brand this as racism, but it does seem to involve "white men can't jump" stereotyping about styles of play, especially with big men. I suspect if Ming weighed 350, had long, muscular arms, and spent all his time slamming dunks in other people's faces and generally exhibiting high testosterone levels, Francis would be more enthsiastic. I think it's also true that East Coast players and fans are far too obsessed with style and individual highlight reel plays instead of size and teamwork, which is why the Mavs and Kings are the future of the league.
finalsbound, keep your opinions about me to yourself...I have an opinion and I will state it...and isn't this thread about Steve F. and Yao Ming NOT GETTING ALONG...and I'm pro-Ming, so that means I'm ANTI-Francis....so I can post as many "DON'T WANT" Francis posts as I like....so YOU CHILL OUT!!
Originally posted by rslay I suspect if Ming weighed 350, had long, muscular arms, and spent all his time slamming dunks in other people's faces and generally exhibiting high testosterone levels, Francis would be more enthsiastic. We'd all be more enthusiastic. Nobody could stop 7'5" and 350 pounds of muscle. I think it's also true that East Coast players and fans are far too obsessed with style and individual highlight reel plays instead of size and teamwork, which is why the Mavs and Kings are the future of the league. The New Jersey Nets? Ever heard of them?
o·ver·re·act (vr-r-kt) intr.v. o·ver·re·act·ed, o·ver·re·act·ing, o·ver·re·acts To react with unnecessary or inappropriate force, emotional display, or violence
I don't second this racism argument. Image if Curtis Borchardt was a black can his name be called top 5? NO.
I also think Steve is overreacting. Hopefully after the coaching staff talks to Steve and explain to him what Ming can do for the team, Steve will calm down a bit and give Ming a chance. windandsea, I understand why you would worry about Ming and his teamates in Houston, but I'm positive if Steve or anyone else give Ming a hard time, they will be sent packing.
Just wanted to post to agree with alaskansnowman. Great point. I have been saying this all along. Just get everyone healthy, into training camp, preseason, and start playing together. I think once that happens things will be ok. Hopefully this summer won't be a "long one". Chris
