Yao Ming: I wouldn't want Francis to leave, but I would still choose the Rockets ...

Here is my translation of

http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2004-07-02/0915973197.shtml
9:15 2004-07-02

Yao Ming: I wouldn't want Francis to leave, but I would still choose the Rockets without any hesitation.

[By reporter Chen Wenja]

Dallas of June lacks the usual hotness of the summers before, and the dark clouds cover the sky of the grassland of the Texas. The dark and cloudy weather provides maybe a perfect time for persons who like to sleep. In 9 am of morning of July 1st, when I called Yao Ming, he was stilling sleeping in his King-sized bed in the hotel, enjoying the sweet dream of his own. To the disturbance of the reporter, after a little complaint, Yao showed more of the tolerance. "My sweat dream was interrupted by you. But I am getting up soon, and we will start to train in about a hour". Yao had no intention of talking more about Chinese national team, instead he talked more about the recent trade made by the Rockets.

TITAN: I heard that your ankle was hurt in last warm-up game, how is it now?

Yao: No problem at all. It does not bother my practice now. There few days we all trained very hard, everyone does not want to be one of the last three to be cut. From the yelling sound in the training gym you can know about everyone's attitude to the training. The yelling has reached the level of howling.

TITAN: There are some new faces in the national team. You are an old team member now, and also the vice leader of the team, so what's your opinion about their performance?

Yao: Yi Jianlian has made great progress. I have seen his performance in the Nike Competition game in San Antonio this past April, he did not play well then, but after two months of training with the national team, his progress is very obvious.

TITAN: Did you see the televised Draft of this year?

Yao: I only care about the Rockets, nothing else. (Laugh) Oh, Ha Seung-Jin has been selected by Trail Blazers, I know about that, but I didn't expect he would have fallen down that much. I thought he would be selected in last few selections of the first round.

TITAN: Do you know the trade between McGrady and the Rockets becomes effective now?

Yao: I know you would ask me about this. (Tone becomes a little agitated) Now no matter it is Chinese media, or American media, they always ask me by starting with: "Yao Ming, what about that you and T-Mac will play together?" I talked about that many times, in NBA, players are commodities. It is perfectly normal there are trades between teams. Maybe tomorrow when I woke up in the morning, CD (the general manager of the Rockets Dawson) could call me to inform me that I have been dealt to the BobCats. Since I have chosen NBA, so I have to face the reality, to accommodate myself to all those unpredictable rules.

TITAN: Even though some media always feel that they didn't pass enough balls to you, but do you really feel that you would like them to leave?

Yao: I have to admit, I really would not want the leave of Francis, Cat, and Cato. I still remember when I first came to Houston, it was Cat and Francis passed the No. 11 shirt to me at the Compaq Center. Especially Francis, he gave great help in last two years, and he is my best fellow brother in NBA, and also my best friend. His leave gave me the exact feeling of leaving of a family member. Just like the time when I left Shanghai Sharks.

TITAN: This is just like when Norris was dealt to New York last season ...

Yao: Then Francis felt sad for about a week, my feeling now is no difference than his then. I said once after the NBA Draft: If given a chance that I could choose a NBA team again, I would still choose the Houston Rockets without any hesitation. Well, there is a new start here now ...