Yao Ming is looking forward to meeting his American friend

Wrong link. I think you mean:

http://gostanford.ocsn.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/johnson_teyo00.html

According to that, Johnson has been a two-sport player since high school. Between the two sports, it looks like he's a better football player. One quote from the article is pretty amazing, considering how rough football practices can be:

 

w&s, that a great article. Lot's of great quotes from Ming. Care to translate some to entertain our English-only fans here?

 

OK, I'll try my best then. Anybody who can improve on it please feel free. This is not a full translation of the whole article, just the Ming quotes.

[Yao had said after the Sidney Olympics, "Now I know how much money I'm worth." The reporter asked him what about this WBC.] Haha, how much do I worth? Now I know, in Indianapolis, no matter how much money you have, you can't get this bowl of tasty beef instant noodles here right in front of me. The WCT can tell me a lot of things. The most important is, how fast the world changes. You know what I mean?

[On how much confidence for the German game] It means more to talk about how much effort you put in than how much confidence you have. I am not brushing your question away. My efforts are not blind. I am not the kind of guy who blindly tries to be great. I put effort only in the things that I believe I have hope to succeed. The bottom line of this hope is 30%. If we have at least 30% hope of beating Germany, I'll put in my full effort. And I believe we have [that hope].

[On the game against the US this Saturday] From my point of view, the preparation should be better than the one in Oakland. I mean, I know my opponents better now. And I believe better in how much I can do now. But from the American team's viewpoint, they also know me better. In the [Oakland game's] first half, they did not resolve to double team me, and I scored 11 of my 13 points. In this second game, they certainly will key in on me much better. I know what the media and the fans want to hear. Last time it was double-double. Will it be triple-double this time? Am I going to block more shots? But I cannot say this kind of things. I am just a rookie to them. Sure, I want to surprise them again. I want them to respect me more. But I have to do what I did in the first game, showing some pretty numbers.

[On his expectation for the tournament] Since the first day I entered the National Team, no matter how much changes have happened to this team and to the circumstances, all I expect is that I have a clear conscience. Any day, whenever I put on the red Chinese NT uniform before a game, all I am thinking is I cannot let this uniform down. Whenever I look down, the 5-star red flag on my chest is always that bright.

I know a lot of people, especially the American media, typically separate me from Chinese basketball in their evaluation. They make judgment of my individual skills, statistics, and performance apart from Chinese basketball. But what I want to say is that I am tied to Chinese basketball. Only when the whole team performs well will I show my strength. I cannot be a superstar outside of the team. Very simple example: I am down low, but the ball is in the hands of [the guards] outside.

[On whether the WBC is a war or an enjoyment for him] It's an enjoyment. I've always felt that a person need to enjoy life in every situation. Maybe there are a few things that are extreme, things that put success and failure on the line, such as the CBA championship game, or the 7th game of the NBA Finals. Those are kill or die kind of wars. But on the other hand, if you can enjoy even the war, then you can become the true master. Magic, Olajuwon, and Jordan are this kind of people. Look at how they performed in the Finals. If they weren't happy in the heart, they couldn't have done that.

[On the sounds on the court] To me every sound on the court is sweet. The fans' cheering, the refs' whistles, the constant exchange among the players, the sound of dribbling echoing in the air, the sweaking sound between the shoes and the floor, the contact of sweaty muscles, and lastly, the clear swishes of the ball falling in the net. Don't laugh at my sentimentalism and romanticism. All these sounds are mesmerizing to me. You know the RCA dome is so big, the echoing sound must be very nice.

[On Indianapolis] The last time was four years ago, June 1998. I came [with another Chinese player] here for the Nike training camp. The first time the American media first discovered me was right here. You all know that later the American media called me "the 8th wonder of the world in basketball." That article was written by Robert Miller of the Indy Star. I don't know if he is still writing bastketball. If I see him I'll give him some kudos, "Hey, you were right on the money!" [my free paraphrase here ] Now after being the number one pick, the first time I play a real game is right here again. October 30, my first NBA game will be right here too. When I think of it, this is probably fate!

[Last word for the WBC] This is such a cliche question! Alright, OK then: Let me embrace the world!

http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2002-08-30/1041307951.shtml

 

THis picture makes me nostalgiac for the old Rocket Red and Desert Gold uniforms....

 

China has a sweet Uni. That is Red and gold done tastefully.

 

I love this part.

 

Well, except for the "contact of sweaty muscles."

 

after reading easy's transaltion...and various other yao interviews...i absolutely agree...

this guy is more and more reminding me of hakeem..
philosophical, down to earth and matter of fact..

how can you not root for this guy...i was just waiting for him
to say "stay hungry and humble.."

 

I never knew that Yao Ming went to high school here in the states, even if it was for a year. Was he in an exchange program?? Any more details on this??

 

I believe that's NIKE training camp, no?

 

I believe so too

 

That's exactly what he said.

He seems to like the physical game. B/c of his lack of strength (NBA standard) a lot of people assume that he is soft. He is not afraid of contact. He doesn't shy away from playing physical.

 

Yao has the heart of a true warrior!!!!!!!!

 

Thank You Easy! What awesome translations! I loved them and I feel like I know Ming better now! Thanks!

 

Actually, I like the part when he said, "If you can enjoy even the war, then you can become the true master. Magic, Olajuwon, and Jordan are this kind of people."

Looks like he is taking Magic, Olajuwon and Jordan as his role models for being the "true master." Not bad. I was worrying him about taking Shaq as his role model.

 

That was an awesome interview/translation. Very informative. Thank you Easy for the translation. I fully understand why you (W&S) call(ed) him a poet and a philosopher (btw your english appears fine to me).

He has chosen excellent role models. Players who made all of their teammates better while not sacrificing their own game, in fact raising it to a whole other level. I like that Ming will share with Magic the trait of being able to see/pass/play clearly over his opponents head, and propably has learnt many things already from watching tape.

It was nice to see a player answer the questions in first pesron rather than the third (eg 1st person "I posterised..." 3rd person "Steve Francis posterised..."). Also complaining about a cliche question before delivering a cliched response was very funny & intelligent (in a "Simpsons" kind of self refferential way).

And the interwiew had more great comments too. A poet philospher indeed! He appears so stable & mentally "switched on" (not just to basketball). Soooooo happy he is on OUR team

 

You have a good sense of humor and great timing using it .