Yao Ming Vowed Championship For Houston Rockets

pryuen · Jan 17, 2006

On an interview by Shanghai Eastern Satellite TV, Yao Ming spoke about his dream/goal about leading the Houston Rockets to NBA Championship !!!

http://sports.sohu.com/20060117/n241479426.shtml

In Summary

The interview was conducted in Yao Ming's home at Windsor Lake & Park by Shanghai Eastern Satellite TV.

He was wearing his slippers at home, and when the TV cameraman took a close-up at his toe, he felt embarrassed and asked the cameraman to stop taking the shot; but after repeated requests, he allowed the TV cameraman to take close-up on his toe, which still showed signs of the surgery.

When asked about his toe injury, Yao Ming said the recuperation had been pretty smooth, and faster than expected, and he expected to be able to return to train with the team in 2 weeks time. But as to when he can return to court to compete, he said it had to be decided by the doctors.

When Yao Ming renewed/extended his contract with Houston Rockets in the summer, he was optimistic about the future; he thought together with Tracy McGrady, the Rockets could be into something big for this season. But destiny had it that now both of them were sidelined by injury. "Well God is not on our side, and we had had very bad luck." When asked whether he felt unlucky and jinxed 背, he kept nodding his head and added: "Yeah...pretty bad luck. Maybe I should suggest Jeff to go into a Chinese temple to burn incense to dispel the bad luck."

At the start of this season, when TMAC was sidelined with his back spasm, the Rockets skidded to a losing streak of 7, and all kinds of harsh criticisms heaped onto Yao Ming. Yao Ming recollected his feelings at that time: "The pressure I was under at that time was unprecedented. I just went and hide myself away at home, and tried not to think too much and ignore everything written about me. I've tried my best, but just could not manage a win during that stretch. But anyway, I went through those difficult times with full support from my family."

But even in his most painful time, the thought of leaving Houston Rockets had never come into his mind. Tracy McGrady quitted on Orlando Magic, and Vince Carter did not hesitate to leave Toronto Raptors at all costs. Yao Ming was taken by surprise when the host put before him this topic of trade/transfer. "Why you have to ask me that question ?" Yao Ming shook his head and continued: "How should I put it ? It was just like when I played for Shanghai Sharks, I never thought about playing for another team. Same here with Houston Rockets. I came here, and all I think about is about Houston Rockets. I never think about leaving. I am very loyal, but that is only part of the reasons. The bigger reason was that my survival environment used to be like this, i.e. players should play for the same team all his career. Of course, maybe one day, I would be tempted to think and talk about joining another team, but as of now, that day has yet to come."

So to what level does Yao Ming want to lead the Rockets to ? "At present, I just want to lead this team into the playoff. It is unrealistic to dream about championship this season, and we have to strive very hard to qualify for the playoffs." Even if the Rockets is currently ranked 14th in the West, Yao Ming thought the team can still make the playoff. "Now I only want my toe injury could heal quickly that I can return to play at this year's All Stars." Yao Ming pondered a while before continued to say: "Qualifying for the playoff is just a first step; NBA championship is my minimum and ultimate goal, otherwise, I will not have joined NBA. NBA championship is my long-cherished wish, and goal." So will Yao Ming consider retirement right after winning NBA championship ?? Yao Ming laughed: "Do you think Michael Jordan ever thought about retirement right after his 1st championship ? Of course not, or else he would not have ended up with 5 championship rings."

Originally the TV host, Wang Dong wanted to interview Yao Ming in English, but Yao Ming declined. First, it was an interview by a Chinese media/TV; secondly, Yao Ming thought his English proficiency is still not good enough. Yao Ming thought his oral English and comprehension is good enough to understand sarcasms in the changing room. But he strongly believed that the American culture and slang and thrash-talkings of the black players were still big gaps that he can never surmount or master.

On this topic, Yao Ming related an incident that happened in the past. Once Jeff Van Gundy was outlining game plan/strategies to Yao Ming and the other Rockets, and mentioned a substitute player of the other team, who Yao Ming could not recognize. Jeff Van Gundy became a little bit angry as he had repeatedly mentioned about that player's name. Yao Ming whispered in a low voice: "Everybody looks the same." Such comment in China would not have problem, but in the multi-racial America, that could mean big troubles. After his comment, a few players in the changing room came up to Yao Ming and quipped: "Yao, you're a racist !!" "Well, everyone knows I am just not such kind of person. That is really the cultural difference." Yao Ming helplessly acknowledged. "That incident helped me to lean to become more careful and pay more attention."

Yao Ming had played in NBA for 3 years now. Yao Ming thought he had changed to become more professional and more out-spoken in an open society/environment like USA. He created an uproar internationally 2 years ago in Athens Olympic for criticizing his team mates in the Chinese national team for not trying hard and giving up too easily to adversity. 2 years now, and Yao Ming did not regret on what he had done. "I did not regret for what I did, but I thought I could have done it better. I could have solved it better, and not being that impulsive, blunt and bold." Yao Ming thought the results (at the Olympics) spoke for itself. "Well if we had not entered the Final 8, maybe I would suffer the consequence for my impulsive talk, but still, I do not regret for what I've done."

3 NBA seasons passed and Yao Ming is now very used to this kind of environment. If the time comes when he could not play NBA again (due to injury) and have to return to China, he admitted frankly: "I will feel bad and miserable and may not be able to adapt. I have already experienced playing competitive basketball at the highest level, and seen better prospects for the future; so I really don't want that happens. Therefore I've been telling all the Chinese players at home, as long as they have the ability, they should come and try it out here in NBA."

Both Yao Ming and Liu Xiang have become virtual icons for the city of Shanghai. Yao Ming said he had warned Liu Xiang before; both of them are in the same boat; both are centre of attraction; both are very lonely; both sacrifice personal freedom as celebrities. In the interview, when Yao Ming was referred to as China's richest person, he painstakingly corrected the host that he is only China's richest athlete. For this title, Yao Ming thought he lost alot; particularly he lost alot of personal freedom. "The biggest pain is that I lost alot of personal freedom; In Shanghai and in USA, I am a celebirty. Relatively speaking, USA is better than Shanghai; I could just put on my sunglasses and drive in my car, and I can still have some personal space."

Yao Ming once did a commercial for the Shanghai muncipality; he still remembered it as "a very enjoyable but also painstaking experience". At that time, in order to save time, it was once planned that the commercial would not be shot on sites, but Yao Ming decided the commercial should be done outdoor on sites. "That was an unforgettable experience for me. Every of my return trip to Shanghai was a short and hurried one, and Shanghai's changes (in the past few years) was so big. So as the commercial was done in Xintiandi, Huangpu River and the new Pudong International Airport, this just let me have a passionate feeling and felt I am again melted into and reunited with Shanghai."

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mokulen · Jan 17, 2006

pryuen said:

Yao Ming thought his English proficiency is still not good enough. Yao Ming thought his oral English and comprehension is good enough to understand sarcasms in the changing room. But he strongly believed that the American culture and slang and thrash-talkings of the black players were still big gaps that he can never surmount or master.
Click to expand...

For the amusement of us all, I'd like to hear him try.

Thanks for posting.

LFE171 · Jan 17, 2006

pryuen said:

"Do you think Michael Jordan ever thought about retirement right after his 1st championship ? Of course not, or else he would not have ended up with 5 championship rings."
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I believe he had 6 rings buddy

TMac640 · Jan 17, 2006

LFE171 said:

I believe he had 6 rings buddy
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they took one away due to the lockout season of 97-98

barryxzz · Jan 17, 2006

LFE171 said:

I believe he had 6 rings buddy
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He must have meant 5 more rings.

Yetti · Jan 17, 2006

Trash Talking is not desired. it is a detriment to the purity of the sport. It is associated with street mentality.

pgabriel · Jan 17, 2006

Yetti said:

Trash Talking is not desired. it is a detriment to the purity of the sport. It is associated with street mentality.
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awesome

hashmander · Jan 17, 2006

Yetti said:

Trash Talking is not desired. it is a detriment to the purity of the sport. It is associated with street mentality.
Click to expand...

WTF? purity? where have I heard stuff like that before?

ima_drummer2k · Jan 17, 2006

Yetti said:

.
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YES!!!!

pgabriel · Jan 17, 2006

I would love Yao to develop a little more "street mentality", if that's what you want to call it.

Uprising · Jan 17, 2006

"Talk is cheap mother******!"

I'm hoping he and TMAC will become a dynasty for a few years.

pryuen · Jan 17, 2006

LFE171 said:

I believe he had 6 rings buddy
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ME BAD..... it was my translation oversight/error.

In the original, it mentioned the SUBSEQUENT 5 championship rings.

MLittle577 · Jan 17, 2006

pryuen said:

Originally the TV host, Wang Dong...
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*snicker*

Hippieloser · Jan 17, 2006

Yetti sighting!!!

Oh, and thanks for the translation, pryeun

Bassfly · Jan 18, 2006

pryuen said:

On this topic, Yao Ming related an incident that happened in the past. Once Jeff Van Gundy was outlining game plan/strategies to Yao Ming and the other Rockets, and mentioned a substitute player of the other team, who Yao Ming could not recognize. Jeff Van Gundy became a little bit angry as he had repeatedly mentioned about that player's name. Yao Ming whispered in a low voice: "Everybody looks the same." Such comment in China would not have problem, but in the multi-racial America, that could mean big troubles. After his comment, a few players in the changing room came up to Yao Ming and quipped: "Yao, you're a racist !!" "Well, everyone knows I am just not such kind of person. That is really the cultural difference." Yao Ming helplessly acknowledged. "That incident helped me to lean to become more careful and pay more attention."
Click to expand...

LOL. crazy

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Yao Ming Vowed Championship For Houston Rockets

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