Uh, kwik_e_mart I haven't seen people from "other areas in the US" making the comments I was referring to. That's not what I was addressing at all. I don't want any confusion in that regard. rockbox, Texas became a state in 1846 after 10 years of independence. Austin is on numerous lists as one of the best cities in America to live, and Houston has been a high-tech bastion and headquarters for NASA and thousands of it's employees since the '60's. It is also one of the most culturally diverse. This is a topic we really don't need to get into. It's too ridiculous. Some just don't get it. Let them enjoy their ignorance.
Haha. You just want to get even, right? Go ahead and bash China and I am getting tired of wasting my time to be irritated by people like Heypartner. I do not blame your post, though. I expect the irritation coming. I guess that I have hit the nerves of the some of the posters. I am simply saying that it will be better off for Yao Ming to be developed in a less conservatifve environment in places like NY and LA. Houston is simply not NYC and LA/SF. No wonder that US Olympics Committee chose NYC/SF as the contender cities for 2012 because they are truely international (quotes from US Olympics). They are the second homes of the world. People go there and their culture are not bashed but rather cherished unlike in Houston, as far as I can observe from this bbs.
Tech firms, now seemingly used exclusively for info tech firms, refers in general to firms in the leading technology. Before 90s. There's apple, IBM, Lotus, TI, etc, Boeing, and other high tech defence companies, and other firms who are under Pantagon's restricted tech export lists.
I guess I would rather people not know how great Texas is. Too many Californians moving to Austin anyways. The only person I want to move here is Ming. The rest of ya'll can go to h*ll.
Compaq was broght by Hewlitt Packard, headquatered in California. Dell was indeed a successful story due to its JIT model to cut down the costs. But that is hardly innovation. Most of Dell components are made in China these days, right? EDS can hardly compared to IBM, another NY giant. Dallas does have some telecom and semiconducter companies, thanks to refugees migrated from high cost Silicon Valley. So do Denver, RTC. But considering the world-wide telecom meltdown, humm. Innovation of information technology reside in Silicon Valley and Boston loop 128. I do not think anyone can argue about that.
I suggest all mainland based people should read this article. http://www.vdare.com/misc/derbyshire/sino-fascism.htm This is the background knowledge if you begin to argue something with our Western friends. It is a good start to understand what is in their minds . Yao Ming is a commie monster. This IS the fact here. There's no reason to single out texas. Califonia will be the same.
Thats cool, since you don't care about this forum...just leave...seriously. China can do no wrong in your eyes and its basically the US that lied about getting clearance to sign Ming before this time, regardless of what head Rockets officials have said to the public. I'm glad you think that your government and the CBA(c0ck-blockers association) is righteous in every way...good for you...now please...rid us of your pesky presence...Thank you.
I am glad that you responded in a positive way, which is scary commodity on this thread, at least. Remember, diehard Rockets fans, Yao is a very loyal Chinese citizen and any China bashing will not go well to him. As I said earlier, basketballwise, it is absolutely the right decision. Culturallywise, after witnessing this thread, I am not sure now.
fwang I don't post very much as you can tell,but been around this BBS from very first month(checking fan's openion)and around Rockets and Houston for very long time!! I love IT!!!!!!! The more time I think about it the surer I am that this is the best place Ming can be for different reasons. I have been to China and I am as I said in Houston,they both are great places with great people and thats not the only thing we have in common!! An open mind is always good. Heypartner Thanks for undersatnding and I have read your material for long enough to know you are much better then some here think,but thats just nature of sports. Enjoy!!
Another positive post. I agree that it is unnecessary for everyone to take a significant detour on this thread. Maybe we should've blamed windandsea who initiated the thread (Joke). Windandsea, I personally love to be kept up-to-date on Yao Ming! Thank you!
I actually live in NYC, fwang. While I have appreciated some of your posts in the past, this comment that you are making on Houston being a lesser environement for Yao than East Coast or West Coast cities - is just wrong. In fact, Houston is very culturally diverse from the simple fact that it is relatively cheap for foreign immigrants to start anew there. People in Houston have been exposed to all sorts of cultures and Yao would not feel outcast there. Your perception of BBS's not being open-minded is off track as well. They are not bashing China or its people. They are apalled by the goverment regime that rules China and its people. IMO, China is not even a commmunist country, at least no where near the way Lenin had envisioned - but that's for another thread and forum! Anyways, the bottomline is that poor Yao Ming is being handcuffed by no apparent fault of his own. As I had asked in a previous post, are you aware of any recourse he has in perhaps appealing to another govermental body?
fwang, I think you have gone too far. First off, none in their right minds would believe NYC will be a better place for Yao Ming's development, we are talking about 6 daily papers competing for readers here. I dont know much about LA/SF, I know there is a large Chinese population there. Does that mean Ming will be better off playing there? I am not sure. But one thing I am pretty sure is his English will suffer. Besides, I have always believed that Houston would be a perfect place for Ming even before Houston drafted him. It has a large Chinese population, but not as large; Rockets is a good team not like GSW; Rockets needs a center and a center only to become a great team; Finally, Rockets has the history of developing its big man (I heard when Hakeem first went to NBA, he was regarded a defense stopper, look at how much he has developed offensively). Finally, your ripping Houston using its loss for hosting Olympic is just way too mean. I believe all of us, our country or our city ,regardless of where we are from, have lost in some kind of competition, unless we never competed.
Pleeese, you think that NY fans are more open-minded than houston fans? How many Mets games have you been to? Seriously, you haven't the first clue about America and its people...I guess you think you do from all the "100% unbiased and completely factual" chinese media. Fwang, people ARE pretty much the same everywhere...china or the US. They'll react the same way to some stereotyping jackass that is obviously ignorant about the topics and the culture he is arguing about. HP is actually trying to clear up some of your confusion and mis-informed idea's, but instead of listening you keep beating a dead horse and refuse to listen...should I think that all chinese are this way? Well if I use your "rational" thinking, then I should. Seriously...like I said before...make like a tree.
I am tired of all the politicizing on this thread (and some others). This is a BASKETBALL BBS! Pleeeeeease! That said. Let's point out the fact that almost every westerner who does business with China knows how difficult it is to get through all the hassles. This is a fact. I am not trying to pass ethical or political judgments. Let's just say that the ideas of business, contract, commitment, trust, etc. etc. are vastly different between China and the West. This is what the Rockets management is dealing with. We as fans have nothing we can do but wait and see. I remember Don Nelson commented on this problem of dealing with Chinese officials after the Rockets expressed their will to get Yao Ming: "Just when you think you have all the bases covered, something inevitible will happen that will blow up all your plans. So good luck." (Something like that, not a verbatim quote) Apparently, Nellie did know what he was talking about.
I propose the moderators start a new forum entitled "Insecure Nationalistic Bandwagoners" so arrogant narrow minded houstonians(oooh I didn't capitalize houston. my wolf is offended) can discuss sports without somebodys national pride being hurt --lol. seriously some people are so neurotic, their whole identification process is so wacked, that no matter what you say they'll always find a way to percieve it as a personal attack upon their culture and national pride. damn lets get the season rolling...oh but lets trade Mo Taylor first for Menke Bateer for the sole reason that he's a banger.. yeah sure...whatever.
A really crappy post dude. If the CBA and Chinese government were pulling these stunts with the Knicks they'd be getting trashed like crazy in every newspaper and on every sports talk show. You have no idea. Houston is an excellent situation for Yao's development. In fact there probably isn't a better situation for him in this league right now.
I looked at the official site for the Asian Games, read the FAQ there, etc., and can't find any sort of evidence that the AG's are anything more than the 'Goodwill Games' east. My belief is that the reason Wang blew off the AG's is because it's a baloney JV tourney, and NOT tied to Olympic qualification in any way - that and he'll never leave the country again if he crosses into Chinese territory under the present circumstances - a whole 'nother argument. Please provide a link to something that states the Asian Games is tied to Olympic qualifying or back off using that claim in any Wang-bashing. FWIW to the discussion: Donnie Nelson claims the negotiated terms of Wang's availability to the CBA and the Chinese NT was simply a gentlemens agreement and NOT anything legal in the eyes of the NBA. DB.com: "There is no agreement,’’ Nelson says, suggesting that it is an “understanding’’ rather than a contract that motivates the Mavs to be as cooperative as possible with China. “It’s like you and your next-door neighbor. We spent two years of hard work, along with some fine people over there, to make Wang’s dream come true." Wang's breaking his word regarding the 'agreement' with the Chinese won't fly to your American audience considering we would react from the gut that breaking one's word in this case was a sign of strength of integrity, rather than the opposite as some here have claimed. I don't know if this will be understood by our Chinese friends here who bafflingly continue to defend Chinese manipulation of their B-Ball talent. We don't understand you and you obviously don't understand us. As a Mav fan who has watched the tooth-pulling it took to squeak 80 NBA games out of Wang's busy commie schedule since he was drafted in 1999, I'll just let Rox fans know that this is just the beginning. Nobody has yet smacked the Chinese in the nose with a rolled up newspaper and said "Enough!" when it comes to the constant redefining of terms and endless negotiations which are designed to squeeze every ounce of blood from their NBA dealings. Only flat-out legal walls define the limits of their vision when it comes to seeking fertile opportunities to exploit in wielding these young mens' talent like poker chips. IT WILL NOT END ... get used to it or it'll drive you crazy. I find it amazing that Rox fans never consider that Yao Ming's Rocket teammates will enjoy their full pay over the length of this (and I'm sure the next) Ming contract while Yao will be given a small Commie stipend to daily ponder in comparison as his 22-year-old, bicycle-riding, EA-Sports-playing worldview expands as he tastes life in the US. Don't think the Commie masters don't consider this. Do you honestly believe that thoughts of what life would be like if he actually received the money he earned will never cross Yao's mind over the course of the next few years, affecting his attitude and play, and his aspirations for individual freedoms and choice?? A little empathy reveals future problems there. The crutch of saying that Wang and Ming 'owe' their Chinese masters for 'developing' their talent, thus making reasonable the clamps on their schedule and the siphoning of their paychecks is growing tiresome. Western athletes 'repay' such obligations by backing youth leagues (Steve Nash in Vancouver), running b-ball camps in the old neighborhood (Michael Finley in Maywood), building facilities at their old schools (countless examples in all sports), funding grants and scholarships, providing opportunities for disadvantaged local youths, hosting charity events and lending their names to fund-raising, and so on and so and so on. All of this on top of the prestige and money they've already brought to their local communities as developing 'non-paid' student-athletes. An obligation like some claim these Chinese talents owe their masters leaves us waiting for some further revelation about the warmth and nurturing of a hardline gov't system. The money the hoop masters in China have already made off these guys' careers in Asia (Tix, concessions, TV contracts, etc.) more than repays those who clustered them in stark athletic dormatories and fed them endless bowls of rice so that they might enjoy the gentle ministrations of the commie athletic system.
Please don't presume to speak for me. At least say, "We Americans (except JuanValdez)...." The idea someone might relate your rhetoric to me is a bit embarassing.
Franz Kafta, Dallas Mavericks fans telling us what to expect is getting tiresome. Yao is a #1 pick. Wang is barely on the radar of Stern's interest. Don't fool yourself. It is different. Be prepared for Stern to say a signed Wang cannot play or practice in the NBA for the course of the Asian Games. It is China's right, by FIBA rules. The Asian Games are a sanctioned FIBA Event, and National Teams are well within their right to call a player home. Another thing that is different is the manner China officials view Yao, and sincerely want to him to succeed. Money is an issue (why not), but Chinese business men (and the govt) have a great opportunity to make huge money on the success of Yao Ming without taking a penny from the NBA or Yao....it is called raking in advertisement dollars for a huge TV market, and growing the CBA market with it. Just like you say, you don't understand the goals of the CBA and their owners, and you don't understand that the primary (stated) focus of the "Commie" head of the CBA is to make sure the game turns a profit, just like Stern. If you want to call these bball officials "Commies" well then, explain to me exactly what a "Collective Bargaining Agreement" is, what a draft with 4yrs of Forced Labor for one owner at a Salary Scale is...what a "Luxury Tax" is...a "Union" of workers ... a "Salary Cap" ...an Escrow Tax where the owners take 10% of players salaries to redistribute. Aside from the magnitude of difference in salaries, explain to me why I can't use "Commie" terms to describe how the NBA controls their players and owners to redistribute income. The NBA is a pseudo free market "commie athletic system," and so is the CBA. That is by order of the Chinese "Commies." The purpose of the NBA and the CBA is identical. It is to fill stadiums and sell licenses. If they are Commies ... then we are. I do not consider Chinese communism as manifested in the CBA to be bad. I just want them to release Yao and start talking bucks with Sterns...and quit this internal posturing...and as Yetti says...Machismo. China is set up for a rightful market bonanza on the success of Yao Ming. Wang is a peanut. Maverick fans who don't understand this are getting really tiresome.
