Jeff Ain't u heard. . . Collier is Killing YAO in practice. . . . I have my sources. . . BET ME!!! Rocket River
Yao Ming took one look at that chump with his mask on and almost died laughing... Yao Ming: "Ah, it's Jason - trick or treat"
I just heard Yao speak some English on channel 2 kprc....sounds like he can speak it to me. If he can speak it, chances are he understands alot more.
From the update: I know this would be a shock to most of you, and to Cuttino and Moochie, but this isn't far fetched where I'm from. I just came back from an asian b-ball tournament where a lotta the players had thugged out corn rows. If we could get Yao to come down and hang out for a while, he just might end up wearing those corn rows. That is, if he made it out of the concrete jungle alive.
So, uh... is this a joke I'm just not getting? Or is Rocket River serious? Not that the first practice in Yao Ming's NBA career means a whole lot, but any feedback would be nice.
It sure is easier to swallow a few losing seasons when you end up as stocked as the Rockets are. I think the only thing they need is the chemistry we had from '93 to '95 and we will be set. I think Yao will be an excellent player, but I am nearly as excited about Eddie. We have a very deep team, which will serve us well when and if injuries occur this year.
I believe this is a joke referring to the reports that MoT was killing KT in pickup games over the summer...
Its great seeing Yao Ming in Rockets practice gear. But it will be even better to see him in the Rockets pajamas!!!
Man I can't wait to see our guys play. I hope Yao fulfills his potential. It's great to know he's finally in Space City! All we need now is the chemistry. Oh and new unis too. Go Rockets!!!
i noticed the samething in the rockets.com video footage.. rockets would come by and say and hi...and that was about it..it seemed people were chit-chatting with the translator more than yao... the one shot in rudy's office...rudy didnt even look at yao .... people seemed to keep there distance..he was all by his lonesome in the shot of him by his locker... i imagine the language/cultural has something to do with.. and his height...which is intimatidating... personally i think the translator should have tried to communicate more of the chatter in te room ... to put others and yao more at easy..he definitely looks like an outrsider..at this point.. i think it was great of stevie to break the ice with yao like he did...
Channel 13 reported that the coaches and players were impressed with Yao. He even blocked a shot by Rice. Not that hard to do, but a block is a block. Did not really go into details. From the footage, looks like hes getting along with everyone.
Here is a espn article about practice HOUSTON -- Yao Ming eased onto the court for his first NBA practice Monday and promptly missed his first jump shot. Then he went to the free throw line and made that shot. Yao Ming, top, shares a laugh with new teammate Steve Francis during his first workout with the Rockets. Before long, the NBA's No. 1 draft pick was chatting with Houston Rockets guard Steve Francis during stretching exercises and later, he was exchanging high-fives with his new teammates who can't wait to get him ready to play. Yao joined the team prior to Sunday night's game against Orlando and says he's ready to play in Wednesday night's game at San Antonio or Thursday when the Rockets host the Philadelphia 76ers in their final exhibition game. ''I think so (ready to play) but it's best to ask the coach,'' Yao said. Yao noticed immediately the NBA is a quicker game than international basketball. ''It's really fast,'' he said in English. ''How quickly? I guess every time we (the Chinese team) were waiting for the shot clock to get to eight seconds. Here, maybe only 10 seconds or maybe 15 seconds to shoot. But I like it, a lot of shooting.'' Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich won't say when Yao will get into a game, but Yao was thrown right into the scrimmage mix at the team's workout Monday. ''We've got to be careful not to throw the weight of the world on this guy,'' Tomjanovich said. Yao was an attentive student during his first practice session. Although he spoke frequently in English, his interpreter, Collin Pine, was by his side to lend assistance. ''We have to understand that even the players that have played in the U.S. and been through summer league and in their towns working out, it's still a big jump to the NBA,'' Tomjanovich said. ''I'm sure he's going to have some adjustments to make.'' Yao is quickly adjusting to the idea of living in America. ''Yesterday (Sunday) in San Francisco one guy asked, 'Can I have your autograph,' and he said 'I live in Houston,''' Yao said. ''I told him I live in Houston too. I just haven't been there.''
