More rest for Yao. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16174504%5E23769,00.html Superstar pulls pin on Gaze Cup By Tim Morrissey August 07, 2005 HOUSTON Rockets centre Yao Ming and his entourage appear to have pulled out of this week's Gaze Cup in Perth and Sydney. The Chinese superstar and former No1 NBA draft pick was to be the biggest drawcard - in size and fame - for the Four Nations basketball tournament featuring the Boomers, China, Lithuania and New Zealand. Tournament organisers Basketball Australia were initially told Yao would be playing and that he was bringing his own doctor, two physiotherapists, two security guards and hisagent. However, BA is still waiting for a reply from China Basketball to emails it sent three weeks ago asking for confirmation as to whether Yao would be playing. The giant 226cm, 134kg Rocket is recovering from foot surgery that forced him to miss the recent Stankovic Cup in Beijing, a tournament in which the Boomers and Lithuania also competed. With Yao earning $7.3 million for the 2005-06 NBA season and $9.5m the following season, China's national hero clearly wasn't about to risk his career with the Rockets. While Yao's likely absence is a huge blow to basketball fans and tournament organisers - on top of the unavailability of the latest NBA No1 draft pick, Australia's Andrew Bogut - the Boomers' hopes of winning the Gaze Cup have improved. "Yao Ming is a ridiculously good athlete for his size and even his shooting touch around the basket is amazing," Boomers star and Sydney Kings skipper Jason Smith said. "To play against a guy his size with his moves and the skills packet he has is incredibly hard. "When Ming plays, there are always a lot of jump shots." The Gaze Cup starts in Perth on Tuesday and will wrap up in Sydney on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The tournament is also vital preparation for the upcoming Oceania series between the Australian Boomers and the New Zealand Tall Blacks.
Nice to see Yao is getting rest!! Tough for those tournament oraginzers, I know they probably were counting on Yao for extra money at the gate and respectability. But, in the long run, Yao needs to rest to be sharp next season.
Yao should be ashamed of himself. Money hungry athlete dissing his country and quitting on them. It should be a honor to represent your country. Another selfish NBA player
now there ain't going to be no excuses for Yao Ming supporters...i do think this rest will help him. 20pts 10reb this year?
Wow, name calling in the GARM! For a minute I thought I was in the D&D. Glad to hear Yao pulled out, it is much better for him to get the neccessary rest rather than play in a pointless tournament.
Ahh, I feel sorry for the australian organizers, there were so many hypes of Yao in the promotions...oh well, enjoy the rest Yao
Yao isnt a money hungry guy. He wouldnt pull out unless he knew he could not play. Come on have some faith in the guy. What has he done in the past 3 years that remotely shows he is in it for the money. He's said it before, he'd rather bring china an olympic gold medal then win a championship. He would not just bail out on his team. Its not yao.
ohh sarcasm macfan.......oh i see. You need to get a little better at it. Voice tone cant be interpretted in text. It read like u were serious
On one hand im dissapointed I won't get to see Yao in Perth on the other I'm glad he is getting the rest during the off season. I'm
anyone else saw this new kid in the CNT play in the Stoy cup?? I think his name is Sun Yue, that kid is amazing
