Thats easier to say than to do...but your mind will change when chuck hayes starts missing point blank lay-ups, and scola starts bricking free-throws...Then you will be hollering at your tv screen "Put yao back in the game"
Guys need to buy a sense of humor and try and get that when they are on sale right along with a nice sarcastic meter. Geez... This board is infested, I tell you.
Now this I agree with. Ass kicking. Elimination. Bring Yao back to the USA to rest. Sounds like a plan.
I completely agree with the poster. If not, retire completely from the national team, than he needs to limit his play to the Olympics (if his body is able to last another four years). I mean I gotta ask the Chinese posters, is there really that much national pride tied up in medaling in the Goodwill Games? I say medaling because even with Yao and Yi, your national team is still not able to compete with the likes of the U.S., Argentina, Spain, ect. Regardless of national pride, the NBA is the highest level of competition, Yao is selling himself short if he's putting more importance on the national team than the NBA. He needs to prove himself among the best players in the world on the biggest basketball stage in the world. If he doesn't then the Rockets have no other choice but to not extend his contract.
They Chinese Gov't and National team needs to treat Yao just like every other FIBA player around the world. They need to look at how other countries work with their NBA players like Ginobili and Dirk. Just play in the NBA. Forget the meaningless national team games and come back for the big games like the Olympics. Yao has nothing to prove and neither to the Chinese National teams.
AMEN TO THAT!!! I AGREE 100%.....Is the CNT really gonna win it all??? That's a Hell No.. I respect playing for your country but man put your priorities in order... YAO, you are known as a international sports figure for what you do in the NBA not on the CNT.. REmember that....The NBA brought you money, and fame and your celebrity like status...And for all the people who say Yao is insanely famous among the chinese back home... Well the only reason for that is because he has NBA star potential...If he was an ordinary player on the chinese team with no NBA aspirations then he would be just another guy and not the figure that he is today even in china.. So Yao, you should really remember why and how you became the sports figure you currently are today.
Are you freaking kidding me?!?! You can make analogies relating the NBA to regular jobs all day, but it doesn't mean they are true. Truth is, the NBA is different from other jobs. Damn right you can belittle yao for playing in international games because he's making god damn $17 million from the Rockets next season! In another job you won't be able to tell anyone what they do in their own free time, but in the NBA you sure can. Look at Greg Oden. He went and played some pick up games at 24 hr Fitness while he has a contract with the Blazers. It was in his own free time right? What happened? The Blazers showed who's boss, and Oden definitely won't be playing at 24 hr Fitness again. And I wouldn't be surprised if there was more talent at the 24 hr Fitness than the Chinese National Team. Point is, the NBA is different from other jobs and if they're paying you all these millions of dollars, they expect your commitment to their team, and anything that jepordizes your health can be FORBIDDED by the NBA (another example with Jason Williams and his motorcycle accident. NBA players are NOT allowed to ride motorcycles). So stop with the stupid analogies. It's not the Americans fault that they have "talent all over the place," unlike China. But you are absolutely right that the USA would not be too happy if they only had one talented player and he didn't play for USA. But you know what? If China was paying him $17 million dollars to play over there, USA couldn't do a damn thing about it. That player's priorities would be in China, not USA at that point. All this loyalty bull crap goes down the drain when the Rockets are the ones providing Yao with all his luxuries. People saying that "well blame Les because he made a bad investment." My ass! Les didn't expect Yao to play 50 games every year because his priorities are with the Chinese National Team. If Yao is going to fulfill his role with the Rockets, and play 70+ games every year, he can go play for the Chinese National Team whenever he god damn wants. But if that team is in any way limiting him from his duties with his PRIMARY EMPLOYER, then it needs to be put an end to. The Olympics better damn well be the last time Yao plays for the Chinese National Team. After that, if he gets injured and he continues to play for that sorry ass team, trade him.
I have to disagree. It's been mentioned before, but the Rockets had to have known that playing for China was Yao's number 1 concern even before they drafted him. He is the face of that country and playing for his people gives them strength. The fact that he cares so much about his roots and his people just attests to the quality of his character. It seems selfish to ask him to give that up just in leiu of "all that money". Speaking of which, Les's monetary commitment to Yao goes far beyond his on-the-court return. It buys Les access into that multi-billion dollar Chinese market and then some. So let's not lose sight of that when trying to figure out who owes who what.
Its not about money, its about competing with the best players in the world. He is not doing that in most international play, he would be doing that in the second round against the Lakers.
oden, like most other players, have that written in his contract. that's why the blazers can have a saying of what he does. otoh, when les drafted and signed yao, the team had already known and accepted the fact (or condition if you will) that yao would play for the cnt. it's a mutual understanding and agreement among the rockets, china, and yao himself. that's just the way it is. big difference there.
