Here is the more detail of the telethon content that I found posted by a fan at a Yao's fan site. I cannot read Chinese so I cannot verify the source. It is interesting though.
YAO: Hey Eddie, would you be my guest in the telethon? Eddie: nah man I'll be in Bahama getting high with Mo Taylor
This is getting a fair amount of positive play here in Toronto, as we can sort of relate to the whole SARS scare... Yao Ming: A big man with a big pump May. 8, 2003. 01:00 AM Rocket's fundraiser helps his homeland Garth Woolsey Toronto Star A young man with an even bigger heart than most suspected, Yao Ming is proving himself to be as much of a force off the basketball court as he is on it. The 7-foot-5 centre is playing host to a telethon this weekend back home in China, aimed at raising funds to fight SARS, the disease that has hit his homeland so hard. Good on him, too. Who better to front the good cause than a 22-year-old who is quite likely the most popular man in China, after he carried the flag for the world's most populous country this past season with the Houston Rockets. This is what sporting heroes are supposed to do, display a social conscience, share their power, lead by example. Many young athletes involve themselves in good works, to varying degrees; those who do not should look up to Yao for leadership. The threat posed by SARS in China, of course, is dire; the need is great. Torontonians can sympathize better than most. We've had a taste in recent weeks of the fear and disruption the disease causes. Yao's doing his Jerry Lewis turn Sunday. Lewis, the comedian, made his telethon to aid the fight against muscular dystrophy a Labour Day tradition. It was Yao's idea to stage the fund-raiser in his communist homeland, a concept that quickly has blossomed into a massive undertaking involving a potential television audience of 1 billion, depending on how other Chinese networks agree to carry the telecast from Shanghai. Many NBA stars, including Shaquille O'Neal and Canada's Steve Nash, have videotaped messages to be included in the three-hour telecast. Former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush might do so, too. "I just feel that there is an obligation as a celebrity to repay society and lead the way for other Chinese basketball players to do more in the way of community service," Yao told the Houston Chronicle through his cousin and agent Erick Zhang, in Shanghai. "This is a great opportunity to do that and a great cause." Marketing agent Bill Sanders said Yao is key to the project. "He's hosting it, producing it, you name it. When he got home, he was blown away by the impact SARS has had. He got off the plane and there was health screening at the airport, people in masks, people in chemical suits sterilizing everything. He said he wanted to do something about this and this plan was devised." Rockets teammate Steve Francis has already donated $10,000 (U.S.) to the drive, as has Reebok. The NBA and Upper Deck are providing signed memorabilia from Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and others. The league also donated a pair of airline tickets from China to Houston for next fall's season opener. Yao, who is to report to the Chinese national team on May 19, is autographing a variety of items for auction. SARS has killed more than 200 people in China and infected thousands more. This week, the Chinese pulled their entry out of the world volleyball league, due to SARS. Soccer's women's World Cup has been moved out of China and hockey called off its own women's championship, scheduled last month in Beijing. Other cancellations will surely follow. The repercussions will be felt for years. Yao finished runner-up to Amare Stoudemire in voting for NBA rookie of the year, but he has to be considered already for the next J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, presented annually (David Robinson of San Antonio won it this year) by the league for exemplary community service. Old Chinese proverb: "A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives roses." P.S. This is my first ever copy/paste experiment...I am soooo proud.
They should also bring in Yao's girlfriend as a co-host. A 7-5" and 6'3" couple would look good on camera...
New Progress: http://www.nba.com/nba_tv/telethon_030508.html Interactive telethon to be simulcast Sunday, May 11th, 5-8 A.M. ET SARS Telethon, Hosted By Yao Ming, to Air Live On NBA TV in the U.S. SECAUCUS, N.J., May 8 -- NBA TV -- the league's 24 hour television network -- will simulcast a special three-hour interactive SARS fundraiser telethon on Sunday, May 11th live from 5-8:00AM/ET (rebroadcast from 8-11:00AM/ET). The telethon, co-organized by the Shanghai TV Great Sports Channel (STV) and Houston Rockets' star Yao Ming, will be hosted by Yao, and will help raise funds to combat the epidemic. "The fight against SARS is an extremely important one and I wanted to do something to support the fight and help overcome the disease," said Yao Ming. "This is the least I can do to help my country get through this difficult time." NBA TV's telecast will feature commentary and translation from Yao's translater Colin Pine, along with translator Mei Jiangzhong. Jay Stone Shih, producer and host of China Crosstalk, a mandarin-based, live call-in TV talk show, will also provide commentary, all from the NBA TV studios in Secaucus, NJ. During the show, viewers in the U.S. can contribute to this cause by calling the American Red Cross at 1-800 HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669). The goal is to raise funds to provide much needed support in the fight against SARS. Many members of the NBA family have already joined Yao Ming in this effort to battle against SARS. Among those who have already pledged their support and will be featured on the show with messages, include Yao's teammate Steve Francis, Derek Fisher, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Dikembe Mutombo, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic, Phil Jackson, Bill Walton, Earl Monroe, Kevin McHale, John Havlicek, Richard Jefferson, David Robinson and NBA Commissioner David Stern. The show is a co-production of the Shanghai TV Great Sports Channel and the Shanghai Broadcasting Network, and will be televised nationally across China. This will be the first major telethon ever to be conducted in China.
Not good, not good at all to the Rockets franchise and fans!!! Yao Ming is very selfish for not devoting his 100% energy to his team. He is not a franchise player that we should build our team around. Look at him, he is running around wasting energy on something else other than the Rockets. We all know the Rockets are the most important thing of the universe, and anything other than the team is inferior in importance. He is working tirelessly during vacation! That, combined with his long schedule with the Chinese NT, is a sure sign that he will be very very very tired again during next season. Rookie wall will turn into sophomore slump. Yao is a bad person!!! We pick the wrong guy!!!
Yeah, I thought this was supposed to be his vacation time. Doesn't he understand what a blue-collar real worker spends his time?
what a great guy. thats all i have to say. hes so real and genuine. and you know, id bet that there are some players who actually would resent yao, not understanding that he does it bc he really cares, not bc he craves the PR. just my take anyway.
jamalccc, I hope you're being sarcastic. If you're serious when you say these dumb things, shame on you. Rockets are not the most important thing in this universe. People are dying of a extremely contagious virus, if the cure is not found, in a really short time SARS will come here to the US. By the time, Jamalccc will be wearing mask whenever he goes out. What's heck is wrong with taking responsibility and use his influence for a charitable cause. I wish more athelet do what Yao is doing. Giving back to the community and humanity and not just thinking stupid thing like "he have a better car". [/QUOTE]
