http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=2537723 Why Yao? As much as I wish you'd stay at home with that big ass foot elevated until Rockets training camp, I still give you your due for doing your all for your home country.
I think this has been a question debated over and over again. We are not Yao Ming. We cannot make the decision for him. He had been working so d@mn hard throughout this summer so as to be able to represent his country in the World Championship. He will be bitterly disappointed if he fails to return for the World Championship. As he said earlier, it is his target to be able to help elevate China's position in world basketball, and lead China to a medal in Beijing come the 2008 Olympics. The World Championship is the last opportunity before the 2008 Olympics for China to compete on the world stage with the various basketball powerhouses, and for Yao Ming to assess where his team is, and where to improve on. That's why he so desperately wants to play. He also said he is currently 80% rehabilitated, and the rest 20% has to come from real actions on the court. So as it was clearly mentioned in the above article, that he wants to use the exhibition game against US national team as a barometer to assess whether he should continue to participate in the 2nd FIBA Continental Champion Cup tournament (August 10 ~ 15) in Nanjing so as to continue his rehabilitation/warm up to be able to return to 95% of his competitive form and shape for the World Championship. No one knows his body much better than himself. As he had said earlier, unless he can be back to 95% of his competitive form and shape, he'd rather skip the World Championship. And I don't think CBA will be forcing him per se to compete in the World Championship. So let's hope he will do fine in these warm-ups, and be returning to 95% competitive shape and form, play and dominate in the World Championship, and then return to Houston Rockets 100% fit and strong to take on the challenges of the new season.
Unlike in America, in most countries it is a honor to play for your national team, and the World championships meana lot to those countries. I'm sure he would not play if he feels it is dangerous for him. But I understand he wants to play. i was uinhappy when all the dutch basketbal players who played in the nba, didn't want to play for their national team(luckily Zwikker and Elson did want to play). I think that for a australian there is nothing better then playing for your national Rugby team(when i was in South Africa they announced the Springbok team, and it was huge for all the people in south africa), so you must understand.
Gosh, you call yourself an Aussie. AFL stand for Australian Football League played under Australian Rules
Can anyone else confirm that Yao will be playing this monday against Team USA? Because I read in the "Yao's off-season activities thread" that he would not be playing this Monday but will be on the court for the later games. Great news if Yao will be playing. I say if Yao wants to play and rep his country, then let the big guy play.
There are conflicting reports on this....... But I guess since he will need as many practice games as possible to be able to test out his left foot, and get back to 95% of shape and form, before the World Championship, what is better to compete against the NBA elites from the USA national team ? Moreover, the game in Guangzhou is already completely sold out....and all the fans really come to see Yao Ming plays. If he does not play, it will be very disappointing to the fans. So I think he will be playing.
If his foot is healthy I want him playing, staying in game shape. There are guys busting their asses at Fonde and other summer leagues right now. I want Yao to do the same.
i dont think its that much of a big deal. I think china realized that he cannot be expected to play 100% during the summers and that he needs to have rest for him to be okay for the olympics. I also think these games will be good for him to get back into shape. He needs to get some of his foot speed back (relative speed), since im sure he lost a litle during his recovery. i wonder if he's bulked up more in his upper body???
Yao Ming is only playing that game to take out Carmelo Anthony and Bruce Bowen so as to make sure Battier stays on Team USA.
I'm looking forward to Yao's recovery. Anyone know where I can get torrents to the videos of Team USA games? Such as the scrimmage game vs Puerto Rico. I know they are on ESPN/ESPN2 but I'd like a hardcopy to show my friends.