<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">While Yao Ming begins the first steps in his recuperation from surgery on a broken bone in his left foot, the Rockets could be faced with trying to mend a suddenly anxious relationship with basketball officials and fans in China. The concern is over the recovery timetable ? four to six months ? the Rockets originally announced and Yao's subsequent availability to play with the Chinese national team at the World Championships this summer in Japan. Wire service stories out of Beijing and Internet chat rooms have been filled with suspicion about the Rockets' motives at bringing Yao back so slowly and with anger directed at coach Jeff Van Gundy. Chat-room fan fumes "He (Van Gundy) disabled Yao Ming! He's more vicious than a capitalist!" fumed one chat-room fan, according to Reuters news service. "The Rockets are already out of the playoffs, yet Yao still plays. I firmly support (Van Gundy's) sacking!" The World Championships will run from Aug. 19-Sept. 3 and even a four-month recovery period would put Yao's return just before the start. Though China is guaranteed a berth in the 2008 Olympics by being the host country, the fact is that outside the United States, the World Championships are considered the most prestigious competition. In addition, the fact the event will be held in Japan ? a political and cultural rival ? gives China added motivation. Plus, pre-tournament exhibition games featuring the national team are scheduled across China. Those games would lose their top money-making draw if Yao, 7-6, were to sit out. Rockets officials expressed dismay that anyone would think they were attempting any funny business. "I don't want to get into a fight," said Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson. "I've had a good relationship with the Chinese, and I very much want to keep it that way. What we've got to do is convey to them that our only interest is Yao's best interest. That's going to be the way it always is. It's unfortunate that he got hurt. We've got to get it fixed where it won't affect his career." The decision will be left to Yao, who agreed to play for the Chinese national team when he received permission to enter the 2002 NBA draft. There have been indications he would prefer to sit out the World Championships and rehabilitate with the Rockets. But he will feel pressure ? from basketball fans, from the government, perhaps from his parents ? to play. The player's call "This is Yao's call," Van Gundy said. "We want him to do what's best for his career. But this is about Yao." Yao was injured one week ago in Salt Lake City when he was kicked by the Utah Jazz's Mehmet Okur, resulting in a clean break in the fifth metatarsal bone of his left foot. Dr. Tom Clanton repaired the break ? and inserted a screw for strengthening ? Friday at Memorial Hermann-Texas Hospital. Chinese basketball officials had wanted to send two of their doctors to Houston to examine Yao before the surgery, but they were rebuffed by the Rockets. Healing varies If the recovery goes fast, it is possible Yao, 25, can be back on a basketball court working out in 10 weeks. That's late June. But there have been other players ? Michael Jordan among them ? who have taken closer to the four- to six-month timetable. That is the time that, according to medical experts, it takes for a clean break to return to its previous bone density. But the screw was inserted to strengthen the bone. "As you might expect, it all caused much concern in China among the media and the fans," said Jai Li, a reporter for the World Journal who is based in Houston to cover the Rockets. "At first, there was a great deal of alarm. There were even some people saying the injury could force Yao Ming to retire. I think it has calmed down quite a bit since then." "I just want Yao to recover when he can and become an even better basketball player," Van Gundy said. "I've got enough problems already without being a vicious capitalist pig."</div> Source
Yao broke his foot! do they actually believe he'll be able to play this summer? that could seriously mess up his career if he tries to rush.
I bet Yao's so bummed right now because there's nothing better than the feeling of playing for your country.
Right now as of now there is rumors Team China is sending some of the best Chinese Medicine Practioners to perscribe medicine to help the bone and muscle heal. And also the chinese have a right to be mad. You let yao play in a game that was virtually meanlingless when the rockets were already far out of the playoff race and he injuries what could be valuable training time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tinyballer:</div><div class="quote_post">Right now as of now there is rumors Team China is sending some of the best Chinese Medicine Practioners to perscribe medicine to help the bone and muscle heal. And also the chinese have a right to be mad. You let yao play in a game that was virtually meanlingless when the rockets were already far out of the playoff race and he injuries what could be valuable training time.</div> Part of being a <u>professional</u> athlete is playing in every game regardless if you are going to make the post season or not. No game is meaningless for these players. It was an unfortunate accident, but you can't blame JVG for having Yao play in this game.
Yao signed a contract that entitles him to play all 82 games if he is able. Calling Van Gundy a vicious capitalist for playing Yao is ridiculous. Remember, fans paid to go see that game, and a good number of them went to see Yao Ming play. Yao is in the NBA, in America. The Chinese government has no right to force him to play for his country if he doesn't want to.
I wonder what the fans' reaction would've been had JVG sat out Yao during his hot streak... I understand China's anger, both sides have a very high stake in this mess, it's unfortunate that this injury occured. Remember, Yao was sent to the NBA to improve Chinese basketball. National pride is a very big deal to the Chinese people and gov't, it is a different concept than here in America, it is not necessarily the Chinese gov't being an oppresive force that only watches for it's own interests (as some would like to believe). And I would imagine there's tons of fans in China that have paid and want to see Yao play in the exhibition games. However, I hope Yao comes back when he's physically ready, not because of the inevitable pressure.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting virve119:</div><div class="quote_post">Yao signed a contract that entitles him to play all 82 games if he is able. Calling Van Gundy a vicious capitalist for playing Yao is ridiculous. Remember, fans paid to go see that game, and a good number of them went to see Yao Ming play. Yao is in the NBA, in America. The Chinese government has no right to force him to play for his country if he doesn't want to.</div> The very misleading thing about this article is the fact that all this is based on speculation. All it says is that "Wire service stories out of Beijing" bring suspicion about Yao's injury. No Chinese official was quoted in the article and out of about 100 million fans, at least one would have made the capitalist commentn. However, that doesn't mean that the entire Chinese population, or even the majority, suspect that the Rockets are holding Yao out on purpose. It's too early to jump the gun and criticize the Chinese government.
OMG.. i really feel for the Chinese people. They love yao ming so much and about everyone of them in china know him. but no one from the rockets organization is to blame. yao broke his foot unfortunately and too bad they wont see him this year. It wasnt his or jvg's fault. i guess they'll just have to wait.
Personally i don't think JVG is to blame but for yao to be out there in such a meanlingless game when attendance is going to be crappy either way is rediculous. If you haven't noticed teams are keeping their star players out when they don't make the playoffs unlike the rockets the most notable is kevin garnett. He hasn't played in like 12 games??? Houston should have done the same in the case something like this would happen. But its all done and no one is to blame but all i am hoping for now is that yao uses this time wisely to strengthen his upperbody and core.
everyone is looking at this in the americans or chinese perspective, but look at it in yao's perspective. seriously. how do you guys think he is feeling right now? i think part of the reason why yao hasnt lived up to the expectations of being MDP is because of all the pressure he is facing. he has to be the best in the NBA, and he has to dominate in china. he has to impress two countries by himself! seriously, i know he is a professional, but all the heat and all the pressure he is taking is really screwing him IMO. i just hope ji jialian wont have to go through all this crap. yao is faced with so much stress and everything, i really hope the guy can just sit down this off season and relax. seriously, he'll get a stroke or something! lol
Crazy semi-communists. Nah, I'm joking. But seriously, China's always been incredibly strict when it comes to their national team, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that kind of attitude rub off on the population.
Professional Athlete. Professional Sports. Your fans are paying your salary, funding your team, how can you give up? So the season's done, but you're still getting paid. As long as you're getting paid, you play. And even if you're not, if you truly love the game? You play.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting chineseafro:</div><div class="quote_post">Professional Athlete. Professional Sports. Your fans are paying your salary, funding your team, how can you give up? So the season's done, but you're still getting paid. As long as you're getting paid, you play. And even if you're not, if you truly love the game? You play.</div> Exactly. Great summary.
Exactly. The fans don't pay Yao's salary for him to sit on the bench the whole game. That's like going to work and sitting in your room all day doing nothing.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobimel:</div><div class="quote_post">Exactly. The fans don't pay Yao's salary for him to sit on the bench the whole game. That's like going to work and sitting in your room all day doing nothing.</div> you be amazed how many ppl get paid for doing just that. hin t hint amare.
Yao needs some rest......You see the numbers he puts up when fully healthy. If he continues to play in the NBA & China, his career will be cut short. China is greedy, they really expect Yao to keep playing over there his whole damn career. I mean damn, the man is tired. Let him do what he wants to do. If he wants to relax in the offseason, then let him do that.
I've read some Chinese forum about this issue and my conclusion is: A, Yes, most of the Chinese funs are not statisfied with JVG's system and the way he uses Yao. B, The suprising thing is that you can find a HUGE number of people think Yao's injury is a good thing so that he will have a good rest to prepare for the next season. C, Quite a lot of people would prefer that Yao should play for the national team but NOT all the matches! I think they are more angery about how the Chinese Basketball Association overused yao than JVC. Of course there are some selfish fake basketball funs think that Yao should play every single game for the country but I am 200% sure these are the minorities.
This is ridiculous. Asking even a normal sized man to come back from a foot injury would be bad enough, but we're not talking about a normal person, he's 7'6, the stress that his feet have to endure are just a bit more than other people. I hope he doesn't play, would really suck for his career to end because his country doesn't want him to sit out and rehab.
