I can't believe this kind of writing is considered a sports article and 'news.' I didn't want to post this crappy article oh here, but I can't help it, it's too retarded. <font size=""1"">"Personality, not talent, holding Yao back Former No. 1 pick not a bust, but he'll probably never be great, either David J. Phillip / AP Yao Ming is having his finest scoring season, but can he lead the Rockets to a title "OPINION By Michael Ventre MSNBC contributor Updated: 1:32 a.m. CT Nov 10, 2006 Michael Ventre There are approximately 1.3 billion people in China, and almost none of them think Yao Ming is a bust. Yes, they are a bit biased. And while it’s true that a booming economy has loosened the sinister death grip that Communism once had on its people, allowing for more communication with the West and a bit more freedom of expression, the fact is that even if citizens there could take a few digs publicly at the Houston Rockets’ center, they probably wouldn’t. Even the most ardent anti-government activist would probably concede that the 7-foot-5 pride of that mighty nation can play a little. But here in the U.S., the reaction seems to be slightly less favorable. There’s little debate that he can score and rebound, and that the dire predictions that the former No. 1 overall draft pick in 2002 was destined to become the highest-paid dork in history were largely unfounded. Yet he has also not blossomed into a dominant force. He doesn’t change the game when he’s on the floor. He doesn’t strike fear into the hearts of opponents. He’s simply a prime example of isolationist basketball: A player large enough to score 24 points and grab eight rebounds a night, but who doesn’t have the ability or the drive to power his team to a championship." </font> MSNBC - Mostly Shitty News and Biased Crap" Rest of the "article." http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15647497/ Some stuff I picked out. "Yao does have all the physical gifts to become the next Shaquille O’Neal." Yea, Yao wants to shoot like crap and miss free throws. By contrast, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the Milwaukee Bucks to the conference finals in his rookie year Yao came all the way from China when he was very young. Over there they play team ball...which is why he was very passive. What, did he expect him to just come here and pull a Kareem and win a ring his rookie year? Michael Ventre is retarded. "This wasn’t Andrew Bynum, being thrust into a preposterously high profile situation as a first-round draft pick with the Lakers." Ventre is obviously a Laker fan. Why is it biased media writers are the only ones that get any attention? It's sad. Again, I am sorry you had to read that. Ventre is obviously watching a different sport. I nominate him for biggest douche ever.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But here in the U.S., the reaction seems to be slightly less favorable. There’s little debate that he can score and rebound, and that the dire predictions that the former No. 1 overall draft pick in 2002 was destined to become the highest-paid dork in history were largely unfounded.</div> dork?? didnt yao just drop 35 points 17 rebounds
^^^doesn't matter....Yao = the best center in the NBA, anyone who thinks otherwise knows nothing about basketball.............at all.
Jeez. I've said this all along: people like him would place enormous expectations on Yao, then blast him when he falls short of their expectations. Kevin Garnett hasn't led his team to a championship, Karl Malone didn't, Charles Barkley didn't, hell, Jordan couldn't even do it for his first seven years. Why give Yao the burden when plenty of "legends" couldn't do it either but still left behind a legacy? It's hard not to think that race is a factor in the criticism that Yao faces. It's not outright racism and the writer would swiftly deny any racial bias, but it's underlying in almost everyone's mind who hates on Yao. It's really sad to see.
First off, ever player is different. Kareem, Shaq, Yao, etc. Yao wasn't as nba ready as Shaq was when he entered the league, but he has worked hard to become better which has shown. Yao makes a really big impact for the Rockets and I'm sure that all the Rockets care about.
I think alot of the backlash on yao has to do with how he doesn't reflect alot people's view of a dominant center. After shaq everybody has exeected every dominant center to be able to dunk down on people and just use force as their main weapon. I bet if kareem actually played today he'd be criticized for relying so much on his sky hook, instead of taking it strong to the basket.
the definition of "dominance" in basketball is often confused with "power".....one that's powerful can be dominant, but it is possible to be dominate without power....prime example is Michael Jordan.
^^^ Good points Brasco. <div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Jeez. I've said this all along: people like him would place enormous expectations on Yao, then blast him when he falls short of their expectations. Kevin Garnett hasn't led his team to a championship, Karl Malone didn't, Charles Barkley didn't, hell, Jordan couldn't even do it for his first seven years. Why give Yao the burden when plenty of "legends" couldn't do it either but still left behind a legacy? It's hard not to think that race is a factor in the criticism that Yao faces. It's not outright racism and the writer would swiftly deny any racial bias, but it's underlying in almost everyone's mind who hates on Yao. It's really sad to see.</div> Especially when this guy called him a dork. What does that have to do with anything basketball? http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dork The definitions are linked to Asian stereotypes. <div class="quote_poster">GotSkillz92 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It was on the Knicks...</div> It's funny how quick Knicks fans go from talking about their team as a championship team to making comments like "It's just the Knicks," or It doesn't mean anything. Yes we know that. LAL beat GS, Minny, and Seattle to go 3-1, but no one said anything about that.
The dude's attitude would probably be radically different if his pipedream of Yao signing with the Lakers came true. It's a shame that some people work so hard to find reasons to not admire Yao's game that they completely forget what has made him the best center in the League.
<div class="quote_poster">GotSkillz92 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">^^^^ Im sensing a little bit of Dumbass</div> Why would you come onto another team's board and throw out one-liners? What at all do you gain from that? If you want to say Yao sucks, back it up somehow, instead of coining "fortune cookies." To be honest, no one cares who you work for; the fact remains that you came out knowingly saying something that could EASILY offend someone. And we're not talking about ONE GAME. Yao has been dominant for an entire year now. Since we're "just" talking about the Knicks, how 'bout the defending Western Conference Champions? Yao had 36 points against them. . . And yeah, they're 0-4, but that was the second game of the season, we helped start that losing streak of theirs. Yao is number NINE in the league in scoring, the top 10 is ALL guard-forwards. He's ahead of LeBron, Wade, Dirk, And he's playing 8 minutes less than all of them. He's carrying our team on his back, NO ONE can deny that. The person who wrote this article is a complete dumbass who probably watches Sports Center Highlights/ <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Yet he has also not blossomed into a dominant force. He doesn?t change the game when he?s on the floor. He doesn?t strike fear into the hearts of opponents. He?s simply a prime example of isolationist basketball: A player large enough to score 24 points and grab eight rebounds a night, but who doesn?t have the ability or the drive to power his team to a championship.</div> Wait, WHAT? Let's look at some coaches/players talking about Yao, this season. Avery Johnson: "When we double-teamed him, triple-teamed him or single-covered him, he would still score,'' Dallas coach Avery Johnson said. "He was playing like we were not out there on the floor.'' Isiah Thomas: "Yao was great! We couldn't do anything with him. We didn't want both of them, Tracy (McGrady) and Yao (Ming), to go off and we did a good job on Tracy (McGrady), but not on Yao (Ming). Yao (Ming) really had his rhythm all game. Yao (Ming) is everything they say he is. He was exceptional tonight. When big guys get into that kind of rhythm, they are very hard to stop." Eddie Curry: "It's definitely very frustrating to get your shot blocked like that and I have to learn to get over it. When somebody gets you like that, it's very tough mentally. That is the best I have ever seen him (Yao Ming) play. You can't block his shot and the feeling is unbelievable. He was in an unbelievable rhythm and you have to take your hat off to him. He was unstoppable. Oh, man, it was bad out there, it?s crazy. He doesn?t even seem real sometimes. He?s just up there shooting. You?re jumping and the ball is like two feet over your hands." My personal favorite, Dikembe Mutumbo: "If I was (Eddy) Curry, I would not challenge Yao," Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo said. "I would not challenge Yao and get that ball blocked. That was just embarrassing. He was trying to get himself on Sportscenter." From ESPN: Yao Ming had 35 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks in the Rockets' victory over the Knicks. Since the start of the 1990-91 season, only one other NBA player had at least 35 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks in one game: Shaquille O'Neal, who had 41-17-7 for the Lakers against Chicago on Nov. 19, 1999. Yao's efficiency per 48 minutes is the highest in the league (40.0). I know this article was written before the Knicks game, but anyone who watches the league knows Yao has been a monster since last January. Another quote from the article: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He was a mature 22 when he arrived in Houston, a veteran of five years with the Shanghai entry of the Chinese League and a member of his country?s Olympic team in 2000. He was prepared.</div> A veteran of the Chinese League? Oh, that's fantastic, considering the Chinese League is the premiere league of basketball, right? A mature 22? Maybe he doesn't get drunk every night, but how does that help him dominate in a league he's never played in before, with players who are athletically far more gifted than he is? Prepared? Did he see Yao when he was first drafted? He was an absolute STICK. I fully understand I am a homer, but it's not like I am saying Rafer Alston should win MVP or anything. Yao is the best center in the league, and there's no doubting that. And I said it at the end of last season, if the Rockets get to 55 wins this season, Yao WILL be MVP.
Nice post Mag. Deke owned Curry. <div class="quote_poster">GotSkillz92 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Im just saying Get off HIS BALLLS for just one game. And its not distain, It's Disdain EinStein</div> That's the thing. It not just one game. It has been happening ever since last season's ASB. Whenever Yao can stay out of foul trouble, he wrecks...simple as that. Sure he shook off some rust early in the season, and we will have to wait and see if he can dominate like this, but my guess is he will continue. He knows what it takes, so it shouldn't be a problem returning to his dominant self. Am I the only one who thinks Eddy Curry is being low blowed? He isn't as bad as everyone is making him out to be. 14/7 in 30 minutes isn't very bad at all. I'm sensing a little hate from the 94 NBA Finals
He's allergic to rebounding though. That's brutal if you're supposed to be a starting center on a team overrun with guards.
i sense a lil 'cism' too in both of those guys. i duno how the dork gets hired by msnbc...maybe his dad is the ceo or somthing...it's sad that he has to write in the shade of racism for the rest of his life because it's too bad that chinese people make up most of the world
Does it matter what he thinks? This so called "sportswriter" is no different to every other jackass hater. He thinks just because he has a degree in journalism that somehow he's a basketball "expert". I'd like to see his credentials and how long hes been in the NBA, I want to see how many championship rings he's wearing. At the end of day he's nobody and just another overpaid embicile "writer". Yao is doing fine and i dare anyone to challenge his development.
