<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span style="color:Black"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">Yao finds harsh language at home</span></span>Center should return to Houston on Sept. 6<span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%">By FRAN BLINEBURYCopyright 2006 Houston Chronicle</span> SAITAMA, JAPAN - Just say that the Chinese media didn't give Yao Ming and his teammates a warm welcome home after their 95-64 clubbing at the hands of Greece in the first elimination game."Suicide!" screamed the Titan Sports newspaper in a front-page headline. That was after China blew a 27-17 lead and was outscored 50-15 through the end of the third quarter."There's nothing strange about Asian champions losing to European champions," declared Titan Sports. "But the Chinese team should have picked this 'suicidal' way to lose."Beijing News, a tabloid, said excessive worship of Yao Ming was a reason for the team's eventual failure, exhausting Yao to the point where he could no longer play a key role.The News pointed to Yao's taking just five shots in the last game. The News did not point to the utter collapse of the Chinese backcourt, which was unable to get the ball to Yao, who is scheduled to return to Houston on Sept. 6.</div>
Wow... that's ridiculous. It's not like a 27-17 lead is all that meaningful. The 50-15 thing is pretty bad though. No excuse for that.
China really has to stop crowding around Yao Ming like he can do everything... hes still only human... everyone else on the team has to start doing stuff too.. get involved
