Yao tirade may cost NBA more Chinese players

[TripleDipping]

FOXSports.com

Rockets center Yao Ming is being accused of disloyalty to China's Olympic team, according to a report in Toronto's Globe and Mail. And his actions have reportedly made China reconsider sending its players to the NBA.

Chinese officials reacted strongly to Yao's negative comments about his teammates Thursday, suggesting the NBA in the United States has corrupted their once "obedient child."

The report hinted China may "consider tighter restrictions" on Chinese players who want to play in the NBA, like heralded up-and-comer Yi Jianlian, the 16-year-old who is seen as the next Yao.

"The Chinese Basketball Association will consider more deeply and carefully about sending players to the NBA again," one report said.

Yao was "an obedient child" with a "very good reputation," an official was quoted as saying. "Now, he has changed, he's more like an American, he dares to say anything."

The 7-foot-6 center, who carried his nation's flag in the opening ceremonies, blasted his teammates after his team's 82-57 loss to Argentina on Thursday.

"I'm disappointed in my teammates," Yao said. "We gave up at the end of the game. I don't think some of my teammates cherish the honor to play for the country. ... Were they nervous? Or they would not take their responsibilities? We gave up easily every time we came across obstacles."

The comments sparked a harsh response from Chinese sports officials, who derided Yao for "splitting" the Chinese team with his "irresponsible" comments.

"How could he say that?" one official was quoted as saying. "How could he say that the other players weren't trying their best? Any irresponsible speech like his, any action to split the team, is definitely forbidden. This is the national team, this is the Olympics — any word by a player can affect others and can create difficulties in future matches."

Many Chinese fans came to Yao's defense, saying the star was only being honest. "Yao Ming is not always right, but in this case he is absolutely right," one fan wrote on a Chinese website. "The truth may hurt someone, but is it wrong to tell the truth?"

Against Argentina Yao was never a factor. China committed 15 turnovers and Yao was 1-for-7 from the field. Yao came into the game averaging 25.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. The center finished with 15 points on 6-for-13 shooting. China had a total of 23 turnovers and Argentina had a 40-29 rebound advantage.

China is one of four teams in Group A with a 1-2 record and it finishes against two of the others — Italy and reigning world champion Serbia-Montenegro. China must win at least one to advance to next week's quarterfinals, something it has done only once in seven previous Olympic appearances.

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[Simon2]

If you're 7-5, you should be able to say anything. If China doesn't want to send players, then who cares? I think the US is very generous in helping out China and they want to create some sort of "player" embargo to the US? Ridiculous.

Yao was "an obedient child" with a "very good reputation," an official was quoted as saying. "Now, he has changed, he's more like an American, he dares to say anything."

Must be the dumbest thing I've read today

[StvNash13]

Typical communist bull$$$$. I feel really bad for the players, though, who have enough talent to play in America and can make a great living but can't because of the stupid government. Also, I won't blame Yao if he doesn't play for the CNT ever again. They really should treat him with more respect, he has no obligation to them whatsoever.

[dude1394]

Damn that freedom stuff is HARD to keep down ain't it. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[Chiwas]

Yao is such young to not know that it is not worth. Wang knew it too late.

One wonders if there is any pride behind any Chinese man or woman winning those medals in the Olympics.

[MavKikiNYC]

My take is that the Chinese are already negotiating release rights for the next one. Capitalism reigns.

[bernardos70]

The chinese have different values we must respect. What Yao did we take for granted, but it's not something he should have said IMO. He knows how things run. But then again, what I think is happening here is they don't like the fact that their best player plays in the States. I think if some other player from the chinese squad said the same thing, nothing of this would have gone on.

[endtroducing]

if yao were good enough, the Chinese wouldn't have let him get out of the country. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[LRB]

Originally posted by: bernardos70
The chinese have different values we must respect. What Yao did we take for granted, but it's not something he should have said IMO. He knows how things run. But then again, what I think is happening here is they don't like the fact that their best player plays in the States. I think if some other player from the chinese squad said the same thing, nothing of this would have gone on.

I guess those students in Tinamen(sp?) square were wrong to speak up as well?

[V2M]

Alongwith his Big Mac, I guess, Yao's had one too many of those Freedom Fries [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[bernardos70]

[i]Originally posted by: LRBI guess those students in Tinamen(sp?) square were wrong to speak up as well?

I have no idea about the Tinamen Square students, care to explain LRB?