Yao and Liu Xiang appointed Shanghai ambassadors
Monday, September 26th, 2005
by John
Yao and 2004 Olympic Gold medalist (110m hurdle) Liu Xiang were appointed Image Ambassadors for their home city of Shanghai. Yao has been an ambassador for the past two years, whereas it is Liu Xiang’s first year representing the city. While Liu symbolizes the speed of Shanghai’s economic reform and development, Yao Ming symbolizes its stature. Click here for more photos from the ceremony.
ClubYao’s correspondent in Hong Kong, Raymond, reports to us what is going on with Yao as written in a Chinese news article yesterday. Thanks for the translation, Raymond!
1. Yao Ming said his original plan was to return to the U.S. the morning of the 26th. Now suddenly there is a contract extension signing ceremony with the Shanghai Municipality Government as its Spokesperson the afternoon of the 26th. Therefore, Yao will have to postpone his return trip either to the night of Sept 26 or the morning of Sept 27.
2. Originally Hurricane Rita could have affected his return schedule to Houston. But now, since Hurricane Rita has weakened and had not done too much damage to Houston, Yao Ming decided to stick to his original schedule.
3. He said even though Hurricane Rita had not done serious damage to Houston, the Rockets are still planning on some charity and fund-raising activities. Yao Ming felt that was the right time for the Rockets to repay their fans, as he knows without a solid and loyal fan base, the Rockets cannot go anywhere.
4. To Yao Ming, the summer is over; even though it had hectic competition and commercial/PR events in the summer, Yao Ming just cannot wait for the new season to begin, as he is full of anticipation for the new season. He said: “I think I have had sufficient rest this summer. I had rested 3 to 4 weeks doing nothing but getting fat during my ankle recuperation. And in Beijing, actually it was just my rehabilitation program, and strength and conditioning training had become a form of daily life for me already.”
5. As for the Asian Championships, Yao Ming said he treated it as part of his rehabilitation program, too, as he did not feel he had any opponents in Asia. He said: “The Asian Championship was to a certain extent great for my ankle recovery. There is always some psychological barriers to overcome after an injury/surgery. Physical contest in the championship was not too intense, and I dared not use full force on some of those physical contests. But we had a great championship, and I viewed it as part of my psychological recovery process.”
6. Yao Ming knew everybody is waiting for his return. Other than Yao Ming, Bob Sura and David Wesleyare also recovering from injuries, and almost every player, including Stromile Swift, are working out at Toyota Center.
7. Almost every media person and analyst predicts a rosy season for the new Rockets. The only uncertainty would be the personnel changes and the surgeries that had taken place during the summer. But Yao Ming thought all those are minor when compared to the dramatic personnel changes of last season. He thought the tough part of the Rockets’ changes is over.
8. Bob Sura may miss the preseason training camp, and the Rockets are still determining the suitable starting point guard. But Yao Ming did not show many concerns. He felt that Bob Sura had his surgery before him, and since he had fully recovered, and therefore Bob Sura should have fully recovered too. The issue now is how the Rockets can turn some of that potential into real team strength and capabilities. He does not feel the Rockets have peaked yet. He thought it is a bit too early to say they are ready for the championship; after all, he is only 25, and T-Mac is 26. But of course, he won’t mind if the Rockets can become the champion this year.
9. Yao Ming also knows that now that he has a maximum contract, he won’t be treated as a rookie anymore. He understands with the maximum contract comes the corresponding responsibility for a franchise player. He said that the psychological pressure and responsibility of a rookie and a franchise player with a maximum contract is totally different. He feels he needs to shoulder more responsibility for the new season now that he has been offered the maximum contract.
10. So with this state of mind, Yao decided to stick to his original schedule, and say goodbye to his home city, Shanghai, where he only managed to stay for 4 days over this summer. He will first leave China for San Francisco for a full medical checkup, particularly his ankle that had been operated on before reporting back to Houston for the preseason training camp.
Yao and 2004 Olympic Gold medalist (110m hurdle) Liu Xiang were appointed Image Ambassadors for their home city of Shanghai. Yao has been an ambassador for the past two years, whereas it is Liu Xiang’s first year representing the city. While Liu symbolizes the speed of Shanghai’s economic reform and development, Yao Ming symbolizes its stature. Click here for more photos from the ceremony.
ClubYao’s correspondent in Hong Kong, Raymond, reports to us what is going on with Yao as written in a Chinese news article yesterday. Thanks for the translation, Raymond!
- 1. Yao Ming said his original plan was to return to the U.S. the morning of the 26th. Now suddenly there is a contract extension signing ceremony with the Shanghai Municipality Government as its Spokesperson the afternoon of the 26th. Therefore, Yao will have to postpone his return trip either to the night of Sept 26 or the morning of Sept 27.
2. Originally Hurricane Rita could have affected his return schedule to Houston. But now, since Hurricane Rita has weakened and had not done too much damage to Houston, Yao Ming decided to stick to his original schedule.
3. He said even though Hurricane Rita had not done serious damage to Houston, the Rockets are still planning on some charity and fund-raising activities. Yao Ming felt that was the right time for the Rockets to repay their fans, as he knows without a solid and loyal fan base, the Rockets cannot go anywhere.
4. To Yao Ming, the summer is over; even though it had hectic competition and commercial/PR events in the summer, Yao Ming just cannot wait for the new season to begin, as he is full of anticipation for the new season. He said: “I think I have had sufficient rest this summer. I had rested 3 to 4 weeks doing nothing but getting fat during my ankle recuperation. And in Beijing, actually it was just my rehabilitation program, and strength and conditioning training had become a form of daily life for me already.”
5. As for the Asian Championships, Yao Ming said he treated it as part of his rehabilitation program, too, as he did not feel he had any opponents in Asia. He said: “The Asian Championship was to a certain extent great for my ankle recovery. There is always some psychological barriers to overcome after an injury/surgery. Physical contest in the championship was not too intense, and I dared not use full force on some of those physical contests. But we had a great championship, and I viewed it as part of my psychological recovery process.”
6. Yao Ming knew everybody is waiting for his return. Other than Yao Ming, Bob Sura and David Wesleyare also recovering from injuries, and almost every player, including Stromile Swift, are working out at Toyota Center.
7. Almost every media person and analyst predicts a rosy season for the new Rockets. The only uncertainty would be the personnel changes and the surgeries that had taken place during the summer. But Yao Ming thought all those are minor when compared to the dramatic personnel changes of last season. He thought the tough part of the Rockets’ changes is over.
8. Bob Sura may miss the preseason training camp, and the Rockets are still determining the suitable starting point guard. But Yao Ming did not show many concerns. He felt that Bob Sura had his surgery before him, and since he had fully recovered, and therefore Bob Sura should have fully recovered too. The issue now is how the Rockets can turn some of that potential into real team strength and capabilities. He does not feel the Rockets have peaked yet. He thought it is a bit too early to say they are ready for the championship; after all, he is only 25, and T-Mac is 26. But of course, he won’t mind if the Rockets can become the champion this year.
9. Yao Ming also knows that now that he has a maximum contract, he won’t be treated as a rookie anymore. He understands with the maximum contract comes the corresponding responsibility for a franchise player. He said that the psychological pressure and responsibility of a rookie and a franchise player with a maximum contract is totally different. He feels he needs to shoulder more responsibility for the new season now that he has been offered the maximum contract.
10. So with this state of mind, Yao decided to stick to his original schedule, and say goodbye to his home city, Shanghai, where he only managed to stay for 4 days over this summer. He will first leave China for San Francisco for a full medical checkup, particularly his ankle that had been operated on before reporting back to Houston for the preseason training camp.
