Comments on: Yao dominates with 31 to beat Suns. Francis also comes up big http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big Where fans of Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets can find out the latest on Yao Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:51:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Eric http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6760 Eric Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:44:53 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6760 Like James, I have never responded to any post on BBall but your site is my regularly visited place for Yao's latest update as well as Sohu's Keep up with your work as there are more followers of your site than you may think and we all support your fantastic effort behind the scene! <em>Thanks, Eric! -- John</em> Like James, I have never responded to any post on BBall but your site is my regularly visited place for Yao’s latest update as well as Sohu’s

Keep up with your work as there are more followers of your site than you may think and we all support your fantastic effort behind the scene!

Thanks, Eric! — John

]]> By: poohesco http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6739 poohesco Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:09:10 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6739 g.s. defense is horrible...rox win tonight! g.s. defense is horrible…rox win tonight!

]]> By: arthur ko http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6725 arthur ko Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:32:06 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6725 wow, there's so much love on this string of posts after a great victory by the Rockets- I might as well jump on and confess my constant and secretly fun visits to this website almost daily for the past 4 years. Even before Yao officially entered in the nba, I found this site and began reading up on every piece of information so I too, would like to express my appreciation. I wish there were a way to have this pay off better for John besides just the emotional gratification or whatever you call it from being a loyal Yao supporter. If I may suggest, John- maybe you can set up a subject for charging 5/10/15 dollars a month and see how people respond to that. I think if you were to convey your efforts and side of the story well enough, many people would understand. Many of the people who visit this site are loyal, and then maybe we could set up a staff to help out with the general summaries. We could have volunteers who watched the game write their in depth analyses out. Anyway John, you're doing a great job. I'm a UCSD graduate of 04 and live in LA where I secretly wish Yao would be traded to but accept it won't happen. Later! <em>Hey Arthur, thanks for the love. It's always good to hear from loyal readers. I'll think about those ideas you have mentioned. I might reconsider doing a "tip jar" like I did a few years ago (it was too much trouble to create a subscription-based, password-protected site, etc.), then stopped the tip jar after I started putting ads on the site, but maybe I restart that since ads don't really make any money. I've also had some volunteers help out in the past, but sometimes it's hard for people to keep the commitment once they realize how much work it is. But I'll keep you posted on these ideas you mentioned. Thanks again for your support. -- John</em> wow, there’s so much love on this string of posts after a great victory by the Rockets- I might as well jump on and confess my constant and secretly fun visits to this website almost daily for the past 4 years. Even before Yao officially entered in the nba, I found this site and began reading up on every piece of information so I too, would like to express my appreciation. I wish there were a way to have this pay off better for John besides just the emotional gratification or whatever you call it from being a loyal Yao supporter. If I may suggest, John- maybe you can set up a subject for charging 5/10/15 dollars a month and see how people respond to that. I think if you were to convey your efforts and side of the story well enough, many people would understand. Many of the people who visit this site are loyal, and then maybe we could set up a staff to help out with the general summaries. We could have volunteers who watched the game write their in depth analyses out. Anyway John, you’re doing a great job. I’m a UCSD graduate of 04 and live in LA where I secretly wish Yao would be traded to but accept it won’t happen. Later!

Hey Arthur, thanks for the love. It’s always good to hear from loyal readers. I’ll think about those ideas you have mentioned. I might reconsider doing a “tip jar” like I did a few years ago (it was too much trouble to create a subscription-based, password-protected site, etc.), then stopped the tip jar after I started putting ads on the site, but maybe I restart that since ads don’t really make any money. I’ve also had some volunteers help out in the past, but sometimes it’s hard for people to keep the commitment once they realize how much work it is. But I’ll keep you posted on these ideas you mentioned. Thanks again for your support. — John

]]> By: Daniel Zhu http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6713 Daniel Zhu Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:36:28 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6713 Dear John, I too have been an eager reader of your blogs and share exactly the same sentiments as James. I don't know how you gonna keep this up but sure wish you find a way to do it. Yao is inspirational to me both on the basketball court (pick-up games) and in other areas of life (as an Asian American and as a human being in general). Thanks a million! Daniel Dear John,

I too have been an eager reader of your blogs and share exactly the same sentiments as James. I don’t know how you gonna keep this up but sure wish you find a way to do it.

Yao is inspirational to me both on the basketball court (pick-up games) and in other areas of life (as an Asian American and as a human being in general).

Thanks a million!

Daniel

]]> By: Jim From Hollywood CA! http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6712 Jim From Hollywood CA! Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:15:00 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6712 Saw the whole game guys. Yao really wanted that game. Maybe because of the fact that he was foing against Amare who won the rookie of the year the year Yao came into the league, Close reace for that one. Im glad Steve Francis was in late. He gives them a solid offensive option. we all know that TMac wants to score, its just in his nature, But if he wants to do that then why not also get the team say 8 or nine rebounds. I guess im just really impressed how Lebron James gets his whole team involved and manages to score 28 pts, 8 assists and 10 boards almost every night! Tmac needs to get his team involved more. I really think Steve Francis will be the difference this year in getting over the Hump. As for tonight I think it will be a very close game. My heart says Rockets by 4! Saw the whole game guys. Yao really wanted that game. Maybe because of the fact that he was foing against Amare who won the rookie of the year the year Yao came into the league, Close reace for that one. Im glad Steve Francis was in late. He gives them a solid offensive option. we all know that TMac wants to score, its just in his nature, But if he wants to do that then why not also get the team say 8 or nine rebounds. I guess im just really impressed how Lebron James gets his whole team involved and manages to score 28 pts, 8 assists and 10 boards almost every night! Tmac needs to get his team involved more. I really think Steve Francis will be the difference this year in getting over the Hump. As for tonight I think it will be a very close game. My heart says Rockets by 4!

]]> By: Brian http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6709 Brian Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:34:14 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6709 Hey John, Thanks for continuing to update your blog. I really enjoy reading it. Gotta give more love to Chuck Hayes though, he was defending everybody last night. <em>Brian, I think Hayes is a good defender, but I think he gambles too much. I see that slowing down my DVR and seeing how much room he gives his own man to help out in defending other players. That can make you look like a stud at times defending other players, but look foolish when you leave a guy like Shawn Marion wide open for threes. It's just like a cornerback in football who can look good making the spectacular play, but look bad when burned badly for a touchdown. I think the coaches need to tell him better who he gambles on. Right now it looks like he's free to freelance on defense. -- John</em> Hey John,

Thanks for continuing to update your blog. I really enjoy reading it.
Gotta give more love to Chuck Hayes though, he was defending everybody last night.

Brian, I think Hayes is a good defender, but I think he gambles too much. I see that slowing down my DVR and seeing how much room he gives his own man to help out in defending other players. That can make you look like a stud at times defending other players, but look foolish when you leave a guy like Shawn Marion wide open for threes. It’s just like a cornerback in football who can look good making the spectacular play, but look bad when burned badly for a touchdown. I think the coaches need to tell him better who he gambles on. Right now it looks like he’s free to freelance on defense. — John

]]> By: Jack http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6705 Jack Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:43:02 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6705 Great responses from everybody! Love to hear and read all blogs. Yesterday, the Rockets won because they kept on passing the ball to Yao. He was great from every angle. Let's hope the Rockets keep up it up in Oakland tonight. Also, great to see S.Franchise back. He was always very supportive of Yao when he first came into the NBA so now it's Yao turn to welcome him back. Talk you all soon! Great responses from everybody! Love to hear and read all blogs. Yesterday, the Rockets won because they kept on passing the ball to Yao. He was great from every angle. Let’s hope the Rockets keep up it up in Oakland tonight. Also, great to see S.Franchise back. He was always very supportive of Yao when he first came into the NBA so now it’s Yao turn to welcome him back. Talk you all soon!

]]> By: James http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6701 James Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:15:02 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6701 Hey John and readers, Fan Confessional: I found this website a few years back and have been a big fan since then. I have to admit when Yao first came into the league I found myself liking him just because he was asian and I was asian. It was natural for me to say, "I love Yao. What a beast of a player" during his first season. But lets face it, he had more growing pains in his first season than dominating games. Towards the end of his first season, I realized that my public defense of Yao wasn't because I really admired his game and thought he was the best center in the league, but there was just some natural primitive sensation for me to have to say that I liked the Asian NBA player. I played four years of basketball in high school as a small forward/SG and I lived in Los Angeles (laker/Shaq) land when Yao got drafted, so I really couldn't relate to his basketball techniques or vouch that he was going to be the best center in the league. During the end of his second season I made an ephiphany that my love for Yao wasn't genuine but more of a duty to my fellow asian brother. However, during the past few seasons I found myself really enjoying the Rockets and Yao. Of course, I had to check myself to see if I was being honest to myself, but as he started to play better and his personality came out I realized I had become a genuine YAO fan! His play has progressively gotten better, but what really attracts me to him is his personality and character as a person. I respect his humility, humbleness, and strength as a global icon/leader. Never once have I read a quote by him and think, "what a typical, rich ungrateful SOB athlete!" Today, I can honestly say that I am a huge fan and I will continue to follow his career until he retires. Even when he gets injured, misses free throws/layups, gets tired, loses, etc. So, I just hope this brought back some memories of why and when you started to become a beliver. I also wanted to say THANKS to John and all the other people that work on this website. Your dedication to bringing your opinions and insights on Rockets games and Yao, really helps the people who don't get the games on TV. Now, I don't agree with everything you say, but I respect your opinions and enjoy reading your observations. Hey, the best sports writers and commentators in history had the most controversial/opinionated personalities. I know that after the 45 second Rockets game highlight recap I see on ESPN News, I can come to this website and really get some in depth description. So...please keep up the good work and continue to post! I know you do this for fun and out of your heart so with that, all the patrons to this site owe you thanks! Just remember on those dark days when you don't want to post, there are plenty of people that come here who NEED YOU! I mean, I have never posted in my life but have been reading your articles for the last few years. To many of us Yao fans, you are OUR Bob Costas, Dan Patrick, Stuart Scott, Bill Walton, Stephen A. Jackson,etc. With that I say, God Bless and keep up the great work! -James <em>Hey James, thanks for your perspective on following Yao over the past few years, and for the awesome note to me. That's one of the nicest and most inspiring emails I've ever received. First, I have to give credit to Raymond/pryuen for being so dedicated in the YaoMania! forum by posting photos, translations, and observations of Yao when is over in China that would be very difficult for me to find. It's efforts like his that help keep me going. He is truly an inspiration. I have to admit there are many days where I ask myself if it's worth it. I thought when I started the site over 5 1/2 years ago that I would be able to run the site as a full-time endeavor, but the economics of making money on the Internet makes that a very difficult proposition. For example, even with the PamBee ad I have had on the site for the past few weeks, it has generated no sales, so I'm not making any money from that (seems par for the course for any ad I have on the site). But that's okay. It has been a learning experience, and there is alot of value to be gained from that. As a result, though, I have to work a full-time job and it becomes a difficult strain to balance a demanding job and a personal life (my wife is a Saint for being so understanding). But when I get emails like yours, it really helps. I can't guarantee I'll be able to blog as much as I have done in the past because of time constraints and other life demands. I know I would miss it if I stopped cold turkey, though. Maybe my blog posts will become shorter (although it's very difficult to hold back when I see the team screwing up), or I won't do them as often -- maybe once a week. Who knows what will happen. But regardless of what happens, I will be thinking of readers like you who appreciate what I do, and I will consider it seriously when thinking of my future plans. Thanks again for the kinds words! John</em> Hey John and readers,

Fan Confessional:

I found this website a few years back and have been a big fan since then. I have to admit when Yao first came into the league I found myself liking him just because he was asian and I was asian. It was natural for me to say, “I love Yao. What a beast of a player” during his first season. But lets face it, he had more growing pains in his first season than dominating games. Towards the end of his first season, I realized that my public defense of Yao wasn’t because I really admired his game and thought he was the best center in the league, but there was just some natural primitive sensation for me to have to say that I liked the Asian NBA player. I played four years of basketball in high school as a small forward/SG and I lived in Los Angeles (laker/Shaq) land when Yao got drafted, so I really couldn’t relate to his basketball techniques or vouch that he was going to be the best center in the league. During the end of his second season I made an ephiphany that my love for Yao wasn’t genuine but more of a duty to my fellow asian brother.

However, during the past few seasons I found myself really enjoying the Rockets and Yao. Of course, I had to check myself to see if I was being honest to myself, but as he started to play better and his personality came out I realized I had become a genuine YAO fan! His play has progressively gotten better, but what really attracts me to him is his personality and character as a person. I respect his humility, humbleness, and strength as a global icon/leader. Never once have I read a quote by him and think, “what a typical, rich ungrateful SOB athlete!” Today, I can honestly say that I am a huge fan and I will continue to follow his career until he retires. Even when he gets injured, misses free throws/layups, gets tired, loses, etc.

So, I just hope this brought back some memories of why and when you started to become a beliver. I also wanted to say THANKS to John and all the other people that work on this website. Your dedication to bringing your opinions and insights on Rockets games and Yao, really helps the people who don’t get the games on TV. Now, I don’t agree with everything you say, but I respect your opinions and enjoy reading your observations. Hey, the best sports writers and commentators in history had the most controversial/opinionated personalities. I know that after the 45 second Rockets game highlight recap I see on ESPN News, I can come to this website and really get some in depth description.

So…please keep up the good work and continue to post! I know you do this for fun and out of your heart so with that, all the patrons to this site owe you thanks! Just remember on those dark days when you don’t want to post, there are plenty of people that come here who NEED YOU! I mean, I have never posted in my life but have been reading your articles for the last few years. To many of us Yao fans, you are OUR Bob Costas, Dan Patrick, Stuart Scott, Bill Walton, Stephen A. Jackson,etc.

With that I say, God Bless and keep up the great work!

-James

Hey James, thanks for your perspective on following Yao over the past few years, and for the awesome note to me. That’s one of the nicest and most inspiring emails I’ve ever received. First, I have to give credit to Raymond/pryuen for being so dedicated in the YaoMania! forum by posting photos, translations, and observations of Yao when is over in China that would be very difficult for me to find. It’s efforts like his that help keep me going. He is truly an inspiration.

I have to admit there are many days where I ask myself if it’s worth it. I thought when I started the site over 5 1/2 years ago that I would be able to run the site as a full-time endeavor, but the economics of making money on the Internet makes that a very difficult proposition. For example, even with the PamBee ad I have had on the site for the past few weeks, it has generated no sales, so I’m not making any money from that (seems par for the course for any ad I have on the site). But that’s okay. It has been a learning experience, and there is alot of value to be gained from that. As a result, though, I have to work a full-time job and it becomes a difficult strain to balance a demanding job and a personal life (my wife is a Saint for being so understanding).

But when I get emails like yours, it really helps. I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to blog as much as I have done in the past because of time constraints and other life demands. I know I would miss it if I stopped cold turkey, though. Maybe my blog posts will become shorter (although it’s very difficult to hold back when I see the team screwing up), or I won’t do them as often — maybe once a week. Who knows what will happen. But regardless of what happens, I will be thinking of readers like you who appreciate what I do, and I will consider it seriously when thinking of my future plans.

Thanks again for the kinds words!

John

]]> By: curtis http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6700 curtis Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:48:55 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6700 Well, I think you are being just a little bit too cynical here John, I think the rockets will win the game with golden states tonight and improve to 4 straight wins, why? with Yao playing the way he did and with francis getting more minuts, they can dominate the inside (no big man for GS) and penatrate the lane by francis or T-Mac, dish out shots and make threes, I just don't see how GS can stop this new charged up group, the key is to PLAY FRANCIS AND SCOLA! Let's all give credit to the rockets and will them to win! <em>Curtis: I hope you're right. But even without Jason Richardson, Golden State is still a handful. The one saving grace of the Rockets not beating Utah in last year's playoffs is that I think they would have had to play the Warriors in the next round, and that would have been a disaster. Hopefully under the new Adelman system they can keep up.-- John</em> Well, I think you are being just a little bit too cynical here John, I think the rockets will win the game with golden states tonight and improve to 4 straight wins, why? with Yao playing the way he did and with francis getting more minuts, they can dominate the inside (no big man for GS) and penatrate the lane by francis or T-Mac, dish out shots and make threes, I just don’t see how GS can stop this new charged up group, the key is to PLAY FRANCIS AND SCOLA! Let’s all give credit to the rockets and will them to win!

Curtis: I hope you’re right. But even without Jason Richardson, Golden State is still a handful. The one saving grace of the Rockets not beating Utah in last year’s playoffs is that I think they would have had to play the Warriors in the next round, and that would have been a disaster. Hopefully under the new Adelman system they can keep up.– John

]]> By: Wendy http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6695 Wendy Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:05:09 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/11/29/yao-dominates-with-31-to-beat-suns-francis-also-comes-up-big#comment-6695 Come on John, you just don´t want to jynx the winningstreak, don´t you? :) Anyway, if someone like you, who was the biggest apostle for the trading away of Francis back then (I agreed with you, btw, and I was horrified when they brought him back), now calling for Franchise minutes, that´s really something. Hopefully the positive trend continues. BTW, Bill Simmons criticized Yao´s defense pretty harsh in his ESPN West Coast Preview, how do you think? <em> Francis seems to have matured and been humbled over the past few years, which is exactly what he needed to calm down and not force things. So I can handle the "new" Francis because he also hasn't been a distraction while being relegated to the bench, which also shows his maturity. He's also better than Alston, so he's the best option at PG. With that said, I am still concerned if he becomes a starter he will get a big head and revert back to his old ways. I'll have to read Simmons' story about Yao's defense again to remind myself of what he said. -- John.</em> Come on John,
you just don´t want to jynx the winningstreak, don´t you? :)

Anyway, if someone like you, who was the biggest apostle for the trading away of Francis back then (I agreed with you, btw, and I was horrified when they brought him back), now calling for Franchise minutes, that´s really something. Hopefully the positive trend continues.

BTW, Bill Simmons criticized Yao´s defense pretty harsh in his ESPN West Coast Preview, how do you think?

Francis seems to have matured and been humbled over the past few years, which is exactly what he needed to calm down and not force things. So I can handle the “new” Francis because he also hasn’t been a distraction while being relegated to the bench, which also shows his maturity. He’s also better than Alston, so he’s the best option at PG. With that said, I am still concerned if he becomes a starter he will get a big head and revert back to his old ways.

I’ll have to read Simmons’ story about Yao’s defense again to remind myself of what he said. — John.

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