Comments on: Rockets grind up Grizzlies to sweep February http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2008/03/01/rockets-grind-up-grizzlies-to-sweep-february Where fans of Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets can find out the latest on Yao Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:32:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Daniel http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2008/03/01/rockets-grind-up-grizzlies-to-sweep-february#comment-11742 Daniel Sun, 02 Mar 2008 04:32:15 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2008/03/01/rockets-grind-up-grizzlies-to-sweep-february#comment-11742 I should clarify John. I became a Tennessee fan when the Oilers left Houston, and VY went there it only affirmed my being a fan of them. As a sports fan, and Texas almnus, I like a lot of players, and especially players who come out of UT programs. If the Titans won the Super Bowl without Vince I'd still be happy, and like you I like certain players more than their respective teams. That being said, I never want a team to lose simply because a player I like isn't in the game. Whether or not he's on the floor that player is part of that loss. There is any number of reasons to want a team with a player you like to lose(they're playing a team you like more, playoff implications involving a more favored team, etc), but to want the Rockets to lose to make him look better while he's not playing is one of the saddest demonstrations of homerism there is. You can bet your shirt that Yao would be unappreciative of his "fans" wanting the Rockets to lose while he's out, and even if he didn't say it out loud he'd call them a bunch of pathetic losers. I should clarify John. I became a Tennessee fan when the Oilers left Houston, and VY went there it only affirmed my being a fan of them. As a sports fan, and Texas almnus, I like a lot of players, and especially players who come out of UT programs. If the Titans won the Super Bowl without Vince I’d still be happy, and like you I like certain players more than their respective teams. That being said, I never want a team to lose simply because a player I like isn’t in the game. Whether or not he’s on the floor that player is part of that loss. There is any number of reasons to want a team with a player you like to lose(they’re playing a team you like more, playoff implications involving a more favored team, etc), but to want the Rockets to lose to make him look better while he’s not playing is one of the saddest demonstrations of homerism there is. You can bet your shirt that Yao would be unappreciative of his “fans” wanting the Rockets to lose while he’s out, and even if he didn’t say it out loud he’d call them a bunch of pathetic losers.

]]> By: David http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2008/03/01/rockets-grind-up-grizzlies-to-sweep-february#comment-11735 David Sat, 01 Mar 2008 23:01:43 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2008/03/01/rockets-grind-up-grizzlies-to-sweep-february#comment-11735 Hey John, Do you know if Yao is going to have shoulder surgery? I remember reading a while back that he was having problems with one of his shoulder and that he wanted to hold off surgery for it until after the season. Wouldn't it be wise for him to get surgery on it right now along with his ankle? Thanks, and keep up the GREAT work! <em>David, I was thinking the same thing, but the shoulder surgery may take longer to heal than the stress fracture. Not sure, though. I also think it's problematic to be rehabbing 2 different parts of your body at the same time -- it would probably throw his rhythm out of whack too much to be effective in time for the Olympics. So I would think that Yao would either have the surgery after the Olympics, but more likely in the 2009 off-season since he would probably want a full summer to recuperate (starting in May or June) instead of starting in late August after the Olympics are over this year. From what I understand the surgery would be more of a maintenance thing, and his shoulder condition shouldn't inhibit his play too much over the next year and half or so. -- John</em> Hey John,

Do you know if Yao is going to have shoulder surgery? I remember reading a while back that he was having problems with one of his shoulder and that he wanted to hold off surgery for it until after the season. Wouldn’t it be wise for him to get surgery on it right now along with his ankle? Thanks, and keep up the GREAT work!

David, I was thinking the same thing, but the shoulder surgery may take longer to heal than the stress fracture. Not sure, though. I also think it’s problematic to be rehabbing 2 different parts of your body at the same time — it would probably throw his rhythm out of whack too much to be effective in time for the Olympics. So I would think that Yao would either have the surgery after the Olympics, but more likely in the 2009 off-season since he would probably want a full summer to recuperate (starting in May or June) instead of starting in late August after the Olympics are over this year. From what I understand the surgery would be more of a maintenance thing, and his shoulder condition shouldn’t inhibit his play too much over the next year and half or so. — John

]]> By: Daniel http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2008/03/01/rockets-grind-up-grizzlies-to-sweep-february#comment-11727 Daniel Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:06:18 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2008/03/01/rockets-grind-up-grizzlies-to-sweep-february#comment-11727 Yao would spit in the face of any fan who said they wanted the Rockets to lose to make him look better. Yao wants the Rockets to win with or without him, and anyone who wants otherwise is pathetic and not really a Yao fan. <em>Wow, those are some harsh words. I wouldn't hold it against anyone. There are alot of complex feelings related to Yao's injury that I can somewhat understand. For example, I'm a big fan of most athletes who went to the University of Texas (Vince Young, Kevin Durant, T.J. Ford, etc.), and if any of their teams had a good chance to win a championship without them involved, I would feel like they were missing the party since it's never as sweet as the first time you win a ring. Maybe the feeling is not rooting for those teams to lose, but more, "if they lose without Yao, I'm okay with that," especially in my case when it comes to Vince Young...I hate the Tennessee Titans after their owner pulled them out of Houston when they were the Oilers. So I don't mind if they lose every game since that increases the chances that Vince can come to his hometown team where he rightly belongs and win a ring. :-) -- John</em> Yao would spit in the face of any fan who said they wanted the Rockets to lose to make him look better. Yao wants the Rockets to win with or without him, and anyone who wants otherwise is pathetic and not really a Yao fan.

Wow, those are some harsh words. I wouldn’t hold it against anyone. There are alot of complex feelings related to Yao’s injury that I can somewhat understand. For example, I’m a big fan of most athletes who went to the University of Texas (Vince Young, Kevin Durant, T.J. Ford, etc.), and if any of their teams had a good chance to win a championship without them involved, I would feel like they were missing the party since it’s never as sweet as the first time you win a ring.

Maybe the feeling is not rooting for those teams to lose, but more, “if they lose without Yao, I’m okay with that,” especially in my case when it comes to Vince Young…I hate the Tennessee Titans after their owner pulled them out of Houston when they were the Oilers. So I don’t mind if they lose every game since that increases the chances that Vince can come to his hometown team where he rightly belongs and win a ring. :-) — John

]]> By: Bernie http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2008/03/01/rockets-grind-up-grizzlies-to-sweep-february#comment-11726 Bernie Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:25:19 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2008/03/01/rockets-grind-up-grizzlies-to-sweep-february#comment-11726 Hey John, first off, thanks for the great work on the blog. Instead of being just a Yao fan, it's clear that you're a Rockets fan whose favorite player happens to be Yao and that's who should be writing this blog. That said, as a New Yorker and a lifelong Knicks fan, I had no reason to root for the Rockets until Yao came along, so I started out as "just a Yao fan". Over the years, though, following every game of his, I inevitably became a Rockets fan too and I'm proud to now call them my #1 team. Here's my conflict - and I know that this scenario is not only thinking way too far ahead but also extremely unlikely, so take it for what it's worth - what if the Rockets win the championship with Yao out? The Rockets fan in me would be thrilled, and Yao would've been a big part of getting at least to 36-20... but the biggest thing the world would remember is that Yao didn't lead them to the ring, or even worse, that the Rockets were better without him. Then the following year, when he's back, they'd have to repeat, or else that's even further evidence that Yao's not championship material. Therefore, part of me almost doesn't want to see 'em win it all, and I know that means I'm not a real Rockets fan... and again, I know this kind of speculation is crazy, but hey what are comments on sports blogs for, right?... but this is what's eatin' me. Thoughts? <em>Bernie, thanks for the note. I'm glad you have become a Rockets fan through the years after starting out as a Yao fan. I know many other people who have followed the path you have taken. I like your question. Very interesting topic. First, I think the chances of the Rockets winning a championship are so remote since the West is so tough, that no one has really commented about these thoughts. However, if by chance the Rockets were to win the championship this season, I think the rallying cry for the Rockets next season would be, "Let's win one for Yao," and their chances would be high since the Rockets are still so relatively young. It would remind me of the University of Florida basketball team a couple of years ago when they won their first NCAA championship -- they were way "ahead of schedule" in winning a championship, so the following season they were even stronger and experienced to repeat. There probably would also be critics out there who would say the Rockets won a championship because something unexpected happened to a front runner, like say Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, etc. got injured, and there would be a semi-asterisk placed next to the Rockets championship. Of course, the Rockets could say Yao Ming was injured, too. If another team's superstar were to get injured and the Rockets did win the championship this season, then everyone could say that the 2008-09 season could settle all the controversy when every front runner's superstars are healthy. If the Rockets advance in the playoffs this season but don't win a ring (a more likely scenario than winning it all), then I think things will be positioned perfect for Yao as being the guy who can put them over the top. I even think the players will think that, giving Yao all the respect in the world and making him the guy responsible for getting them a ring next season. So all in all, I wouldn't feel bad if your gut is telling you right now that you should root against them. I don't think you'll have anything to worry about this season. However, if they were to advance to the NBA Finals this season, I think the true Rocket fan in you will come out. You'll see Yao on the bench cheering his team on, providing locker room leadership, and you'll say, "Hey, Yao really wants this and he has been contributing in other ways, so I want to see his team win it now." -- John</em> Hey John, first off, thanks for the great work on the blog. Instead of being just a Yao fan, it’s clear that you’re a Rockets fan whose favorite player happens to be Yao and that’s who should be writing this blog.

That said, as a New Yorker and a lifelong Knicks fan, I had no reason to root for the Rockets until Yao came along, so I started out as “just a Yao fan”. Over the years, though, following every game of his, I inevitably became a Rockets fan too and I’m proud to now call them my #1 team.

Here’s my conflict - and I know that this scenario is not only thinking way too far ahead but also extremely unlikely, so take it for what it’s worth - what if the Rockets win the championship with Yao out?

The Rockets fan in me would be thrilled, and Yao would’ve been a big part of getting at least to 36-20… but the biggest thing the world would remember is that Yao didn’t lead them to the ring, or even worse, that the Rockets were better without him. Then the following year, when he’s back, they’d have to repeat, or else that’s even further evidence that Yao’s not championship material.

Therefore, part of me almost doesn’t want to see ‘em win it all, and I know that means I’m not a real Rockets fan… and again, I know this kind of speculation is crazy, but hey what are comments on sports blogs for, right?… but this is what’s eatin’ me.

Thoughts?

Bernie, thanks for the note. I’m glad you have become a Rockets fan through the years after starting out as a Yao fan. I know many other people who have followed the path you have taken.

I like your question. Very interesting topic. First, I think the chances of the Rockets winning a championship are so remote since the West is so tough, that no one has really commented about these thoughts. However, if by chance the Rockets were to win the championship this season, I think the rallying cry for the Rockets next season would be, “Let’s win one for Yao,” and their chances would be high since the Rockets are still so relatively young. It would remind me of the University of Florida basketball team a couple of years ago when they won their first NCAA championship — they were way “ahead of schedule” in winning a championship, so the following season they were even stronger and experienced to repeat.

There probably would also be critics out there who would say the Rockets won a championship because something unexpected happened to a front runner, like say Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, etc. got injured, and there would be a semi-asterisk placed next to the Rockets championship. Of course, the Rockets could say Yao Ming was injured, too. If another team’s superstar were to get injured and the Rockets did win the championship this season, then everyone could say that the 2008-09 season could settle all the controversy when every front runner’s superstars are healthy.

If the Rockets advance in the playoffs this season but don’t win a ring (a more likely scenario than winning it all), then I think things will be positioned perfect for Yao as being the guy who can put them over the top. I even think the players will think that, giving Yao all the respect in the world and making him the guy responsible for getting them a ring next season.

So all in all, I wouldn’t feel bad if your gut is telling you right now that you should root against them. I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about this season. However, if they were to advance to the NBA Finals this season, I think the true Rocket fan in you will come out. You’ll see Yao on the bench cheering his team on, providing locker room leadership, and you’ll say, “Hey, Yao really wants this and he has been contributing in other ways, so I want to see his team win it now.” — John

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