This week Yao is launching his own wine intended exclusively for the Chinese market. It’s a 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon produced in California’s Napa Valley. Checkout the video interview of Yao from the Wall Street Journal.
USA Today reports (via China Daily) the following:
“It comes in a magnum bottle – meaning it can hold 1.5 liters of wine – costs 3,800 yuan ($596) a pop and is extremely rare. None of the 1,200 bottles in existence will be sold on the open market.”
There is a discrepancy regarding the price. In the Marketwatch video, it’s reported that it will sell for $298 (U.S.), whereas the China Daily article reports the price is double. We’ll see.
Regardless, Yao’s Napa Valley wine company will make its debut Sunday night at an auction for Special Olympics East Asia.
Yao was invited to give a keynote speech a couple of days ago at one of the most unlikely conferences you’d expect: an SAP conference in Beijing in front of a crowd of IT managers, software developers, administrators and business process experts.
Even Yao admitted he didn’t understand what everyone was talking about at the SAP “Sapphire Now” Conference, but he did stress in his speech the importance of continuous learning, among many other topics.
Click here for more details of Yao’s speech as interpreted by Raymond in China, along with more photos of Yao.
Raymond has some great reports and photos in the forum of Yao Ming going back to school at Shanghai Jiaotong University on Monday. Yao is majoring in economics and is taking a combination of classroom and 1-on-1 instruction by designated professors.
Obviously his fellow students were excited to see Yao. Many waited outside to take photos of him, and needed security guards to clear a path to the classroom and when leaving the school.
Some of the classes he attended on Monday included Major Issues Study in Chinese Contemporary History…
…and a 1-on-1 class in Linear Algebra…
….and a 1-on-1 class in University English…
Yao held a press conference later to discuss the details of his studies, and to plead for the public and media to give some breathing room as he returns to school, and to not disrupt other students. Click here for Raymond’s full summary of the presser.
Raymond reports that on Thursday in Shanghai, Yao’s Shanghai MAXXIS Sharks announced a deal with Li Ning where the Chinese company will design, produce and market jerseys, shoes, sneakers and other products for the team.
Below is some of the gear displayed at the news conference (click here for more photos):
The deal between the Sharks and Li Ning is interesting because China ANTA has an agreement with the China Basketball Association to supply ANTA jerseys and shoes for every CBA team. The Sharks will continue to wear ANTA gear on the court, but wear Li Ning off the court.
Li Ning will also work with the Sharks on several basketball-related projects in the greater Shanghai region, including:
– the construction of a Shanghai Li Ning basketball park;
– establishment of an exclusive Li Ning ~ Shanghai MAXXIS Sharks basketball training camp
– regular fan gatherings and other meaningful community activities
The deputy general manager for the Sharks said that ANTA and Reebok were considered as potential partners, but the Sharks chose Li Ning because of their additional emphasis on the Sharks’ junior team, as well as their long-term vision for basketball development in the Shanghai region.
For more photos and information on the deal, click here.
In case you missed it, a couple of weeks ago Yao and Shaquille O’Neal met up in Shanghai, and Shaq posted a funny video of them together:
Raymond reports that Shaq was in China for his “Goodbye Legend” roadshow, sponsored by Li Ning. On his trip, Shaq had proposed to Yao the idea of both of them organizing their own teams that would compete against each other on a tour of Chinese cities as part of Shaq’s Big Challenge program in the next two months or so. But Yao had to politely decline since he said he will be busy with his Shanghai Jiaotong University studies, and would not have much free time until next May or June.
Here are some other funny videos from Shaq’s trip to China (each video is only 15 seconds long):
Raymond reports in the forum that a few days ago Yao flew from Shanghai to the scenic tourist city of Lijiang in the Yunnan province, then took a 4-5 hour car ride to Ninglang county to visit one of the primary schools built by his foundation.
The ride was fairly bumpy, and the Volkswagen van he rode in was too small such that every hour or so, the car would have to pull over and stop so Yao could stretch his legs.
During one part of the trip, the road was blocked for repair and maintenance, so Yao got out of the van to negotiate with the workers to allow the car to drive through.
Once Yao arrived at the school, he was greeted by a large throng of students and faculty.
This is the 7th school that has been built by the Yao Foundation, with six more scheduled to be built. Click here for more photos of Yao at the school.
A few days ago Yao was in Shanghai where he and his wife Ye Li were invited to attend a custom shoe fitting by famous Italian shoemaker Salvatore Ferragamo. At the fitting, Yao picked two pairs of shoes and a belt to be custom-made.
Raymond reports in the forum that Airbus delivered China’s first Airbus A380 (China Southern Airlines ordered it), and Yao Ming was one of the very first guests to take the inaugural flight on Monday (the 17th) to Guangzhou from Beijing.
The plane arrived in Beijing on October 15th, had a trial flight to Shanghai Pudong on the 16th, and then had its inaugural flight from Beijing to Guangzhou on Monday the 17th .
Click here for more photos from the festivities and Yao boarding the flight and getting on the plane.
Yao Ming received the “Outstanding Contribution Award” at the 6th Annual China Top 10 Laureus Awards on Tuesday in China.
Click here for info on the other Chinese athletes who won awards, and photos from the event. Looking at the photos, it looks a lot like the ESPY Awards here in the U.S.
Raymond reports from China that Yao had some fun at the China Open in Beijing on Thursday. China Life is a sponsor of the event, and Yao is a spokesperson for the insurance company.
In the photo below, Yao poses with Chinese tennis player Zhang Ze, a wildcard player, and top-seed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga of France at the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Centre. Tsonga would go on to defeat Zhang Ze 6-4, 6-3.
Click here for more photos of Yao at the China Open.
After watching the match, Yao Ming proceeded to Court #1 to surprise eight couples who were getting married there because they fell in love through the sport of tennis. Yao presented the couples with life insurance packages from China Life as well as blessings and good wishes for them.
Click here for more photos and information about Yao’s appearance at the wedding.
