Yao Ming Mania! ~ View topic - Sighting of Yao Ming & the Rockets at 2007 Tux & Ten

Quote:

http://nba.sports.tom.com/2007-01-24/0424/84447127.html

Summary

Wang Meng was the only Chinese journalist/reporter invited to the charity gala. He took his girl friend with him.
Wang Meng was led into the VIP room to wait. Around 19:00pm, the Rockets players showed up. Yao Ming was the last one to appear. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, with a black bow tie. His right knee/leg was wrapped with the Robocop-like protector, which played a very important role throughout the night's function, as Yao Ming did not need to be walking around the arena for networking/socializing. "This is just great. So comfortable and relaxing" said Yao Ming.
Even though he needed not walk around to socialize, Yao Ming still needed to put up a smiling face and chat with people/fans clustering around him, playing a big public relationship officer's role.
No one was allowed to bring in a camera. If they wanted to take a photo with Yao Ming, they needed to pay US$ 500 per shot, and in order not to tire out Yao Ming, only 10 persons got that previlege to take a photo together with Yao Ming.
All the other Rockets stayed in the VIP room, lying on the wall and chatted casually. Wang Meng saw VSpan, walked up and started a dialogue with VSpan. "Why did you not bring your girl friend?" Wang asked. "My girl friend is in Greece." "Do you like these type of activities?" VSpan yawned and said listlessly: "Not so meaningful. By the way, where do you live in China?" Wang replied: "Beijing". VSpan's eyes sparkled. "Ah, Beijing !! Olympic !! I'll be there for the 2008 Olympic." VSpan also told Wang that he will return to Greece this summer to rejoin the Greek national team for the European Championship.
The banquet started. Yao Ming hosted Table 20. It costed US$ 20,000 for the 2 guests sitting left and right of Yao Ming, and US$ 17,000 for the next 2 guests, so on and so forth. Tracy McGrady sat on another table together with Leslie Alexander.
According to Wang Meng, the food served were pretty lousy: salad, grilled salmon, and very sweet cakes. Wang Meng sat on Table 17 together with Tom Thibodeau and Bonzi Wells. Tom Thibodeau talked about his China trip; "I lived in the Grand Hyatt at the Oriental Plaza when I was in Beijing. Yao Ming took me to alot of interesting places and we had had good food. Other than the traffic, Beijing is fantastic."
The auction started shortly before the end of the banquet. Rafer Alston was the Master of Ceremony, and he walked around the tables doing the auction. He was successful in selling the Yao Ming jersey set (of 4) at US$ 12,000. When it came to a family pack tickets for the NBA All Stars, Rafer Alston came to Yao Ming, and persuaded Yao Ming to bid for it. "You have to buy them. You can return for the NBA All Stars. Even if you can't go, you can gift them to me." Yao Ming bid for US$ 5,000. Some other guest raised the bid to US$ 5,500. Tom Thibodeau whispered: "Yao Ming is saved." But Yao Ming stood up, snatched the microphone from Rafer Alston, "US$ 10,000." The audience applauded their approval. When the clapping was done, Yao Ming continued: "I bought the tickets. I don't need them. I'll donate them back for another round of auction." Another round of louder applause from the floor. Tom Thibodeau was shocked by Yao Ming's act, and yelled out loud: "I'll wait to see how you can explain that to Ye Li !!"
The banquet ended. Bonzi Wells had gone. Yao Ming walked to Wang Meng's table, and told Tom Thibodeau: "I spent that US$ 10,000 such that I need not go to Las Vegas." Tom Thibodeau gave Yao Ming his big thumb: "(That's why you're a) max contract player !!"

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