China Slams Yao for Neglecting National Team

Yao allegedly dallied planning wedding, rehabbing broken leg
By Jesse Andrews,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 19, 2007 4:28 AM CDT
China Slams Yao for Neglecting National Team
Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (11), of China, looks to shoot as Utah Jazz's Mehmet Okur (13), of Turkey, defends during the first quarter of their NBA basketball first-round playoff game in this April 30, 2007 file photo in Houston. Yao suspects things will work out well with Rick Adelman coaching the Rockets....   (Associated Press)

Claiming that practices are exponentially less valuable without the 7'6" Rockets center, the Chinese national team has delivered a rare public shaming of Yao Ming for missing camp. Yao has been nursing a leg broken in December, as well as planning his wedding and promoting the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the Special Olympics.

"No matter how lofty public welfare activities are, they can't be allowed to take first place in a player's life," admonished the state-owned China Sports Daily. "No matter how sweet personal life is, it can't be compared to the exultation of capturing glory for one's nation." (More NBA stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X