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Yao Ming forced to play for China Team this Summer [Archive] - Aggiefans.com

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Vlyrock
05-17-2005, 04:36 PM
http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/3619162?GT1=6534

No Rest for Yao! Guess this is motivation for Houston to do better next year...that way Yao may not have to travel back to China.

BEIJING (AP) - China expects Houston Rockets star Yao Ming to play for the national team in the Asian Championships in September, even though the All-Star planned to spend the summer resting.

Yao has divided his time between Houston and the Chinese national team since joining the NBA in 2002, keeping him playing almost year-round.

"As a member of the China national team, Yao Ming must come back to play for China, according to the contract," said Li Jinsheng, a spokesman for the China Basketball Association.

All other team members are in Beijing preparing for the Asian Championships in Qatar on Sept. 8-16, Li said.

"Yao Ming is expected to come to China soon and he will join the team for training in June after a short period of rest," Li said.

Yao said earlier this month that he hoped to take the summer off.

"I just want to relax," he said. "I don't want to do anything. I'm not too used to being relaxed."

Loftin
05-17-2005, 11:55 PM
It seems like a total waste, but I remember when he was drafted that that was part of the deal. The Rockets' management had to have a meeting with Chinese officials before the draft and get their blessing that Houston was a good place for Yao.

Slotback
05-20-2005, 06:14 PM
Ah yes, the basketball version of the soccer international call up.