Think Yao's votes came from billions in China? Think again

Think Yao's votes came from billions in China? Think again<br>
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Yao Ming's diverse votes<br>
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By John Son / Richmond, BC Canada <br>
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Looking at the results from the latest All-Star Vote returns, you'll probably notice that Chinese rookie Yao Ming is second in the Western Conference votes. Must be the billions of online voters in China, you say? Surprisingly, no. Yao also leads in voting from traditional paper votes - the ones people fill out at arenas, Champs, and Best Buy. Looking at straight numbers, Shaq is undoubtedly the best center in the NBA. Shaq's 26.3 ppg and 11 rpg against Yao's 13.2 ppg and 7.9 rpg - Shaq blows Yao out of the water. But it isn't the best players who are voted in to play in the midseason classic - it's the players the fans want to see. <br>
During the last few seasons, there hasn't been any competition for Shaquille O'Neal in the West. He was far and away the best pivot, and fans really had no choice but to vote him (or their local team's player) in. Shaq isn't the most popular player in the league - in fact, fans in most cities may recognize him as the most dominant player in the NBA, but they don't necessarily like him or his style of play. Most NBA fans outside of LA revel in the fact that the Lakers are struggling. I highly doubt anyone in Utah is voting for Shaq - add Sacramento, Portland, and Orlando to that list. So now that fans have someone other than Shaq to rally around, why wouldn't they vote Yao in? <br>
In contrast, Yao has flourished in the spotlight. Reporters in every city he's visited have featured him. It's impossible for an NBA fan to not hear about the budding star. His humble and witty post-game remarks fill game summaries on a regular basis. In a sport filled with cocky superstars with nothing but dollar signs on their minds, how can you not root for the guy? <br>
Even Shaquille himself has offered praise for the 7'5" pivot: "He has all the tools -- shoot, dribble. He can play. He's no slouch." The "Big Aristotle" added, "(Yao) shall be 'The Man' in a few years to come." <br>
Atlanta guard Emanual Davis said, "You want to know about Yao Ming? Let me tell you what the NBA players think about Yao Ming. All you need to know is that every player in the league wants to see him play. They're all talking about Yao Ming, and everybody wants to see him play." <br>
Unfortunately for Yao, all the other NBA All-Stars will be looking to posterize the rookie, come All-Star weekend. Somebody want to get Yao a plus-sized helmet? <p>MY TWO FAVORITE<br>
TEAMS IN THE NBA,<br>
THE LAKERS<br>
AND WHO EVER PLAYS THE SPURS</p><i></i>

The All-Stars ought to be selected by the players/coaches/GM's. The fans just can't handle the responsibility. <p></p><i></i>

I think it's :<br>
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1. A backlash against Shaq. No one besides a Laker fan wants to watch him stand under the basket for ten seconds before he dunks.<br>
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2. The exotic allure of Yao Ming. He's new, he's talented, and he's foreign.<br>
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No one but Kirby would think there was a billion computers in China. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rolleyes --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/image/emoticons_classic/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

The all star game is all about who the fans want to see. If the fans don't want to see a lumbering oaf that racks up points and rebounds travelling and fouling his way through the paint then they shouldn't have to. Besides, the coaches get their picks too. <p></p><i></i>

Pitter, I totally agree with you. Btw, nice email to Cube, bro. Are you gonna send a message to Peter Holt as was suggested? <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RwC7BM4UPN4vSzvW7PLtkWgZAuhj38V0TWfeUgTe5oMC4wVam*gsnDSWBHC8gBmc*VJHFg2ilkI*7kxgMXbp5uqYP9JIkWMH8B4h4FlPcaI/GD-final.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--> </p><i></i>

I agree with you too Pitter.....Its good in theory about the fans voting..it just doesn't work. I would like to see a system in place like the NFL....1/3 the fans, 1/3 the coaches and 1/3 the players. <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0RQDqBOQUv96Q*aAyXJvhC4PpiqY5aClJPVxG2NkCtZhZohfA18sp9cB0Mm2RXo3eDH31HP7*AzJAdc6m90L45YCEuPWDr1AM8aLtyvld1AI/SAmikeyp.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br>
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I'm usually in total agreement with Pitter, but I'm 100% with VWolf on this one. <!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>The all star game is all about who the fans want to see. If the fans don't want to see a lumbering oaf that racks up points and rebounds travelling and fouling his way through the paint then they shouldn't have to. Besides, the coaches get their picks too.<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--> The All-Star game is for the fans. There is a reason the All-Star teams and All-NBA teams are seperate. <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net/"><!--EZCODE FONT START--><span style="color:purple;font-size:x-small;">"Shaq is getting married. Yeah the bad news is it'll be his only chance to get a 4th ring this year." -Jay Leno</span><!--EZCODE FONT END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--></p><i></i>

I am 100% with VoraciousWolf too on this one.<br>
Of course the All-Star game is for the fans' entertainment and therefore they get to choose who they wanna be entertained by! <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://nl.msnusers.com/_Secure/0OwD7d!kUbmI41zzLQ6DPI*FYQ3ceK!EAGHsn7Ds1fk822dJP8FoQFBq5*nMDTPoFUQzLb73iIzUWLmz5RhMQODGBigU7lIPm/alamo50.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--></p><i></i>

Before Shaq got fat and lost most of his athleticism he was pretty entertaining in the All-Star Game. 2000 in particular was pretty good, Shaq doing a 360 and swatting shots.<br>
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But Now, I wouldn't want to see him playing in any game <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/image/emoticons_classic/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>"When I grow up, I want to be a principal or a caterpillar." - Ralph Wiggum </strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>
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