Yao Ming publicly shamed

Notorious NBA bad boy Yao Ming has done it again. He's late for national team training — and China's official sports association has made it clear they are sick and tired of his Rodmanesque antics:

The Houston Rockets' star was faulted for taking too much time off to recover from his last NBA season. The government's All-China Sports Federation also said he spent too much time planning his wedding and making appearances for the Special Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

"No matter how lofty public welfare activities are, they can't be allowed to take first place in a player's life,'' the China Sports Daily, a federation-owned newspaper, said in an article appearing Tuesday.

"No matter how sweet personal life is, it can't be compared to the exultation of capturing glory for one's nation,'' the article said.

Chinese Web sites later said Yao reported for national teaming training on Wednesday.

It's really sad to see pro athletes go off the deep end like this. Special Olympics?!?!? Beijing Olympics??!?!?! Getting married?!??!? What self-destructive and unpatriotic activities will this prima donna get messed up in next? Yao, please stop embarrassing your fellow countrymen with your reckless behavior!

If only Yao could be a true stand up guy like Yi Jianlian. On that topic, we tend to agree with this Shanghaiist commenter.

Image from Dropping Dimes.