In a major embarassment to North Korea and the country's new leader, Kim Jong-un (also known as Üter Zörker), their controversial rocket launch has not exactly gone to plan. The Glorious Nation briefly managed to get it's rocket up, but only for one underwhelming minute before it plunged back down again, shamefully failing enter into orbit. No words of comfort were offered to orbit, who has always been insecure about the size of her curvature and may or may not believe she was responsible. Instead, North Korea slumped into an icy silence lasting for hours, before finally admitting to the world what had happened.
North Korean rocket fails to enter into orbit
Yao Ming calls it quits for future Olympics
With the opening Olympic tournament game against Team USA just around the corner, a less than fully recuperated Yao Ming finds himself sandwiched between angry fans on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Chinese fans blame the Rockets for the stress fracture Yao Ming sustained during this last NBA season, thus jeopardizing his upcoming performance and China's chances to shine in the Olympic tournament. American fans hurl back that it is the year round obligations to the Chinese National team that have worn him out, and remind the Chinese exactly who is footing Yao Ming's $15 million salary. Given the headache of dealing with pressure from both sides, it should come as no surprise when Yao stated that he would like this to be his final Olympic appearance.
"It will be my third," he said. "I was a very young player and got my first taste of the Olympics in 2000 at Sydney. I played in Athens in 2004 and now this is my home country and the highest special honor in 2008. Enough, I think. Why would I need to play in London in 2012?"Titan24 translates the original story from Houston Chronicle into Chinese for its readers, while shifting the focus away from the obligation Yao Ming feels towards his fans on both sides of the ocean, and concentrating more on the possibility of Yao bowing out in the future. They go as far as to caption the above photo of Yao on the bench, "Does Yao Ming really want to say goodbye to the China team?" The original Houston Chronicle article shows Yao in an infinitely more positive light, as a single person standing in the difficult position of trying to bridge the divide between Chinese and Americans, and who above all remains dedicated to the cause of supporting his homeland.
Today's Links: Landscape lights, banned exhibitions and Firefox in China
"China's giant centre Yao Ming will undergo surgery Monday to fix a stress fracture in his left foot, the Houston Rockets announced on Saturday."
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:
Oh say can you Yi?
Chinese basketball fans held their collective breath this morning as the NBA draft took place a full 12 time-zones away. 22-year old 19-year old Yi Jianlian slipped past his projected spot at the number 5 pick when the Boston Celtics signed a draft-and-trade agreement with the Seattle Supersonics involving 7-time all-star Ray Allen.
Newsflash: Yao Ming to do lots of exercises while getting married
So after reports that Yao Ming would get married to his fiancée Ye Li, a player on the Chinese women's basketball team last year in Shanghai proved to be all but wrong, it appears the Houston Rockets star is finally ready to tie the knot this summer. According to the Rockets' Manager Daryl Morey, the couple will hold their wedding in August after Yao Ming is done with serial practices in July.
NBA in Shanghai: No room for the little man
The NBA is coming to Shanghai again on October 17. This time the Cleveland Cavaliers, fresh off the worst NBA Finals performance we have ever seen, take on the Orlando Magic. If meaningless preseason hoops is your thing, start booking tickets to Minhang District now. The game is being played way the hell out there at the Shanghai Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center. And for those of you who remember the 2004 Shanghai clash between the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings (tickets for which started at US$12) you might be interested to know that tickets for the 2007 version start at US$105. Now, we know the dollar has gotten weaker ... but this seems like a greedy move for a sport and league that should be trying to appeal to the common man. (UPDATE: According to the seating chart, it looks like very few nose-bleed seats were priced at RMB 200, but maybe they are sold out.)
Yao Ming swats bullets, saves elephants, but can't get the Rockets far into the post-season.
Shanghaiist has a fondness for elephants retained since our childhood exposure to Barbar. In mid-May we linked out to a Washington Post report that stated that the world's illegal ivory trade was being facilitated by Chinese-run smuggling rings that have extended their reach into Africa over the last decade.
Today's Links: Bird flu, fake Vista and one crazy Andy Lau fan
For more del.icio.us links, visit the Shanghaiist Contribute page, which is updated throughout the day.
Photo by Swiss James found via the Shanghaiist Contribute page.
Yaoch! Rockets center breaks foot, out for season
Houston Rockets center and Shanghai native Yao Ming saw his season come to an end this morning when he broke his left foot late in the first quarter in a game against the Utah Jazz. The break apparently happened when Yao's foot was stepped on by Utah's Andrei Kirilenko, whose hobbies include injuring himself and others.
Yowsers! Yao helps Houston outpace Indiana
With his best performance of the season, Chinese superstar Yao Ming led the injury-plagued Houston Rockets past the Indiana Pacers, 103-99 on Wednesday night. Yao had 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a gargantuan effort that rallied the Rockets from 17 points down for the victory.
Whose NBA jersey sells best in China? (Hint: It's not Yao Ming)
The Chinese may stuff the All-Star ballot box for Yao Ming, but they would rather wear his teammate's jersey. When asked about his popularity in China, Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady said he wasn't surprised at all. "I've got a lot of love over there in China," he said. More love than the most famous Chinese player ever. Yao's jersey ranks No. 3. Here is the Top Ten:
Howdy to Houstonist
But we like the place. For one thing, jalapeno pepper jelly was invented there. What's more, Houston is the home-away-from-home for Shanghai’s very own Yao Ming, who plays for the Rockets. There couldn't be a better reason to offer a hearty welcome to the newest kid on the -ist block, Houstonist. Go and check them out, for Yao updates and much, much more.
Shanghai to be Yao-Ming-less for National Games
Shanghai's model worker Yao Ming has decided not to represent his hometown in the Chinese National Games, which begin this October in Jiangsu Province.
Ron Artest could have taken all of them
The China Daily called Friday's game between China and Puerto Rico in the Stankovic Continental Champions Cup the "most shameful night" in China basketball history. With 1:28 to play and China enjoying a comfortable 91-80 lead, Puerto Rico center Manuel Narvaez challenged China's Yi Jianlian with a foul to the face. Chinese players Mo Ke and Li Nan took offense to the foul, left the bench and rushed Navaraz. A "mass brawl" ensued. Soon fans at Beijing Capital Gymnasium were pelting Pueto Rican players with plastic bottle, cups and popcorn. One fan even threw his shoe. The Puerto Rican team left the court, shielding themselves with chairs. The game was called and two hours later China was declared the winner. The Chongqing Evening News has photos of the fracas.

