http://news.excite.com/news/ap/010620/19/bkn-wang-mavericks Mavericks' Wang Unsure He'll Return Updated: Wed, Jun 20 7:32 PM EDT By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer BEIJING (AP) - Wang Zhizhi's brief stint with the Dallas Mavericks might have been his only chance to play in the NBA. The 7-foot-1 Wang, the first Chinese-born player in the NBA, joined the Mavericks in early April after winning a sixth straight Chinese championship for his old team, the military-owned Bayi Rockets. But at a news conference on Wednesday, Wang said the leaders of the Rockets, the People's Liberation Army and the Chinese Basketball Association will decide whether he can return to Dallas. The Dallas deal was for only one season. Mavericks coach Don Nelson has said the team expects the 22-year-old army officer to play for him next season and wants to sign him to a two-year contract. But Chinese sports officials are reluctant to lose their brightest star and allowed Wang to play for Dallas only after two years of hesitation and negotiation. That unwillingness was on display last month, when the Chinese league's Shanghai Sharks ruled that Wang's national team teammate Yao Ming must stay in China, despite offers for the 7-5 star to play in the NBA. Wang played in five regular-season games for the Mavericks, averaging 4.8 points and 1.4 rebounds. He also was in five playoff games, averaging 2.0 points and 0.2 rebounds as Dallas reached the Western Conference semifinals. "For me, before, playing was like driving a car in town. Then I drove onto the highway, where you really get to test your speed - the speed in the NBA is very fast - and your vehicle," Wang said. Wang's stint with the Mavericks was a milestone in the NBA's efforts to build a relationship with China. It also came on the heels of a collision between a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet that drew outrage in the United States over China's 11-day detention of the American crew. The Chinese pilot was killed. Wang said he was assigned three officers from the FBI and Dallas police department to protect him during the tense time but did not feel threatened. "Out on the court, I felt only the warmth of the fans," Wang said. He is joining a series of U.S.-China basketball clinics in Beijing this week along with Nelson, Antawn Jamison of the Golden State Warriors and Jerome Williams of the Toronto Raptors. While not as popular as soccer in China, basketball is hot with the young crowd and public courts are almost always crowded. Andrew Messick, the NBA's senior vice president for international networking, said the league was thinking about sending teams to China for preseason exhibition games next year. "The NBA is serious about building a business in China," he said. Maybe we can send Cato to Dallas for insurance. ------------------
Hell, send him to China. ------------------ "I had mine chewed off by a boss one time." -- Behad leaves us wondering if he gets hazard pay...
The biggest problem with China is the old guard, which remains strong in both government and the army. Every decision takes forever to make. The population is much more progressive than those who rule it. The old guard sees this as a matter of keeping his talent at home for the pride of China. They cannot see the true value of his being a sports ambassador to the West. His presence in the United States would do more good for Sino-US relations than all the diplomatic agreements can. Eventually, the dinosaurs who rule China will die off, and so much of this will fall away. ------------------ "We're having a pretty good time considering one day we're all going to die." Steve Martin, 1976
Yea, I've always believed that if we did away with the governments of the world, that we'd all find out that our supposed enemies were just regular people. ------------------
Anarchy is coo! ------------------ Rarely is the question asked: Guns kill squirrels than REDRUM to fools across the nation?
Hmmm I wonder why ROXRAN's on a posting spree... ------------------ It's a long way to the promise land, So you'd better well know your way, There's a ship on the ocean And an albatross who is trying to lead you astray, Leaders, politicians, and power whores, Are in line to receive your choice, And you bet your ass if you give it to them, They will gladly take your voice... [This message has been edited by Band Geek Mobster (edited June 21, 2001).]
I saw Wang play live. He looks lost on the court. Maybe if he got more minutes, he would be able to get more comfortable. I hope Wang can stay. ------------------
