Yao Ming & Hall of Fame.

As I recently argued, Yao Ming's opportunity at getting enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame would be as a contributor to the game.

That's right. Not as a player, but rather as a contributor.

For me, the only shock is there's no five-year waiting period to be eligible to get enshrined as a contributor.

10 months ago AK1984 8 comments 0 recs |

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I contribute to basketball...

with my dollaz. Where’s my HOF nod?

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((())) llbdll
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ed: bumped to front page

by Oh. Em. Gee. on Aug 10, 2011 3:45 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Ahhhh. The sound of crickets.

So nice in the summer.

by Hipster Olympic Team! on Aug 12, 2011 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions

I lived in Beijing from 2005-2006

there was a LOT of basketball being played there. Literally every outdoor court i ever saw was packed until the sun went down. Granted you can’t give Yao credit for all of that, but i’m pretty sure Yao was a large contributing factor. He was also at the time the most famous person in china. Although this guy was a close second: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIZ6y9nQslA/TZPKi-982lI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/CIwIoB-zgr8/s1600/kung-fu-dunk.jpg (yes that’s seth rogan’s sidekick from the green hornet)

by moflow on Aug 10, 2011 6:14 AM PDT reply actions

I'm not surprised there isn't a 5 year wait

As a rule, there’s no such thing as retiring from being a contributor.

It’s a weird way to induct him, but it’s not something I’ll get worked up over. He did help introduce basketball to a region and a generation.

by Timmay! on Aug 10, 2011 9:49 AM PDT reply actions

It may be weird, yes. Yet, it's the only resonable way to induct Yao Ming into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Based on merit, Ming would never get in as a player — no way, no how — so this is a way to recognize what he brought to the sport as an international icon without it smelling fishy. Under the circumstances, I’m all for Ming getting enshrined as a contributor.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Aug 10, 2011 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions

I had no problem with him going in as a contributor, but I was surprised he was going to be inducted right away. But like you said there is no 5 year wait for contributors. Now it doesn’t bother me.

by tenkaistar on Aug 10, 2011 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions

Here's an Onion article on Yao.

It’s what I have thought all along. He was a very good player. But I wouldn’t put him as “great”. It was fun to watch him because he was so huge though.

http://www.onionsportsnetwork.com/articles/nation-to-always-remember-yao-mings-22point-8rebou,20934/

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Aug 10, 2011 2:12 PM PDT reply actions

Is it really a shock that there is not waiting period for a contributor?

A player’s career is finite; when they retire, they retire (or re-retire, or re-re-retire on some cases).

But as a contributor, there is no finite stop date for said person’s contributions… In fact, I’m sure Yao Ming will continue to be a contributor well into his retirement.

"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."

by Arby on Aug 11, 2011 4:52 PM PDT reply actions