Yao Ming Retires

Your point?

No rules are being changed here, SteveHTOWN. The unique approach they're referring to is that they'd be nominating a player as a contributor instead, a category that does not have any restrictions on the timeline for eligibility. Under the normal circumstances, he'd be affected by the five year rule since he'd be nominated as a player, given that's the area of the game he's been directly involved in.

It does strike me as being a little iffy putting him in the same category as individuals like Danny Biasone, inventor of the shot clock, but then that is a broad category. Still, technically any player worthy of induction could be seen as a contributor, having made a contribution to the game...by playing it and being extremely good at it, so when it comes down to it they belong in the players category whereas the contributor category is for individuals who had an impact on the game beyond playing or coaching.

I can see what they're going for and it's a noble gesture and all, but then couldn't you automatically induct pretty much any noteworthy foreign born player as a contributor? Couldn't you also induct players like Jordan, Magic and Bird again for raising the profile of the game in the US and worldwide, George Mikan for being the game's first superstar and so on? I don't think they need to rush to induct him when they could make these arguments for him when he's eligible to be inducted as a player. His contribution was playing the game, that's what his nomination should be for when the time comes.

No rules are being changed here, SteveHTOWN. The unique approach they're referring to is that they'd be nominating a player as a contributor instead, a category that does not have any restrictions on the timeline for eligibility. Under the normal circumstances, he'd be affected by the five year rule since he'd be nominated as a player, given that's the area of the game he's been directly involved in.

It does strike me as being a little iffy putting him in the same category as individuals like Danny Biasone, inventor of the shot clock, but then that is a broad category. Still, technically any player worthy of induction could be seen as a contributor, having made a contribution to the game...by playing it and being extremely good at it, so when it comes down to it they belong in the players category whereas the contributor category is for individuals who had an impact on the game beyond playing or coaching.

I can see what they're going for and it's a noble gesture and all, but then couldn't you automatically induct pretty much any noteworthy foreign born player as a contributor? Couldn't you also induct players like Jordan, Magic and Bird again for raising the profile of the game in the US and worldwide, George Mikan for being the game's first superstar and so on? I don't think they need to rush to induct him when they could make these arguments for him when he's eligible to be inducted as a player. His contribution was playing the game, that's what his nomination should be for when the time comes.

You pointed it out quite well. Nominating a player as a contributor seems to me like bending the rules. They might not changed the rules but they clearly bended them. Seems to me the NBA wants to please the Chinese fans/ market.

Edit: I'd be less angry about that move if players like Chris Mullin and Dennis Rodman have not had that problems of getting inducted into HoF. Not to mention Reggie Miller who still waits to be induced.

It's not even really bending the rules. It's just highly unusual to nominate a player for the Hall of Fame as a contributor.

It's also worth noting that the nomination is coming from China and isn't something the NBA is doing to try and get him into the Hall of Fame before he's eligible as a player. It's merely a nomination, the individuals who vote on inductions could easily decide "No, this is silly" and shoot it down.

It's not even really bending the rules. It's just highly unusual to nominate a player for the Hall of Fame as a contributor.

It's also worth noting that the nomination is coming from China and isn't something the NBA is doing to try and get him into the Hall of Fame before he's eligible as a player. It's merely a nomination, the individuals who vote on inductions could easily decide "No, this is silly" and shoot it down.

I might've reacted a little bit too emotional on this, but when it comes to the HoF I can really get embarrassed... I mean, they went over Nellie... period.

I still think it's a bit iffy, though it looks worse at first glance than it really is.

To his credit, Yao apparently isn't keen on the idea.

Yao Ming’s agent has asked the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to set aside the former All-Star center’s nomination for a later year.

Yao, who retired in July, was nominated by a member of the Chinese media as a contributor to the game, and would’ve been eligible for induction as early as 2012. But Hall of Fame president and CEO John Doleva said Yao’s agent, John Huizinga, called Wednesday morning to request that Yao’s nomination be tabled for now.

KRIV-TV first reported the request. Huizinga did not immediately return a phone message.

Doleva said Huizinga told him that Yao feels it’s too soon for him to be placed on the ballot.

“He (Huizinga) indicated that Yao has great respect for the institution and equal respect for those elected before his consideration,” Doleva said in a phone interview. “He just feels that it’s too soon to be considered as a contributor.”

Yao has sense, unlike those Chinese media fanboys of his.

To his credit, Yao apparently isn't keen on the idea.

Yao Ming’s agent has asked the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to set aside the former All-Star center’s nomination for a later year.

Yao, who retired in July, was nominated by a member of the Chinese media as a contributor to the game, and would’ve been eligible for induction as early as 2012. But Hall of Fame president and CEO John Doleva said Yao’s agent, John Huizinga, called Wednesday morning to request that Yao’s nomination be tabled for now.

KRIV-TV first reported the request. Huizinga did not immediately return a phone message.

Doleva said Huizinga told him that Yao feels it’s too soon for him to be placed on the ballot.

“He (Huizinga) indicated that Yao has great respect for the institution and equal respect for those elected before his consideration,” Doleva said in a phone interview. “He just feels that it’s too soon to be considered as a contributor.”

Nice attitude.