Information Figure: The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup countdown 100-day start ceremony was held in Beijing. The picture shows Yao Ming leaving the venue after the ceremony. China News Agency reporter Cui Nanshe
China News Client, Beijing, May 9th (Wang Hao) Although he is in a difficult situation, it seems that Yao Ming is still full of confidence in the future of Chinese basketball.
On the evening of the 8th, Yao Ming, chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, was interviewed by CCTV to introduce the current situation of Chinese basketball and plans for a period of time in the future. He analyzed the impact of the epidemic on Chinese basketball and talked about the CBA restart plan.
Just like the fans are familiar with, Yao Ming seriously interviewed, and two "Yao-style jokes" appeared from time to time. Although the problem is a basket, it sounds natural to have a feeling: there will always be a way.
On January 24 this year, the CBA officially issued an announcement to postpone all events originally scheduled for February 1. That day was the 30th year of the Lunar New Year, and most Chinese people were immersed in the joy of the New Year. Even basketball fans may not be able to anticipate this delay for months.
Before the Chinese New Year holiday, the vast majority of CBA teams have completed 30 rounds of the regular season. According to the original schedule, there are still 16 rounds of the regular season.
Data picture: Guangdong Dongguan Bank player Zeng Fanri (right) is attacking in the game. On the same day, in the 17th round of the Chinese Men's Basketball Professional League (CBA) regular season in the 2019-2020 season, Beijing Holdings won 126 to 111 at home against the Guangdong Bank of Dongguan team. China News Agency reporter Han Haidan
With the development of the new coronary pneumonia epidemic after the Spring Festival, almost all domestic sports events have stalled. The third stage group match of the Tokyo Olympics women's basketball qualifier originally scheduled to be held in China can only be forced to move to the middle of a stand.
Fortunately, the Chinese women's basketball team, Lian Ke, was a strong enemy and locked the qualifications for the Tokyo Olympics. Among them, in the second game, the Chinese women's basketball team defeated the Spanish women's basketball team ranked third in the world 64:62. Yao Ming sat on the sidelines and witnessed the victory. Many people said that they saw tears in Yao Ming's eyes.
That scene is very reminiscent of the tears that Yao Ming nearly shed on the sidelines when the Chinese men's basketball team lost to the World Cup last year. Some people lamented that Chairman Yao was "it's not easy". In fact, this "not easy" never stopped.
Data Map: Yao Ming (first from the right in the back row) and other officials of the Chinese Basketball Association are watching the game on the sidelines. On the same day, in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup Group A group match in Beijing, the Chinese team lost to Venezuela 59:72. China News Service reporter photo
When will the CBA restart? As the domestic epidemic prevention and control gradually improved, this has become the focus of many fans. As early as the beginning of February, the media broke the news. CBA has informed the teams that the league restart time is not earlier than April 1. With the passage of time, there are more and more rumors that the CBA will resume the game in April, but these rumors are only rumors in the end.
Yao Ming revealed that there are currently three restart plans for CBA: intact, slightly cut the schedule or directly enter the final stage.
He said that the CBA restart should follow the two principles of meeting the epidemic prevention environment and ensuring the fairness of the competition. Whenever it restarts, the first consideration is to ensure the integrity of the league as much as possible. At the same time, the league may go empty.
Data map: CBA Christmas War started, Beijing team vs. Xinjiang team. In the end, the Xinjiang team beat the Beijing team 88-87 and achieved four straight victories. China News reporter Li Junshe
Of course, he also mentioned the possible risks, "Our game is indoors, compared with the outdoor football, the risk is indeed greater. So we need to control the number of people, as far as possible to minimize the personnel on the venue (progress) To reduce risks. "
It seems that after the domestic epidemic is effectively controlled, the possibility of the CBA restarting this season is gradually increasing. However, even if the game can be restarted, this outbreak has already had a great impact on the league.
According to CBA's news, after the league is closed, CBA and various furniture companies still need to continue to spend operating expenses, including players and staff salaries, field rents, etc. With the extension of the offseason, the league and clubs are under severe financial pressure, and expenditures in various plans are also frozen.
In mid-April, CBA announced a salary cut for middle and senior executives, including a 35% salary cut for CEOs and 15% -30% salary cuts for directors and above. Interestingly, the list of pay cuts does not include Yao Ming, because as the chairman of the CBA company, his original salary was zero.
Information Figure: The calligraphy and painting 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and China Small Basketball League launch ceremony was held in Beijing. The picture shows the speech of Yao Ming, chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association. China News Service reporter photo
Before the accidental suspension due to the epidemic, the CBA League this season can be described as "ambitious". Not only did the foreign aid contract have new regulations, but many teams ’stadiums and team emblems also had new designs. The referee report after the game also gave fans a more professional view of the league.
Although all this was severely damaged by the epidemic, the CBA's "ambition" did not end there. What Yao Ming did during the epidemic was not just trying to overcome the difficulties.
On April 8, the CBA Alliance signed a copyright agreement with an enterprise for the next 5 years and will continue to promote the concept of "5G + Sports". Some media reported that the contract amount is huge.
On April 19, the Chinese Basketball Association issued a letter on the allocation of incentive funds for the national high-level reserve talent base. A total of 2.44 million yuan was allocated to support youth training and cultivate reserve talent.
Data Map: Zhejiang team player Zhao Yanhao (Huang) layup the ball in the game. On the same day, in the 13th round of the CBA League in the 2019-2020 season, the Shanxi Fenjiu Men's Basketball Team defeated Guangsha Zhejiang by 107: 88 at home. China News Agency reporter Wei Liangshe
Yao Ming said: "I hope to use this method to explore a sustainable development, because Chinese basketball is based on youth training, and any professional league or national team we can see is inseparable from youth training sports schools, The efforts of the coaches of social institutions. This is how we deliver nutrients to the roots of the entire basketball tree. "
In the crisis brought about by this epidemic, Yao Ming and his colleagues are still pushing forward the overall layout of China's basketball development. As he said, "crisis" depends on whether it is danger or opportunity, and there may be opportunities after danger.
There was also an episode in the interview. When asked about why he took the lead in blood donation during the epidemic, why did he donate more than others, Yao Ming smiled and replied, "It may be proportional to the weight."
At this moment, he seemed to be the "little giant" who joked with reporters at the post-NBA conference more than a decade ago. As time went by, Yao Ming became a female zhaoriyue, but some things haven't changed.
Data map: In 2002, Yao Ming participated in the NBA draft. At that time, David Stern, the president of the league, personally announced that Yao Ming was selected by the Rockets in the first round. This also became a window for Yao Ming to formally enter the league.
In the future, Chinese basketball will still face many problems: the women ’s basketball team that has obtained the Olympic qualification cannot compete with foreign strong teams, the men ’s basketball Olympics will be delayed for one year, and the CBA may face many risks if it can restart ...
But think about Yao Ming's once-only loneliness in the NBA and the bravery of the Chinese men's basketball team in the world, which will give fans more confidence. Of course, not only Yao Ming, but also thousands of workers in the circle are making unremitting efforts together.
Chinese basketball is in danger. Although the road is not smooth, I still believe in a bright future. Bless Yao Ming! Bless Chinese Basketball! (Finish)