NOT STEPHEN A SMITH OR MAX KELLERMAN OR SHANNON SHARPE OR COWHERD OR SKIP Yao Ming Photos at Houston Airport SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2002 8:08 PM CT By Clutch Copyright 2002 ClutchFans.net Major thanks to Jeff Balke, who snapped all these photos. He and rockHEAD of the Clutch BBS went to the airport together. You can also see the photos rockHEAD took here... Click on any thumbnail to get a much larger view. Rudy T Speaks Before Yao Ming's arrival, Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovichspeaks to reporters Yao Ming's Mom While waiting for her son, Yao Ming's mom speaks to a friend. Yao's mom stands 6-foot-5 while his Dad is close to 6-foot-11. Yao, Mom Walk Through Airport Both Yao and his mom, surrounded by reporters, walk through the Houston Intercontinental airport. Yao Makes Entrance With media all around him, Yao Ming looks to the crowd entering the airport Ming Looks Back Yao Ming turns back to a reporter after arriving at Houston airport Big Yao, Small CD Keep in mind that Rockets GM Carroll Dawson, a former center at Baylor, is a big man standing at what ... 6-foot-8? Yao, in this photo, absolutely dwarfs him. Yao Looks Up Yao Ming looks up to a reporter as as question is asked while CD is scaring us with his face shot in this one. Tired? Yao & CD Again You know right now what CD is thinking - 'I've waited so long for this moment... where I could bench Cato' Yao Looks Down At Interpreter That is Yao Ming's interpreter in the bottom left of the screen. Doesn't look like the two had met before today. Yao As Media Swarms Yao smiles and listens to his interpreter as cameras and microphones lean over Yao, Interpreter Again Another shot of Yao Ming and his interpreter. Yao, CD Set To Leave After fielding questions from reporters, Yao and Carroll Dawson prepare to walk out to the waiting cars Close Up Of Ming A good close-up shot of Yao Ming walking through the airport Welcoming Sign Outside Airport Below the Mayor Lee Brown sign, the digital signs reads 'Welcome Yao Ming to Houston and the Rockets' Yao and Rocket Caravan Yao Ming is inside the limo SUV in the front. Both rockHEAD and Jeff of the Clutch BBS followed the caravan a ways outside the airport
He was so skinny back then...I feel like staying at that weight might have extended his career (but maybe he never would've been as good, who knows)
Remember when Big Yao wasn't even going to arrive to Houston because of the beef with China after US spy plane and Chinese fighter pilot collide ? ahh the good ol' days. Then Big Yao gets crossed over, falls and the opposing team's bench laughed. Forward 2 seasons and Big Yao throwing down some gangsta lean on the American mofo's "You can't F'ing stop me" Only for Wild Clyde The Glide to give us all the most quoted phrase: "Like clubbing baby seals". Full circle.
I was there too, this was the best shot I got with my basic Olympus Digital Camera I had back in the day
