姚明入選NBA名人堂Yao Ming Named to Hall of Fame

By Sun Ye

姚明入選NBA名人堂Yao Ming Named to Hall of Fame

By Sun Ye

姚明成功入選2016年度NBA奈史密斯籃球名人堂，成為首位入駐名人堂的中國球員。奈史密斯籃球名人紀念堂是美國的一家歷史博物館和名人紀念館，位于馬薩諸塞州斯普林菲爾德的1000名人堂大道。它充當著體育界最完善的圖書館，它還促進并且保存了籃球的歷史。為紀念加拿大博士、籃球的發明者詹姆斯·奈史密斯，名人堂在1959年開放，并且選入了第一批運動員。

頒獎儀式于2016年9月9日在馬薩諸塞州的斯普林菲爾德舉行。在儀式上，姚明發表了一篇感人肺腑又不失幽默的演講。

歡迎姚明進入名人堂的是NBA傳奇球員比爾·拉塞爾、比爾·沃頓和休斯敦火箭隊前隊友迪坎貝·穆托姆博。姚明以一則逗趣的笑話開始致辭。他說：“我真的以為第一個上臺的應該是艾弗森。”但是，后來姚明意識到自己需要“更多的訓練”。很明顯，這里用了雙關語，暗指艾弗森2002年不光彩的“訓練門”（2002年，在一次新聞發布會上，當時心情很差的艾弗森一口氣連續喊出22次“訓練”斥責記者）。

每一位由姚明挑選來歡迎他進入名人堂的球員，都在姚明心目中有特殊的分量，他在隨后的演講中提到了他們。首先，姚明感謝拉塞爾在新秀賽季期間邀請他到家中共進晚餐；沃頓在幫助姚明處理腳傷問題時起到了關鍵作用；講到穆托姆博時，姚明又開玩笑了，說穆大叔在指導訓練時一直肘擊他。

姚明特別感謝了那些在中國帶他走上籃球之路并幫助他成長的人。此外，他還提到了休斯敦火箭隊的管理人員、隊友和粉絲們，尤其是球隊老板萊斯利·亞歷山大、總經理達里爾·莫雷和8年職業生涯中指導過他的3位教練（魯迪·湯姆賈諾維奇、杰夫·范·甘迪和里克·阿德爾曼）。

另外，姚明特別說到魯迪的名言“永遠不要低估冠軍之心”非常激勵人心。他感謝范·甘迪把火箭隊打造成了特別強大的防守戰隊，并充滿愛意地將球隊說成“兄弟連”。姚明還引用了范·甘迪的名言“最好的機會也可能是你最后的機會”，認為這句話特別能鼓舞人。

很明顯，姚明與最早的隊友史蒂夫·弗朗西斯和卡蒂諾·莫布里關系很好。他回憶說弗朗西斯是一位十全十美的老大哥，在姚明第一天到達休斯敦時，弗朗西斯與姚明重重擊掌并給了姚明一個大大的擁抱，以歡迎他的到來。提到莫布里時，姚明又講了一個段子，說莫布里曾經邀請他到家中吃“靈魂食糧”（美國南方黑人傳統食物），但因為姚明沒有完全聽懂英語，以為莫布里說的是“很咸的食物”。

至于對手，姚明特別提到了和他一同入選名人堂的沙克·奧尼爾，說每一次與沙克比賽都會讓他想起那句“殺不死你的會讓你更強大”。

姚明演講中最感人的部分是他稱休斯敦為自己的“第二家鄉”。姚明深情地說休斯敦球迷既忠誠又熱情，他感謝休斯敦人民在他職業的高潮期和低谷期都一如既往地支持他，給予他前進的動力。他繼續說道，他會永遠將休斯敦人民當作自己的家人，說“我永遠是一個得克薩斯人，一個休斯敦火箭人”。

Former NBA eight-time All-Star Yao Ming has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue in Springfield, Massachusetts. It serves as the sport’s most complete library, in addition to promoting and preserving the history of basketball. Dedicated to Canadian doctor and inventor of the sport James Naismith, it was opened in, and inducted its first class in 1959.

The induction ceremony was held in Springfield, Massachusetts on September 9, 2016.Yao Ming delivered a heart warming and humorous induction speech at the 2016 NBA Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony.

Welcoming Yao Ming to the Hall were NBA legend Bill Rus-

sell, Bill Walton and former Houston Rockets teammate Dikembe Mutombo. Ming began his speech with an awesome joke. Ming said I thought Allen Iverson should’ve been the first to speak. But, then Ming realized he needed“more practice”. The obvious pun meant to touch on Iverson’s infamous 2002 “practice rant”.

Each of the players who Ming selected to introduce him to the Hall carried a significant place in his heart and subsequently in his speech. First of all, Ming thanked Russell for hosting a dinner meeting in his rookie season. Russell dispensed advice Ming found particularly applicable on and off the court. Walton was pivotal in helping Ming deal with his foot injury. Mutombo was the recipient of another Yao joke referencing his mentoring along with elbows delivered in practice.

Yao was especially thankful for his introduction to the game in China and the people who assisted his growth. Additionally, Ming refereced Houston Rockets management, teammates and fans. Specifically Ming gave thanks to owner Leslie Alexander, GM Daryl Morey and each of his 3 coaches spanning his 8 year career (Rudy Tomjanovich, Jeff Van Gundy and Rick Adelman).

In addition, Ming noted Rudy’s “never under estimate the heart of a champion” inspirational quote. Yao credited Van Gundy for the Rockets especially tough defensive squad and lovingly referred to the team as a brotherhood. Ming also cited Van Gundy’s quote of “your best chance may also be your last chance” as particularly inspiring.

It was clear Ming has a strong attachment with his first teammates Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley. Francis was recalled as the perfect big brother welcoming Yao with an especially hard high five and hug on his first day in Houston. Then in another humorous bit he spoke of Mobley inviting him to his house to eat soul food. Because Ming did not understanding English fully he thought Mobley said“salty” food.

As for Yao’s opponents he pinpointed fellow inductee Shaq consequently saying every meeting reminded him of the saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.

Arguably the most touching portion of Ming’s speech was citing Houston as his second home. Ming endearingly referred to H-Town’s fans as being loyal and welcoming. Ming thanked the people of Houston for standing by him through the good and bad times and giving him strength to move forward. He further stated he will always consider you (Houston natives) as part of his family saying“I’m a Texan and a Houston Rocket for life”.