You may be familiar with those exclusive, big coffee table books that feature celebrities like Michael Jackson, etc., teams like Manchester United and the Ferrari Formula One team, and sports like Major League Baseball.
Yesterday it was announced there will be a similar book about Yao, called Yao Ming Opus, published by Opus Media Group UK, the publishers that have produced the aforementioned books, and Time Media Publishing and Media, a Chinese company based in Anhui province.
According to China Daily, the book will boast a large range of photos taken during Yao’s teenage years, his professional career and life after basketball, with both English and Chinese text.
The photos were provided by Yao or purchased from news agencies, and also include new pictures taken by the photographers of the two companies. The text will be completed by a team of five writers. The book is expected to weigh 16 kg (35 pounds), and is scheduled to be published next year.
Opus’ CEO, Karl Fowler, said, “We could not think of a more sincere, unique and exciting story to tell, using great photographs and great writing to reveal his story not just in China, but internationally.”
Yao said that when he first saw an Opus publication he thought it was like a comic book. But as he turned the pages he realized the book was something people should take seriously.
“Although we live in a digital age, a photo can capture and keep every precious moment forever and will not fade as time goes by,” he said.
Yao also stated, “I spent many hours looking through my Manchester United Opus and what I found fascinating was the way in which photography presented in this way illustrated the history so well. I am so very humbled that Opus and Time are looking to share my own special moments and thoughts in a similar unique manner.”
On Wednesday in Shanghai, Yao signed a signature page that will be placed in copy number one of Yao Ming Opus. Opus will auction that copy next year and donate the proceeds to the Yao Foundation.
For more photos from the signing ceremony and more news about the project, click here.
Fans can register here their interest in Yao Ming Opus.
Even after a year in retirement, Yao is still ranking high on Forbes’ (China) annual Top 100 celebrity list.
The list is compiled by looking at several variables, like earnings and buzz (in newspapers, Internet, TV and magazines). Yao ranked #8 overall, and #9 in earnings.
Li Na is ranked as the top athlete, helped by her winning the 2011 French Open.
Last week photos started surfacing of Jeremy Lin’s new Nike Air Force 1 shoe, scheduled to hit the market in June.
Note the New York Knicks colors used throughout the shoe. Hopefully for Nike (and the Knicks), Lin won’t sign with another team this off-season since he’ll be a free agent.
Below is video of Jeremy Lin working out before Saturday’s Knicks-Heat game in Miami. He is looking pretty good recovering from his knee injury, but so far there is no timetable for his return. Lord knows the Knicks need him after getting blown out in Game 1 on Saturday, and teammate Iman Schumpert blowing out his ACL during that game.
In case you missed it, last week Jeremy appeared at Time Magazine’s 100 Gala to honor the magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. Below he is pictured with Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York. Click here to see Jeremy with other celebrities at the event.
Even after retiring from basketball 10 months ago, Yao Ming still gets rock star attention in China.
On Friday in Beijing, Yao showed up at a university, and many of the students there skipped their classes and followed him around, taking photos and posting them on their microblogs.
Yao visited the China Youth University for Political Sciences in Beijing to announce his Foundation’s launch of the inaugural Project Hope Primary School Basketball League season.
This will be the first ever nationwide basketball league for 47 Project Hope primary schools (including the 6 Yao Foundation Project Hope Primary Schools that the Yao Foundation had built in the past 4 years, with 7 more in various construction/refurbishment stage).
In his speech, Yao said he wished through this project that it will provide — through basketball — that poor kids in some of the backward cities and provinces can participate and get new opportunities for growth and development.
Click here for more photos and information from the announcement.
Friday also happened to be the 10th anniversary of Yao’s Shanghai Sharks winning the China Basketball Association championship in a game where Yao scored 44 points on 21-of-21 shooting from the floor, grabbed 21 rebounds, and blocked 7 shots. No wonder Yao is still so admired in China.
This weekend Yao attended the Archery World Cup (”Stage 1″) in Shanghai to cheer on the Chinese athletes participating in the competition. Below, Yao talks with Tom Dielen, the World Archery Secretary General.
Unfortunately for China, they only won one silver medal in the female individual event, and 2 bronze medals in the women’s and mixed (men and women) team events.
As usual, the South Korean women dominated the team and individual events. Chinese Taipei, however, surprisingly beat Japan to win the gold medal for the mixed team event.
Brady Ellison of the USA won the men’s individual event, while Ki Bo Bae of South Korea, arguably the best female archer in the world currently, won the female individual competition. Both Brady Ellison and Ki Bo Bae also led the USA men and South Korean women to win gold medals for the men’s and women’s team event.
On Friday Yao Ming joined his fellow former NBA Chinese big men (Mengke Bateer) and Wang ZhiZhi) to attend the retirement ceremony of Du Feng, who had a great 14-year CBA career with 7 CBA championship rings.
The Guangdong team played a 30-minute exhibition game with Du Feng’s friends, all national teammates or CBA stars. Bateer was the head coach while Yao was the assistant coach for Du Feng’s friends’ team.
Click here for more photos of everyone laughing and having a good time, and the ceremony honoring Du Feng. Since everyone was having a great time, I wonder if afterwards they got together to play some poker?
You might have missed it, but late last week Stephon Marbury and his Beijing Ducks team won the Chinese Basketball Association championship, beating Aaron Brooks and the Guangdong Tigers 4-1 in the CBA Finals.
You can tell Marbury was very emotionally invested playing for Beijing as seen from the photos below…
Click here for more photos from the game. Click here for an article about the championship game.
In the series-clinching game, Marbury scored 41 points and dished 7 assists, while Aaron Brooks scored 33 points and had 5 assists. After the game, Marbury thanked God for giving him the chance to complete his redemption in China, and that the whole CBA Final series was like a miracle.
Marbury was clearly the MVP of the Finals, but was prevented from being awarded the MVP trophy because of CBA rules that prevent foreign players from winning it, nor the MVP of the regular season. But Marbury is the “virtual MVP” of Chinese basketball analysts, media, press, and fans, especially those in Beijing. Marbury almost single-handedly led his team to bring Beijing it’s first CBA championship, the first time Beijing has won anything major in basketball since 1983.
Last week it was announced that Yao will appear next month on the inaugural cover of the Mandarin version of Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Checkout the preview below where Yao is looking quite dapper.
Here’s the press release:
WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE LAUNCHES MANDARIN EDITION IN CHINA
The world’s largest wine media company reveals plans to reach millions in Greater China and Hong Kong.
New York, NY (March 19, 2012) Wine Enthusiast has announced its launch of an entirely Mandarin edition of the magazine. Through a strategic partnership with YesMyWine.com, Wine Enthusiast Magazine will reach millions of untapped VIP Chinese wine buyers and key trade decision makers. The release of their premiere May 2012 Mandarin digital issue of the magazine will include:
