When a man as big as Yao Ming gets as angry as he did during Sunday's loss to the Sacramento Kings, it's got to be a little frightening. With the giant yelling and throwing things like he was after being called for his sixth foul of the game, the refs had no choice but to toss him from the gym, if for no other reason than for fear of their own safety.

 

Of course the refs were in no real danger, but Yao's uncharacteristic rage must have caught them off guard. As far as we can remember, it is the first time Yao has ever been thrown out of a game - the Rockets' big man hardly even gets called for technical fouls.

 

But the behavior that led to Yao's ejection with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter on Sunday more than warranted such a move by the refs. Yao had been frustrated the entire game with what he viewed as unfair calls against him, and he let the refs know it. Not known as much of a whiner, Yao gave the refs an earful every time he thought he was fouled and almost every time he was called for a foul. Sometimes Yao had a case - he was clearly hacked by Ron Artest on one first-half play, but the refs chose to ignore it. But other times Yao just let his emotions get the best of him.

 

The refs whistled Yao for his final two fouls about a minute apart from each other, leading to his disqualification. Yao very rarely fouls out of games either, so his frustration is understandable, but the last two calls against him were unmistakable penalties. The final call sparked his rampage and he screamed his disapproval at referee Gary Zielinski, who promptly slapped Yao with a "T". With nothing left to lose, and with a dwarfed assistant coach trying to restrain him, Yao grabbed a towel and threw it to the floor with all the fury he could muster, sealing his fate as he was shown the door.

 

The fact that Yao got ejected after he had already fouled out didn't hurt his team too much in the end (although you never want to give your opponent a free throw at the end of a close game). Yao's passionate explosion could be seen as a positive development for a player many have criticized for playing "soft" and emotionally detached. On the other hand, whining when you don't get your way is characteristic of many of the prima donna superstars the NBA is known for. At least it means Yao is acting more like a superstar.

 

By Luke T. Johnson

 

(China Daily December 4, 2007)