full text of Yao Ming’s jersey retirement speech姚明球衣退役演讲全文
Thank you, thank you, Rockets fans.
谢谢,谢谢,火箭球迷们。
I like to … there are so many thanks I want to send to Rockets, to city of Huston, the community, to Leslie who brought us together, thank you for build this team and this community, thank you very much.
Um, First of all, you know, this is Chinese New Year, I wish everybody happy Chinese New Year, wanshiruyi, which means make your wish come true.
首先,现在是中国的新年,我祝福大家新年快乐,万事如意,意思是希望你的梦想成真。
But when I walk in this room that I saw the number is up there, almost there, that I know my first wish in my year is already gone, because I wish I got a ten days contract.
Um, but at this moment, I can’t help myself but thinking back when I first met rockets back to 1994 when NBA first time broadcasted in china, that’s when great Dream bring a championship cup back to Huston for the first time.
I know, I know many of you, or some of you, today at here, witness that moment just remember there is a kid over ten thousands miles away seeing that too through a TV, that is where my dream started.
Thank you for the memory. Thanks to my coaches Rudy Tomjanovich,Jeff Van Gundy,Rick Adelman. Their effort and their trust on me, make me believe that coming to Houston is my destination.
The every time when we were ready for the game at that tunnel, ready for getting to the court. It was out that there was so many unknowing maybe a victory, maybe a loss, maybe a career high, maybe a career ending.
But no one doubt we will run out there and fight for the city not only because we are the greatest teammates around us, but also we have great fans here.
We were a very passional and young team ten years ago. I believe the Dikembe Mutombo will agree that. Back then, I was chasing Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley in a transition just like two mini tanks draging a huge Boeing 777 plane on a airport. And after that, T-MAC came to the town joining us. Thank you for being here.
You know there are so many unknowing, but just remember give the ball to him, when there’s just 35 seconds left. But you know what I tell my neighbor, after that match when I’ve driven home, because he turned off the TV minutes before the game over. I told him that, oh I,T-MAC and I scored 15 points in the last minutes which turned the game around.
Back to locker room Shane Battier always has us bet on the March Madness and uh. . . you know. I’m not from NCAA I don’t know much about it. But luckily I never win the "what the hell am I thinking" award.
And how I did it is because I just simply took copy Mr President’s answer from the TV. I mean the last one not this one. I dont’t know about this one, how this one would do.
When I just came to town,Houston for me is no different than any other city in United States. But when time passed by, all the faces become into my memory. Friends, teammates, coaches, staff, medias and most important, fans. The fans like Ms and Mr soyle family right there, The supporter for rockets for over decades. Thank you.
I would like to share a story with everybody to control my speech. That’s at my uh. . . rookie season. About the same time during the year. It’s my first Chinese New Year for me and my family spent overseas outside my country. Well, I was tricked to a locker room in Compaq Center.
All my teammates, CD, and coach staffs were waiting there. Stephen, you there, too. They wished me a "Happy new year". Everyone of those and gave me those red envelopes. That’s according to our tradictions in Chinese.
Well, thanks for doing that to make me home over here that year. But I checked the red envelop there were only 2 dollars in there. So, I talked to CD. I say: CD, you did well put at least 10 dollars instead of 2. And CD came back to me and said you know we have salary cap, right?
I still have one of those 2 dollars in my pocket. And I carried it since then. Because I know, because I know where I go and how far I go. As long as that bill in my pocket, the home is with me. Thank you, thank you for the journey. Thank you.