“明谢”姚明新闻发布会

内容

明谢姚明新闻发布会

无论是对于中国篮球还是姚明个人而言，今天都是具有历史意义的一天。在姚明亲口说出退役的那一刻，现场的姚明亲友、火箭高层、规模庞大的媒体以及电视机前亿万的观众，将一起见证这个历史性的时刻。

为了这场史无前例，盛况空前的新闻发布会，姚之队在经过反复斟酌之后，最终把地点选在了上海嘉里酒店，并挑选了容量最大的上海厅，主题为“明·谢 姚明新闻发布会”的现场已布置完毕。而在接待和安保方面，姚之队也进行了严密的布置和安排。所有需要参与此次采访的记者，都需要提前和姚之队方面进行预约报名，而在进入会场之前都要进行安检，这在众多记者参加发布会的经历中还是第一次。

致辞

中文版

各位领导，各位来宾，新闻界的朋友们：

大家好，感谢大家的光临。

今天对我来说是一个重要的日子，无论是对我以往的篮球职业生涯，还是未来的个人发展，都具有特殊的意义。

去年年底，我的左脚第三次应力性骨折，我不得不离开赛场。半年多以来，和许多关心我的朋友一样，我也是在漫长的期待当中度过的。这段时间里，内心十分纠结，反复思考。为此，今天我要宣布一个个人决定：作为篮球运动员，我将结束自己的运动生涯，正式退役。

此时此刻，回顾过去，展望未来，我的内心充满感激。

我首先要感谢篮球。这项伟大的运动为无数人带来了快乐，当然也包括我自己。四岁我有了第一个篮球，九岁进入徐汇区少体校，十四岁进入上海青年队，十六岁背上父亲当年的号码，代表上海队比赛。篮球使我延续了家庭的传承，每每看到父母欣慰的眼神，我都无比自豪；也非常幸运能和上海大鲨鱼队的队友们一起为上海赢得了一次CBA总冠军。从那时起，篮球把我和身后这座城市联系在了一起；同样在CBA夺冠的2002年，我进入NBA，篮球引领我步入了一个更宽广的舞台，使我可以尽情地展现自己；更要感谢能有机会为中国国家队战十年，那是无数青年人的梦想；同时因为篮球，与心爱的人结缘，建立了美满的家庭，获得了一生的幸福。所有这些，都是我无比热爱的篮球运动带给我的，我要感谢篮球。

我还要感谢生活。无论我所热爱的篮球，还是别的什么东西，都是生活的一部分。我觉得生活就像一个向导，你虔诚地追随他，他就会为你打开一扇又一扇的门，而门外的世界各不相同，无比精彩。今天我退役了，一扇门已经关上，而另一扇门却正在徐徐开启，而门外有崭新的生活正在等着我去认真品读。

我虽然离开了赛场，但我不会离开篮球。上海东方大鲨鱼篮球队，将就是我篮球生涯的延续，我正在学习用我的方式管理俱乐部，以这种方式继续为家乡带来荣誉，为球迷带来快乐，为中国篮球继续做贡献。

我将继续投身社会公益事业，“姚基金”是我个人的基金会，已经成立三年了，接下来我会以此为依托，影响更多的人参与慈善事业，帮助更多的人。同时，我希望结识更多的朋友，一起做些共同喜欢的事情。相信在和各行各业的有识之士的交往中，我会学到更多的东西。丰富多彩的生活引领着我从上海走向了全国，从中国走向了世界，所以我要感谢生活。今后，唯有认真对待他，才是对生活最好的回报。

最后，我要感谢我的亲人，感谢所有的朋友。我这里有一份长长的名单，但由于时间的原因，不能一一提及。只能选读其中的代表，还望朋友们多多谅解。我首先感谢的是我的家人，父亲、母亲是我人生的启蒙者，叶莉是我最好的倾听者，而可爱的姚沁蕾则是我们新的希望。

我还要感谢我的教练们，是他们教育培养了我，见证了我每一步的成长，其中有我的启蒙教练李章明指导，我在上海大鲨鱼队的教练李秋平指导、王群指导、王重光指导，我在国家青年队的主教练马连保指导，以及我在国家队的历任主教练王非指导、蒋兴权指导、以及哈里斯和尤纳斯，还有我在火箭队的历任主教练汤姆贾诺维奇、范甘迪、阿德尔曼，教练Tom Tip？。我要感谢各位领导，特别是国家体育总局、上海市、中国篮协、上海市体育局以及上海文广集团和原上海东方篮球俱乐部的各级领导，他们的关心、关注、支持和鼓励，使我不断进步，取得了今天的成绩。我要感谢NBA和休斯顿火箭队的管理层，他们的理解和支持帮助我克服了语言和文化的障碍，可以在世界最高水平的联赛当中站稳脚跟。

接下来我要感谢我的队友和对手们，首先是刘炜，我们并肩成长，一起打拼，这段共同的经历是我最珍视的人生片段，还有大郅和奥尼尔，他们是我追赶的目标与前进的动力，没有他们，我就不是今天的我；还有范斌，他是我国家队的良师益友，还有沈巍、贾效忠、章文琪、李楠、巴特尔、易建联、弗朗西斯、莫布里、麦蒂、巴蒂尔，穆托姆博、海耶斯、斯科拉、布鲁克斯和洛里以及所有和我一起在徐汇区业余体校、上海青年队、上海大鲨鱼、休斯顿火箭队、国青男篮、国家男篮一起奋斗过的队友们，还有在CBA和NBA同场比赛过的对手们，一起挥汗如雨的日子永远令人难忘。

当然，要感谢的还有我的管理团队-----“姚之队”，感谢章明基、陆浩、约翰· 海逊格、比尔·达菲、比尔·桑德斯、李璐、伊朗纳和张弛，以及现在还在台前幕后忙碌的成员们！多年来，你们帮我做了很多事情，我不会忘记。

借此机会，我还要特别感谢常年关注我的新闻界的朋友们，感谢我的赞助商和合作伙伴，和你们的交往使我受益匪浅。还有各位球迷朋友，不论是“黑”还是“蜜”，无论是国内的还是国外的，感谢所有关注我的朋友。大家的关心使我得到信心和勇气，大家的批评使我修正了缺点和不足。今天提到的和没提到的，你们每一个人，都在我的心里。总而言之，我感谢所有的亲人和朋友多年来的陪伴，我会继续做好我自己，不会离开大家。姚明和朋友们永远在一起！谢谢大家。

最后要感谢这个伟大、进步的时代，使我有机会去实现自我的价值和梦想。

我曾经说过，有一天我的篮球职业生涯结束了，我希望那只是个逗号，不是句号。今天，这一天终于到来了，但我没有离开心爱的篮球，我的生活还在继续，我还是姚明，我还有很多事情要做，远远没有到画上句号的那一天。

祝朋友们健康快乐，祝福我的家乡上海、第二故乡休斯顿，祝福我的祖国，愿我所热爱的篮球运动，拥有更加美好的未来。

谢谢大家。

英文版

Esteemed Director LiYuyi, distinguished guests, friends in the media：

Good afternoon!

Todayis an important day for me. It is a day of special significance for both mypast professional career and future endeavors.

Atthe end of last year, I once again had a stress fracture in my left foot andhad to sit out of basketball. Since then, like many friends who cared about me,I waited and hoped that I could return. It was also a frustrating period, manythoughts crosd my mind. Today, I am ready to announce to everyone mydecision: I will end my athletic career and formally retire from the game ofbasketball.

Atthis moment, looking towards the future and looking back through the past, myheart is full of gratitude.

Firstand foremost, I want to thank the game of basketball. This great sport hasbrought joy to untold numbers of people, including mylf. When I was fouryears old, I got my first basketball. At nine, I entered a youth sports schoolin Xuhui district (in Shanghai).I joined the Shanghai Junior Team at 14. And when I was 16 years old, I put onmy dad’s former number, and joined the Shanghai Sharks nior team incompetition. Basketball has allowed me to follow in my family’s footsteps. WheneverI e the joy and satisfaction in my parents’ eyes, I feel a strong n ofpride. I was also fortunate to win a CBA Championship with my teammates for thecity of Shanghaiin 2002. From that moment on, basketball has connected me with this great city.During that same year, I entered the NBA. Basketball has led me to a bigger andbroader stage to showca my abilities. It’s a dream for many to play for theNational Team. So in fulfilling my dream, I am especially grateful of theopportunity to play for my country for so many years. And becau ofbasketball, I have found the love of my life Ye Li, and a lifetime ofhappiness. Basketball has given me so much and for this, I want to thank thegame of basketball.

Ialso want to thank life. No matter if it’s my beloved basketball or otherendeavors. It is all just a part of life. I believe life is like a guide. Ifyou follow him faithfully, he will open doors to wonderful worlds for you.Today, I am retired from basketball, and one of tho doors is clod. Butelwhere, another door is opening and outside that door is a new world waitingfor me to experience and explore。

Eventhough I am leaving the basketball court, I will not leave the game. TheShanghai Sharks team is how my professional life will continue. I am continuingto learn about managing and running the team and will do my best to bring honorand glory to my hometown and to Chine basketball.

Iwill continue my philanthropic work. The Yao Foundation has been establishedfor three years now. I will work with the foundation to influence more peopleto join philanthropic activities to help others. I wish to meet and work withnew and old friends on projects of mutual interest. I believe that throughmeeting and working with people from different fields and professions, I cangain new knowledge and new understandings. Life has guided me from Shanghai to China,from Chinato the world. I want to thank life and continue to repay my good fortune byembracing and treasuring every moment.

Finally,I want to thank the many special people in my life, my family and my friends. Ihave a long list of people. But due to time, I can only mention a few here. Iam missing a lot of names, but I hope my friends will understand. First, I wantto thank my family. My parents were my first teachers in life. My wife, Ye Liis my best friend and best listener. Our lovely daughter, Amy, is our new hopefor the future.

Ialso want to thank my coaches. They educated and guided me and have watched overme every step of way. I want to thank my first coach Li Zhangming, coaches LiQiuping, Wang Qun, and Wang Chongguang from the Shanghai Sharks, coach MaLianbao with the Chine National Junior team, head coaches Wang Fei, JiangXingquan, Del Harris, and Jonas Kazlauskas from the Chine National Team, andhead coaches Rudy Tomjanovich,Jeff Van Gundy, and Rick Adelman with theHouston Rockets. I also wish to thank officials and organizations that havehelped me, especially officials from National Sports Administration, city of Shanghai, China BasketballAssociation, Shanghai Sports Administration, the Shanghai Media Group, andShanghai Oriental Basketball Club (Shanghai Sharks). It is through their care,interest, support, and encouragement that allowed me to develop and reach whereI am today. I want to thank the NBA and the Houston Rockets. Theirunderstanding and support helped me overcome the language and cultural barrierto play in the highest level basketball games in the world.

Next,I want to thank all of my teammates and opponents. First is Liu Wei. We grew uptogether, played and battled together, and tho experiences are some of mymost precious memories in life. I also want to thank Wang Zhizhi and ShaquilleO’Neal. They were the benchmark players that I was chasing after. They motivatedme and pushed me forward, and without them, I would not be the player I amtoday. I want to thank Fan Bin, my friend and mentor on the National team; ShenWei, Jia Xiaozhong, Zhang Wenqi, Li Nan, Mengke Bateer, Yi Jianlian, SteveFrancis, Cuttino Mobley,Tracy McGrady, Shane Battier, Dikembe Mutombo, ChuckHayes, Luis Scola, Aaron Brooks, Kyle Lowry, as well as all of my former teammatesfrom the Xuhui District Youth Sports School, the Shanghai Sharks Junior team,the Shanghai Sharks, the National Junior Team, the Chine National Team, andthe Houston Rockets, and of cour all my opponents in CBA and NBA who I playedagainst. The time we spent sweating and competing will forever be etched in mymemory.

Ialso want to thank my management team, “Team Yao”. I want to thank Erik Zhang,Lu Hao, John Huizinga, Bill Duffy, Bill Sanders, Huang Xiaopeng, Li Lu, Ilana,and Larry Zhang, as well as everyone who has worked behind the scenes. I willnever forget everything you have done for me over the years.

I’d also like to take this opportunity tothank my friends in the media, my sponsors, and partners. I am honored to haveworked with all of you. Finally I want to sincerely thank all of the fans. Thowho liked me or tho who didn’t, tho who are in China, or tho abroad, I want tothank everyone who has watched me over the years. It is through everyone’s supportthat has allowed me to play with confidence and courage; and through everyone’scriticism that has helped me improve in areas th   at I was lacking. For tho Ihave mentioned, and for tho I have not, you are all in my heart. In short, Iwant to thank everyone who has accompanied me the years. And I will continueto do my best and will continue to be with everyone.

Finally,I want to thank this enlightened time of progress that we live in: giving methe opportunities to realize my dreams, and find my lf-worth.

Ihave once said, when I retire from my professional career, I hope that it is acomma, not a period. Today, that day has finally arrived, but I am not leavingthe sport of basketball that I love. My life will continue. I am still Yao Mingand there are still many things that I wish to accomplish. The day of drawing aperiod is still far far away.

Iwish everyone health and happiness, I wish the best blessings for mymotherland, my home Shanghai, and my cond homeHouston. And Iwish that my beloved sport of basketball will continue to have a bright andprosperous future.

Thankyou.