DBAHO Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Can I get a Ming Burger with extra cheese? The signs outside its restaurants read "Billions and Billions Served," so perhaps it was only a matter of time before officials with the world's leading fast-food company signed the NBA star from the world's most populous nation. Six weeks after McDonald's elected not to re-sign Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant as its endorser, the fast-food giant is on the cusp of signing Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, sources told ESPN.com. Walt Reiker, McDonald's vice president of corporate communications, would not confirm the deal but said there would be an announcement Thursday in Los Angeles regarding the company's "I'm Loving It" campaign. Officials with Team Yao, the marketing group representing the star, declined comment. Yao will be in Los Angeles this weekend -- and could be there as early as Thursday -- as he makes his second consecutive start in Sunday's NBA All-Star Game at Staples Center. The Rockets played their last game before the All-Star break Wednesday night in Houston. Signing the 7-5 Yao would enable McDonald's not only to capitalize on his growing popularity among NBA fans in the U.S., but to the 1.3 billion people in his homeland of China. A potential 300 million people in China have access to his NBA games on television. With averages of 16.3 points and nine rebounds a game, Yao edged Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal -- who's averaging 20.7 points and 11 rebounds -- in fan balloting to start the All-Star game. Yao received nearly 1.5 million votes, eighth among all All-Star vote-getters. Since opening its first restaurant in China in 1990, McDonald's now has more than 560 restaurants in the country in approximately 70 cities and, according to published reports, plans on opening about 100 more franchises in 2004. The stores in China make up less than 2 percent of the total number of McDonald's restaurants in the world. If the deal is consummated, it is believed that Yao would only trail LeBron James in off-the-court income. Including bonuses and royalties, the Cleveland Cavaliers rookie likely will make more than $25 million in off-the-court income this season. Yao could earn at least half that total. Since being selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Yao has signed endorsement deals with Upper Deck trading cards and China Unicom, a leading cell phone company. He also has appeared in national commercials for Gatorade, Visa and Apple. Though he speaks little English in the spots, Yao has proven likable in the humorous plots written for him. In the Visa check card commercial, the salespeople in a New York souvenir shop are saying "Yo" to Yao, who misunderstands what is being said and tries to correct the pronunciation of his name. In Apple's Powerbook G4 ad, Yao looks in envy at Verne Troyer -- Mini-Me in the Austin Powers movies -- who is sitting next to him on a plane flight with a larger version of the company's notebook computer. Yao, who was recently named as China's most popular celebrity by Forbes magazine, also will earn money on entertainment deals, including an upcoming documentary by Endgame Productions and a book written by ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher and published by Miramax. In October, Yao signed an endorsement deal with Reebok, after his deal with Nike -- which carried over from his playing days in China with the Shanghai Sharks -- expired. His signature shoes and apparel are expected to be released worldwide in the fall. McDonald's, which is a sponsor of the Rockets, has been an NBA sponsor since 1990. In the past, it has used Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Bryant to pitch their burgers and fries. Bryant's three-year deal with the company expired on Dec. 31 and the company did not renew him -- his pending sexual assault case believed to be a factor in the decision. Due to the court proceedings, Bryant's signature Nike shoe -- which was due out this week -- has been temporarily shelved. International business in China is expected to pick up with the Summer Olympics in Beijing a little more than four years away. McDonald's has been an official sponsor of the Olympics since 1998 in Nagano, Japan, and the company is expected to continue its sponsorship through the 2008 Olympics, though no deal has been consummated. Due in part to Yao's presence, NBA commissioner David Stern announced in October the league's intention to open a marketing office in Shanghai in the near future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danman31 Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 Good move. Ming is more marketable, regardless of the situation Kobe is in. Even more so with what is going on with Kobe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 With averages of 16.3 points and nine rebounds a game, Yao edged Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal -- who's averaging 20.7 points and 11 rebounds -- in fan balloting to start the All-Star game. :headshake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesoxin' Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 QUOTE (DBAH0 @ Feb 12 2004, 02:30 AM) With averages of 16.3 points and nine rebounds a game, Yao edged Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal -- who's averaging 20.7 points and 11 rebounds -- in fan balloting to start the All-Star game. That's the same as all the Japenese players making the all-star team because the people in Japan can vote. It is a little rediculus, even though I don't like Shaq at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 And what a perfect day to announce this... 39-49 day :puke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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