May 29 news, in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the Chinese men's basketball team successfully broke through from the death group to the top 8, becoming a legendary story. Interestingly, before the opening of the Olympic Games, Yao Ming and captain Li Nan once organized the whole team to go out to dinner, and only 13 team members participated, and Yao Ming invited guests.
Yao Ming's friend Lu Hao recalled, "At that time, Yao Ming's national team teammates were all team members, no coach, no leader, and had a meal together. ”
Yao Ming recalled: "The pressure before the competition was unprecedented, and it was normal. We've been training in the training bureau. We applied not to live in the Olympic Village, but in the dormitory of the General Administration of Sports. But because it was a sports team, it was necessary to do security, and at that time the training bureau became a safe forbidden area, and we were like locked up, a very boring cultural life, and everyone felt very depressed. ”
Ding Jinhui, the "13th man" of the team at that time, recalled, "In fact, the team was not in a very good state during that time, and the excitement of the whole team was not very enough. ”
Yao Ming said, "After I sensed this atmosphere, I applied with the head coach and the head coach, including discussing with the captain Li Nan, whether we should adjust it." I remembered whether it was a break or whatever that afternoon, and I asked my friend (Lu Hao) to arrange a meal outside. ”
Lu Hao said, "At that time, Yao Ming asked me to find a more private place, and then I found a restaurant owned by a friend of mine. ”
Yao Ming said, "At that time, I said that I was going to go out to eat, what if I wanted to doping?" What should I do if I eat or take it by mistake? There can be no mistakes in the Olympic Games. Including what if there is a slight possible traffic accident? But I and captain Li Nan are still quite persistent, and we think the team should go out and relax and adjust. ”
Ding Jinhui said, "I know that Yao Ming invited me, but I don't know who proposed it." ”
Yao Ming said, "It's not that this meal has changed anything, it's about stepping out of your own small world." ”
The reporter asked, "Do you think that meal has achieved its purpose?" Yao Ming joked, "I feel that it is quite expensive anyway." ”
The nearest journey from the Training Bureau to restaurants outside the South Fourth Ring Road also takes 11.5 kilometers and 8 traffic lights, which is the most worrying section of the road that Yao Ming and Li Nan have walked.
Yao Ming said, "I feel that the meal was OK." ”
The reporter asked Yao Ming what special words he said at that time, and Yao Ming said, "We went to 13 team members at that time, the normal registration was 12, and the 13th team member was Ding Jinhui, Ding Jinhui of the Zhejiang team." ”
Ding Jinhui said, "I was the 13th person at that time, in fact, at that time, the Olympic roster had been announced, and as an alternate team member, it was in case other team members were injured, and there might be an emergency before the game, and I would replace it." ”
Yao Ming said, "At that time, he had already been laid off, and he did not catch the last train in the end. ”
Ding Jinhui recalled, "Because I was the opening ceremony on August 8 and left Beijing on August 7, I remember it very clearly. ”
Yao Ming said, "I can't imagine his mood at that time. Ding Jinhui said, "Although it has been 10 years, the idea at that time still retained a glimmer of hope for itself, but it is a pity." ”
Yao Ming said, "I also invited him to dinner, we just don't want to forget anyone who has contributed but has been laid off, he is not a person, he represents a group of people." Our training team started with more than 20 people and ended up staying half, 12 people. The biggest charm of sports is that what makes you better must be the people around you, even the opponents, which is another meaning. ”
"We all raised our glasses and toasted him, of course it was juice drinks and the like, and he wasn't alone, and all the people who left, they didn't go to the Olympics in the end, but they also made their contributions."
Ding Jinhui said, "For me, it is particularly touching, because it is not just to respect me, because we had so many players in the training team in 2008, and I just represented them." Because I was the last player to leave the team. So I said that the Chinese men's basketball team is a particularly united and cohesive team. ”