China's top sports authorities "will reportedly nominate former NBA All-Star Yao Ming" as chair of the State-owned China Basketball Association, "eight months after Yao's efforts to professionalize the sport's management were foiled," according to Bai Tiantian of the GLOBAL TIMES. Basketball Pioneer, a Guangzhou-based bi-weekly newspaper, said the General Administration of Sport "has issued a 10-point guideline on the development of Chinese basketball, including recommending the appointment of Yao" as CBA chair and head coach of the national team. The report said that GAS "aims to hasten reforms and authorize the sports rights to league teams." Analysts described many of the measures listed in the guideline as "ambitious moves" toward privatization and professionalization of basketball in China. However, analysts also saw the measures as "a bit abrupt" and questioned the reliability of the report. Zhao Jisheng, a professor with the College of Physical Education and Sports at Beijing Normal University, said, "Yao Ming is no doubt the most successful basketball player China has to offer, but serving as the chairman of the State-owned CBA requires a different set of skills and experience. It's a career path within the political system, for which Yao may not be the best candidate" (GLOBAL TIMES, 1/3).
