Houston Community News >> Yao Ming Slam Dunk MJ in Auction
9/14/2007 BEIJING- Houston
Rocket Yao Ming slam dunked NBA legend Michael Jordan at a charity auction here,
with a pair of the center's shoes fetching nearly 10 times more than a Chicago
Bulls jersey.
The signed shoes and some other items went for 3.6mil yuan (US$480,000) at the
Thursday night event, while the jersey signed and worn by Jordan during the 1996
NBA finals sold for a paltry 380,000 yuan, the First newspaper reported.
The president of one of China’s biggest beverage companies, Huiyuan, also
received two front row seats to the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony and a
Games banner signed by NBA stars and China’s national basketball team for his
winning bid.
But with Olympic opening ceremony tickets selling for up to 5,000 yuan each, it
was clear that Yao Ming’s shoes were the top attraction.
A total of 6.75mil yuan was raised at the auction attended by a bevy of Chinese
movie and pop stars, with Yao Ming contributing another 250,000 yuan to top up
the proceeds that will go to help educate impoverished Chinese children.
Contributed by AFP