08-30-2007, 03:58 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 5,605
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JS: How Kohl sealed deal with Yi
Quote:
Sen. Herb Kohl is accustomed to the intricate circles of influence in Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday, Kohl became a power broker in a different sphere as he sat in Hong Kong with Chinese basketball star Yi Jianlian and his representatives at the Peninsula Hotel.
Kohl, the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks and the team's president, was integral during the negotiation process as the Bucks reached agreement with the 7-foot Yi, who signed a multiyear deal with the National Basketball Association franchise.
The talks, which included Bucks general manager Larry Harris, ended about 3 p.m. in Hong Kong (about 2 a.m. Wednesday Milwaukee time).
Now, instead of a long stalemate dragging into training camp or beyond, the Bucks can begin making the plans that will include the No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft.
Early Wednesday morning, Kohl said Yi and his parents, along with Guangdong Tigers owner Chen Haitao, were impressed with the Bucks' "willingness to literally go the last mile, which is to come here."
Harris and team vice president Ron Walter also were present for the meetings with Chinese basketball officials, including Chen. Both Harris and Walter helped persuade Yi and his agents, easing their doubts over his role within the team.
"It was a not a question of our city or the composition of our city in terms of its diversity," Kohl said. "It was a question almost entirely of is he going to have a full chance to play and grow and develop in Milwaukee.
"Over the course of the past month, we made it clear this would happen. When they became confident of that being the case, they then thawed in terms of their reluctance and put aside their doubts, and said, 'OK, we're prepared to sign on.' "
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Ownership assures draft pick his role with Bucks will be strong
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JS: How Kohl sealed deal with Yi
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