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(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-13 07:52

Beijing

Yao takes Wuhan Yunhe Sharks to court

China hoop icon Yao Ming's agent stated on Thursday that a lawsuit had been filed against Wuhan Yunhe Sharks sportswear company for an alleged violation of Yao's image rights.

A court in Wuhan, Hubei province, is hearing the case, said Lu Hao, Yao's Chinese agent.

However, Lu refused to release any detailed information about the suit, saying "an authorized lawyer should be the best person to talk about that later this month".

The Wuhan-based company is alleged to have used Yao's image to promote its products, without authorization, since 2009. Its trademark, "Yao Ming Era", is also claimed to be in breach of Yao's naming rights.

According to Lu, Yao's image and name were patented in China before he landed in the NBA in 2002. The only enterprise granted the right to design, produce and market Yao-related products is US sportswear giant Reebok.

Lu said many companies had used Yao's image and name over the past decade and it was now time to take the issue to court.

New York

Talks ongoing for new NBA deal with: report

NBA Commissioner David Stern and players union Executive Director Billy Hunter met last week to negotiate a new contract and will meet again this week in New York, ESPN reported on its website.

Citing unnamed sources close to the talks, the US-based sports television network said Stern and Hunter met last week in Chicago regarding a new deal to replace the one that is set to expire on June 30, shortly after the NBA Finals.

NBA team owners have said they plan to lock players out without a new deal in a move similar to that done by club owners in the National Football League last March in what has become a court fight with players on anti-trust issues.

While the parties who kept labor peace in American football since 1987 have moved out of the picture in the NFL's case, Stern and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) boss Hunter worked out deals in 1999 and 2005.

Stern and Hunter have backed off extreme positions in the wake of the NFL's struggle between billionaire owners and millionaire athletes to divide $9.1 billion in revenues.

Puerto Rico

Former NBA player Traylor found dead

Robert "Tractor" Traylor, who played seven seasons in the NBA, was found dead in his beach apartment in Puerto Rico, according to a report on the website of his latest club.

The Bayamon Vaqueros reported that friends went to visit Traylor, who had been missing for three days, and discovered his body. No cause of death had yet been determined.

Traylor, 34, had been sidelined for the Puerto Rican league co-leader while working to recover from a heel injury.

The sixth pick in the 1998 NBA Draft by Dallas, Traylor was traded to Milwaukee for the Bucks' two first-round selections, German star Dirk Nowitzki and Pat Garrity.

Traylor played 438 career NBA games with Milwaukee, Cleveland and the New Orleans and Charlotte Hornets. He averaged 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds a game.

Traylor underwent heart surgery after an ailment was discovered in late 2005.

Dallas

Barea adopts conciliatory tone with Bynum

J.J. Barea, the Dallas Mavericks guard who was deliberately elbowed by Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum, said he does not carry a grudge after being struck in frustration in a playoff game.

Bynum slammed his right elbow into the chest of the guard as he was leaping toward the hoop in game four of the Lakers' second-round playoff series against the Mavericks, which Dallas won to complete a sweep of the reigning champions.

"He just had a big mistake. People have those sometimes," Barea said on Wednesday. "He lost his mind and he fouled me pretty hard. I know he regrets it."

While Barea was writhing in pain on the court on Sunday, Bynum was taking off his shirt and walking to the lockerroom after being ejected.

AFP-China Daily

Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert instructs a student from Beijing No 4 High School on Wednesday during his visit to China as part of the NBA Cares Program. NBA Cares aims to popularize the sport at schools, campuses and communities. Hibbert flies to Wenzhou, Zhejiang province on Friday to take part in the NBA Jam Van campaign over the weekend. Photo Provided to China Daily

(China Daily 05/13/2011 page22)