体坛英语资讯：Yi starts new life in Milwaukee

Watching his face on tall and fancy digital billboards in Milwaukee, Yi Jianlian has his feet firmly planted on the ground as he enters his rookie season in the National Basketball Association.

The 2.12m hoop treasure has been the center of attention since joining the Bucks training camp on October 5. After spending a couple of days with his new teammates and coaches, Yi understands he will face challenges both on and off the court, just like all the other rookies in the league.

China's Yi Jianlian (R), the sixth pick in the 2007 NBA draft, takes a jump shot in his first game at the Milwaukee Bucks' scrimmage on Saturday. Yi scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds. [Xinhua] Yi attended a grand welcome ceremony by the local Chinese community yesterday. Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett named October 7 "Yi's Day".

"All the rookies will have some tough times in the NBA, I am no exception," Yi told Sohu.com. "For sure I am aware of the difficulties ahead of me, so I'm going to work harder to earn my place on the team."

"I think most important for me now is to develop myself, and then in the long run I can do more for the team," said the rookie. "I should practice more to know more about the defense here so we can do better."

"On the freeway I saw a big electronic billboard and my picture was on it," Yi said through an interpreter. "It was a big surprise to me and it made me feel excited. It's a beautiful city, nice downtown, you've got a lake, you've got a river It seems comfortable here."

Yi, who signed with the Bucks last month after a three-month holdout, seems to be developing quickly on the court - he had 10 points and five rebounds in the Bucks' first scrimmage at the Bradley Center on Sunday and looked comfortable communicating with teammates and head coach Larry Krystkowiak.

But his major challenges will come off the court, where the Chinese rookie will have to go through "the rites of initiation", the "bonding" rituals required of all rookies.

"I think that's the one part he'll have to get adjusted to," Bucks forward Desmond Mason told Jsonline.com. "Carrying other people's bags and shoes and getting doughnuts. We might have him sing a little bit, maybe a little outfit or costume or something for Halloween. And we're not even close. You haven't heard the good part yet.

"It's always fun. You do rookies like that because you had to do it as a rookie. But at the end of the day, you look out for him, too."

But it is not really a problem for Yi, who is widely known for his modesty in the Chinese national team.

"I definitely understand what a rookie will deal with as a basketball player," Yi told Tom.com. "This is not my first time being a rookie - I was a rookie some years ago on the Guangdong team, and then I was the youngest on the national team, so it will be no problem for me on the Bucks."

But not everybody wants to make fun of the rookie. Third-year center Andrew Bogut, at least, is willing to give Yi a hand and help him adapt to life in a new country.

"If he needs any help, all he has to do is ask," the Australian told Jsonline.com. "He's a teammate now. Obviously, being from Australia, I'm down from the part of the world where he grew up. I know what it's like to have the long flight, come over here and adjust to the culture and different types of things."

Despite missing the first two days of Bucks practice due to his responsibilities with the Chinese national team, Yi's first performance won him praise from the 2005 No 1 overall draft pick.

"The triangle offense we're putting in - he's missed two days of it, but he's picking it up pretty quickly," Bogut said. "He's not really behind, basketball-wise, talent-wise or skill-wise. He knows how to play the game. Once he learns the sets, he'll fit right in."