There was one time when Francis made Yao Ming tie his shoes on the sidelines. Boss Fu later warned him not to bully Yao Ming again, or he'd make him pay.
On the court, when the Suns' young star, Stoudemire, roared at Yao Ming, Boss Fu shoved him aside and roared back, "This is my turf! Nobody gets to cause trouble here, and nobody gets to mess with my brother!"
When Yao Ming had just arrived in Houston, Boss Fu would often show up at his door without warning.
He'd knock, tell Yao Ming to get in the car, and take him around Houston so he could get to know the city.
He also often brought him to team gatherings, helping him fit in.
When the players saw Boss Fu and Yao Ming together, they knew Yao Ming was under Boss Fu's protection. After that, nobody dared bully him.
Later, Boss Fu left the Rockets, and his fortunes went from bad to worse.
After retiring, he spent lavishly, living a life of excess.
Soon, all his money was gone.
Later, he even went to prison for theft.
When Yao Ming called him before his jersey retirement ceremony, Boss Fu answered from prison.
He couldn't believe it.
Yao Ming was actually inviting him, a convict, to attend his jersey retirement ceremony.
So Boss Fu applied to the prison, and they granted him special permission to attend.
Boss Fu borrowed an ill-fitting suit and went to the Toyota Center.
At the ceremony, when Yao Ming said he was grateful to Boss Fu, the latter—visibly heavier and looking rather worn—burst into tears.
After getting out of prison, he worked as a commentator and took part in some commercial events.
That could have been enough to give him a comfortable life.
But before long,