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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Yao Ming: The Next Asian Superstar?
(Updated
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025, 06:38:56 AM)
he sweetest moment for Asian men in American sports came on June 26, 2002 at Madison Square Garden. The Houston Rockets had just spent their number one overall draft pick on 7-5 Chinese center Yao Ming over 6-2 Duke guard Jay Williams. The largely black crowd of draft prospects and their contingents had reason to be displeased. For the past quarter century black athletes had dominated pro basketball and they saw Yao as a subversive force, an alien threat. Even Charles Barkley -- Yao's basketball idol -- sniped at Houston's choice and hinted at bad consequences.
David or Goliath?
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What's wrong with this picture?
In the global sports scene blacks have come to represent all-around athletic prowess. Asian athletes, on the other hand, have been painted as disciplined and skilled but lacking power and size, able to excel only in sports no one cares about. For an Asian to get the top pick in a black-dominated sport was heresy.
To appreciate what Yao represents to Asian American men requires a quick trip down memory lane. And we do mean quick. The lane is short and sparsely populated.
In the beginning there was Sammy Lee, the first Asian American to win Olympic gold. He did it with 10-meter platform diving at the 1948 London games and again in 1952 at the Helsinki games. Not exactly a marquee sport, but inspiring nevertheless in a time when Asian Americans hardly knew what to call themselves.
Then came Michael Chang whose 1989 French Open championship has passed into tennis legend. Cramping and down two sets to Ivan Lendl in the round of 16, the 17-year-old phenom dared to discombobulate the Ice Man with moonballs and an underhanded serve. The ploy worked. The proof that Chang's nerves and speed were real came in the classic 5-set finals victory against Stefan Edberg. But Chang's recent ignomious descent into tennis twilight raises the suspicion that he simply lacks the size and power to stay in the power game.
It wasn't until Hideo Nomo joined the Dodgers in 1995 that an Asian athlete was able to inspire sustained frenzy in one of the big-three sports. Nomo's martian windup and delivery proved so effective that he set Dodgers strikeout records, made the All-Stars and inspired Nomomania.
By 2001 when Ichiro Suzuki joined the Mariners, Asian imports taking Rookie of the Year honors had practically become a Major League tradition. But none had done it with Ichiro's flair or sunglasses. It wasn't enough that he led the game in hitting and basestealing, he seemed determined to make it look easy. Sex appeal had finally come to the image of the Asian male athlete.
But the image still lacked something in many AA minds. Sure, for a leadoff hitter Ichiro hit his share of home runs, but he was known for speed and finesse, not power. Having chafed so long under stereotypes denying them size and strength, AA men longed for a star who could knock those assumptions back into the last millennium.
Eyes turned longingly to football as the obvious arena for the ultimate stereotype smasher -- and saw only Dat Nguyen of the Dallas Cowboys. As a promising linebacker, Nguyen doesn't enjoy the cache of a star offensive back. And at 5-11 and 240 pounds, Nguyen isn't exactly in the 99th percentile in terms of size and power among football players.
Asian American eyes were drawn to basketball by a trio of giants known collectively as "The Great Wall". They were very big for the Chinese national team. First to make his NBA debut was Wang Zhizhi (7-1, 220 pounds) in April 2001. As a center for the Dallas Mavericks he has averaged 5.5 points per 10.6 minutes of playing time per game. A respectable stat for any rookie but disappointing for those who had hoped for an instant Asian star. Then came Mengke Bateer (6-11, 290 pounds) in February of 2002. Despite 15.1 minutes of play per game as a center for the Denver Nuggets, he too disappointed some with an average 5.1 points and 3.6 rebounds.
Enter the Dragon. At a height variously described as 7-5 or 7-6, Yao Ming, 22, is at once the tallest and youngest of the trio. In the past two years his weight shot up from 255 to 295 pound -- and he's still growing. His gifts extend beyond size, however. He moves a foot shorter. Born to a pair of former stars for the Chinese national teams, his court instincts and skills are practically dyed-in-the-wool.
And yet Yao isn't a lock to defy the darker prognostications of his prospects as a Rocket. He was regularly outplayed by Wang Zhizhi when both were playing in China. Even with Yao, Wang and Mengke, the Chinese national team routinely lost to second-tier powers like France and Lithuania. Yao has never gone up against the likes of Shaquille O'Neal. The adjustment to life in the U.S. will be long and difficult. In short, Yao Ming is ideally positioned to become the biggest disappointment in the history of Asians in American sports.
Is Yao Ming the next Asian superstar? Or is he more likely to reinforce the image of Asian men as also-rans in power sports?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
Hope yao ming adjusts to the nba better than the other two chinese players have because the other two haven't really done much
Jeff
Wednesday, July 31, 2002 at 08:57:37 (PDT)
Dan the Wang is retarded: He is far too critical on Yao. Why? Because Yao is Asian. All he seems to have are criticisms. I do not know what he stands to gain from slanderizing another Asian.
Put Wang on the Warriors and he'll score 13 a night easily. I've seen him play in the CBA and the man can be unstoppable when given the chance (as in playing time).
Regarding those former first overall picks: Ray, are you sure you didn't mean Kenyon Martin?
Joe Smith had a stellar rookie season, and was a true force during his sophmore year as well, averaging 18.6 points a game. He's been a slacker for much of his later career, and has gotten worse, why fellow alum such as Kevin Garnett have rocketed into super stardom. Now he has no need to be a superstar, with Kevin around in Minnesota.
Derrick Coleman definitely has the talent as shown from his impressive scoring and rebounding ability. However, like Smith, he is known for his poor work ethic and even has a reputation for being a trouble maker.
Olowakandi. Give him some time and he'll definitely be a star. Ask any NBA insider and they'll tell you prior to the 2002 draft, he was the one guy in the league who had the potential to one day stop Shaq. Remember, he is a new comer to basketball, having no true experience prior to college ball at the University of Pacific, when he was accepted on the basis of him being 7'0 tall.
These top picks all had the ability to be superstars, even the best in the league. The only thing in question was the work ethic. That's why they never really shined.
The future is hardly grim for Yao, upon reflecting on even these "failed picks" whom still did very well, enough so as to become household names.
Besides, Yao is 7'5-'6. Nobody can stop him from scoring. Give him the ball in close and it's a guaranteed bucket, according the the college all star team that played against China just last year. No one can stop Shawn Bradley except Shawn Bradley, despite how much Bradley lacks skills. Take a look at his stat sheet and you'll see that even Bradley had a brillant enough career, averaging double figures in every season but this one, when he was plagued by an injury of nearly the entire season. And everyone knows Yao is more athletic and far more skilled.
chinatown
Tuesday, July 30, 2002 at 23:03:14 (PDT)
phil the thrill,
Ya, your right!!! That's really funny what you said about Dan Wang getting stomps by Yao Ming. lol
Dan Wang,
What ever you said about Yao is your opinion. Opinion is opinion, they can be right as well as wrong. So why you talk as if you are absolutely right and so sure. Anyway we'll see, if he ever become a pro, then I guess we can just laugh at you!! And ask yourself this Question, do you think Houston is going to make it to the final next year? A lot of people seems to think so. If you don't then again is your opinion. Only time will tell!!!
Reasons why you don't think Asain star[Yao for example] are gonna be a sucess is also b/c [culural issue] they are very reserved around american culture. i.e why is it that men from other races seem to ask girls out without any hesitation. But typical AM seems to be reserve, shy, and not too agressive when it comes to things like this. Anyway if you want things done, you need to go at it. Typical AM don't do this and success is not just gonna come your way, you have to get it. Like basket ball they have to be really aggressive and go for the ball and play their hardest.
Anyway Dan Wang,
It's people like you that keep china and other asain countries poor and behind. I don't need to explain how, if you have the brain to judge how players play. Then you can certainly come with the answer why. Think!!!
Another view
Tuesday, July 30, 2002 at 22:36:54 (PDT)
If anyone hasn't noticed, the superstars are now big men who play like little men. The Lamar Odoms, Dirk Nowitzkis, and even Tim Duncan...all players who have bona-fide guard-like skills and are doing great in the league. The age of the great lumbering fat man is coming to a close, making the Tree Rollins of this world a dying breed. Instead, they're being replaced by the Kevin Garnett archetype, who are as tall as centers, slighter in build, and who do not make a living in the paint. Rather, their variegated style allows them to shoot from afar, and in the fashion of their color tone, is something refreshingly coveted. When big men attain guard skills, there will be no need for little men. About the only use for the next Iverson will be to give midgets a role model to aspire to. In truth, no one pays to watch the lumbering retard, who eats up folks two feet from the hoop, anymore. Instead, the big man with finesse is the object of attention. The motto is more to skill and less to just being fat.
As we have seen during the play-offs, the top teams were fast break teams...Dallas and Sacramento. Neither had a conventional lumbering big man. Why watch Shaq?? To see what myself playing on a 6 foot rim against kindergartners????
So if Ming has little man skills, then more power to him. The only thing he needs is an agressive mentality and he'll be set. And I know he's 7'6...just wait, they'll change it on NBA.com in the same way they did Wang Zhizhi's from 7'0 to 7'1.
chinatown
Tuesday, July 30, 2002 at 22:11:43 (PDT)
Dan Wang,
The biggest hype since Qualcom is Enron and Worldcom. Ming is not a hype. He has some good fundamental skills, otherwise, he would not have made it as the #1 pick.
FOP
Tuesday, July 30, 2002 at 21:27:08 (PDT)
Does it really matter if Yao becomes the next Shaq-dominator or not? Regardless of his true abilities, one thing is for sure - he'll have a solid roster spot in the NBA, and kick one more player out of the picture. That's pretty good, considering there are only about 400 roster spots in the NBA.
Another example, look at 7'6" Shawn Bradley. He was the 2nd overall draft pick, but he sure sucked up. Yet, his NBA salary is over 4 million. Even white males profit off of him, certainly not for his basketball talent, but they use Shawn to show that whites can make it to the NBA in a black-dominated sport, and to show their height potential.
Considering Asians were non-existant a few years ago in the NBA, Wang, Menk, and Yao have been an incredible step forward.
B. Lee
Tuesday, July 30, 2002 at 21:22:09 (PDT)
Delusional Chinese (except Dan)
Get a grip! I know you want so desperately want to wish he'll turn out to be an All Star but he won't. Let's be realistic he'll be lucky to even to get 20 minutes per game and average 5 pts.
What? Shaq wasn't that good until he joined the Lakers??? Idiots, Shaq was dominate even when he was with Orlando. Who made the Lakers great? Shaq.
If the Lakers didn't have Shaq, do you really think Kobe can lead them to the title? NOT!
Ming will be so lucky to achieve anything like Rik Smits have. Rik Smits afterall was an all star.
Phil,
What's your point? Grow up boy.
Yo, Dan
Did you play with Utah?
Hoops
Tuesday, July 30, 2002 at 18:52:28 (PDT)
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