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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 booed. They 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 at 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.]
Counter Puncher,
I am korean and frankly u are shaming all koreans with your racist comments about china so why don't u take your whitewashed ass out of here
anti-counter
Monday, November 04, 2002 at 20:42:44 (PST)
[195.92.168.167]
Patience can be tried only so much, and counter puncher, you pile of ignorance, have tried the patience of everyone who posts in virtually every board. I suggest just considering for moment what Yao Ming and the other Chinese players in the NBA represent, what they're trying to accomplish, and what a landmark achievement if they succeed in their attemps. Prior to 2000, Asian players had not even set foot on NBA hardwood. Now, there are three. If they should fail, the face of not only Chinese but all of Asian basketball will be considerably marred for quite a while. But beyond that, we will also be largely considered wimps period, unable to hold our own in the arena of true sports.
Although with other Asians, I can appreciate a sense of union, but you are an exception.
"I'm crossing my finger he'll save us from further embarrassment."
Don't use the term "us". You, for one, are not part of a typically inclusive assocation.
Yao Ming did dunk in that home game against Toronto. A two-handed slam (woohooo!!!). 8 points coming off of 4-7 from the field, 1 block, and 4 rebounds. He's showing progress.
chinatown
Monday, November 04, 2002 at 20:11:32 (PST)
[67.98.161.158]
You got me pegged all wrong. I'm not at all hateful, I'm tire of these delusional Chinese LYING on here. All they do is lie and come up with excuses why they can't compete. Mannnnnnnnnn...
By the way, the 1 billion stats comparison is quite inaccurate. The significant majority of the Chinese population is still agrarian and rural, and very, very poor. These people do not have access to many international sports. That is to say, there aren't many football fields in rural China. There aren't even many soccer fields. Given the lack of sports infrastructure, and given the fact that sports is a thing of leisure and many Chinese are too poor to take up sports, the pool from which China can draw upon to compete internationally is quite small.
Yeah surrrrre, even if they can draw from only one fourth of their population, it FAR exceeds all from Corea. Not to mention Chinese athletes get all government backing.
Counter puncher, please relax. If anything, please refrain from the word "chinaman." I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate being called a "gook."
Doesn't botter me non, it's not like I'm labeling them inaccuately. And the term gook was designated for the Vietnamese by US soliders during the Vietnamese War.
Cheer up. Have a beer and relax. It will do you some good.
Easy Tough Guy
Oh I am, watching Monday night football. haha!
Unrealist,
LOL! why do you persist on posting such nonsense? You are just about the dumbest non athletic geek I have ever encountered. Didn't I tell you you as a Chinese shouldn't even utter the words " Corean soccer." You haven't earn that previlage! Chinese men's soccer team is beyond embarrassment as we all know. Our under 17 boys team could wipe your national team.
Counter Puncher
Monday, November 04, 2002 at 18:18:53 (PST)
[205.188.209.43]
Counter Puncher,
Do you know how many regional sports are added into the asian games for various political reasons.
By adding in TKD, Judo of course Korea and Japan have a chance at taking home some medals.
Judo and TKD are long well established international sports, its not like they introduced these sports last year moron. Just because the Chinese suck in these sports don't try justifying it. How about boxing? or wrestling? Those aren't either Corean or Japanese but you suck! I believe Wushu is Chinese?
As for Yao. Just keep watching his progress to the 30th game or so. The mere fact you keep such close progress of his 3rd game result is already testimony to his potential.
Like I said before I hope Yao does prove me wrong and become good but I doubt it.
Before you start putting down Table Tennis or TKD or Judo or Wu Shu. Have you ever competed against world class altheles in these events. Didn't think so. I guess you're still having trouble removing the "L" from your forehead...Poser.
AC Dropout
And you have LOSER??? Yeah, maybe ping pong right. Why are you scrubs posting on here when you have no knowledge of sports?
Counter Puncher
Monday, November 04, 2002 at 17:58:21 (PST)
[205.188.209.43]
I never thought the Korean football players were world class. Yes, I cheered for them because it was nice to see an Asian team go so far in the World Cup, but you have to admit they did have some lucky breaks. I was far more impressed with a couple of the Japanese players. And in most international sports like tennis, golf and baseball, the Asian that has made some sort of impression are Japanese, Chinese, Indian and a half Thai (Tiger Woods). I maybe wrong but I have yet to hear of a Korean who make an impact in any of these sport. Here for instance, has a sport person of Korean descent been the subject of a forum? Again I am not saying there isn't only I have not been on one. I have been on Michael Chang, Apolo Anton Ohno, the Japanese baseball player (can't remember name, not a big baseball fan), and now Yao Ming. So I don't understand why some of the Korean contributors here are talking about the superiority of sport in Korea. Are the Korean sport personalities taking the world by storm, I don't think so. Maybe in some five or ten years time, or maybe not. Also don't forget that the deal with Yao Ming also include coaching assistance for the Sharks in Shanghai. So indirectly Yao Ming is helping basketball in China. And at the end of his NBA contract, he will be able to bring back his American basketball experience and knowledge to China as well. So it is all good, and Yao Ming has already made a big contribution to his country at the age of 22. That to me made him a superstar, whether or not he made it in the NBA.
Go Yao Ming
Monday, November 04, 2002 at 15:20:43 (PST)
[203.103.159.36]
I have a BRAND NEW 2002-03 SP Game Used YAO MING Authentic Rookie card, GOLD version numbered 42/50!!! RARE!! MINT CONDITION! SELLING ON ebay.com
right now, 1 day left!!!
Copy link below in browser.
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Good Luck!
YAO MING ROOKIE CARD!!!
yao@deadquail.com
Monday, November 04, 2002 at 14:01:18 (PST)
[68.7.128.239]
Right now, Yao Ming is averaging 3.3 ppg. He just needs to adjust himself with the league and the Houston Rockets.
dsfbcbsijbdax
Monday, November 04, 2002 at 13:23:54 (PST)
[148.4.22.10]
Counter Puncher,
You cannot judge a country's athletic prowess based on their population size alone. That is ridiculous. There are many aspects involved as well.
Different countries focus more on certain sports due to the popularity of the sport and the history/track record of their program. These countries have different training methods, coaches, programs, etc. Different countries have had more time to adjust and develop a sport than others, which explains why Europe is starting to catch up to the US in basketball. Based on your logic on genetic superiority and population size, then the Africans should win all the basketball games and not US.
Also alot of the sports comes down to teamwork, individual determination, LUCK, and other X Factors.
There are alot of factors involved, but of course the population pool is also a factor. The chinese are probably the most ethnically diverse asian country in East asia. Comparing the physicality between asians and whites and blacks maybe, but I see a equal amount of small/weak, and taller stronger koreans and chinese people.
Also, I heard they said that Kobe Bryant scored 0 points in his NBA debut as well. To judge someone off of a few games, shows the ignorace of some people. Yao Ming is still to early to tell.
To early to Tell
Monday, November 04, 2002 at 12:33:17 (PST)
[66.47.79.250]
Yao would have been a decent late first round pick. He's just way overhyped, and it's obvious he's not good enough to bang with the elite in the NBA. The #1 pick brings so much expectations, and it seems less likely that yao will ever fulfill it. it would have been better if he had gone unnoticed and just silently performed. but no, it's too late. Sportscenter scrutinizes this guy and his every mistake, which are quite a lot, even for a rookie. Yao was the only #1 pick since doug collins to score ZERO points in his first game. He's not going to turn around the team anytime soon. No Hakeem. No Ewing. No Robinson. Yao Ming is just a shawn bradley type role player who happens to have a soft jumper that's blockable. He would be the 3rd go-to guy, at best. This experiment for rudy and yao ming fans will be a very long and slow process. Yao's potential to be dominant just isn't there.
Can't be delusonal
Monday, November 04, 2002 at 12:18:04 (PST)
[66.107.44.253]
Counter Puncher,
Do you know how many regional sports are added into the asian games for various political reasons.
By adding in TKD, Judo of course Korea and Japan have a chance at taking home some medals.
As for Yao. Just keep watching his progress to the 30th game or so. The mere fact you keep such close progress of his 3rd game result is already testimony to his potential.
Before you start putting down Table Tennis or TKD or Judo or Wu Shu. Have you ever competed against world class altheles in these events. Didn't think so. I guess you're still having trouble removing the "L" from your forehead...Poser.
AC Dropout
Monday, November 04, 2002 at 09:08:55 (PST)
[24.90.98.143]
CounterPuncher,
My goodness, why are you so hateful? You really need to relax a bit.
By the way, the 1 billion stats comparison is quite inaccurate. The significant majority of the Chinese population is still agrarian and rural, and very, very poor. These people do not have access to many international sports. That is to say, there aren't many football fields in rural China. There aren't even many soccer fields. Given the lack of sports infrastructure, and given the fact that sports is a thing of leisure and many Chinese are too poor to take up sports, the pool from which China can draw upon to compete internationally is quite small.
Counter puncher, please relax. If anything, please refrain from the word "chinaman." I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate being called a "gook."
Cheer up. Have a beer and relax. It will do you some good.
Easy Tough Guy
Sunday, November 03, 2002 at 21:26:02 (PST)
[198.81.26.235]
Wang, Yao, and Bateer Fan:
That's a retarded way to calculate someone's potential to score points for a full game.
Also, I don't doubt that in LA, all the Chinese (Asian, how can you tell unless you here them all speak Chinese) people were all for Wang, seeing as how he IS on their team. I bet everyone else in the stadium was for him too when he was scoring all those points.
I'm holding my opinion about Yao until later in the season. Nov. 17 will be a very telling game against the Lakers.
The carrot
Sunday, November 03, 2002 at 17:55:44 (PST)
[65.69.8.54]
Counterpuncher,
I actually did think that Korean soccer was pretty good. Then, I watched them lose, at home, to Iran, in front of thousands of weeping fans......
Man, they suck!!!!!!!!!!!!
Realist
Sunday, November 03, 2002 at 17:32:39 (PST)
[210.0.188.194]
Counterpuncher, you are an absolute idiot.
OK, let's do some numbers here. In Asia, there are over 3 billion people, with India, China, Indonesia, Japan, and Korea being the most populous. So, your 90% figure is wrong. China should win 33% of the medals, and China won more!!!!!
Realist
Sunday, November 03, 2002 at 17:29:40 (PST)
[210.0.188.194]
You guys, I was at the Clippers game tonight. They beat Detroit by 2 points. I was disappointed because they sure could have used more of Wang Zhizhi on the floor. They played him only 9 minutes, but he still scored 5 pts. Now if you think about it, if he played a full game, he might have something like 40-45 pts on that average. Yao Ming played something like 24 minutes last night and scored 8 pts. Compare what Wang can do???
All the Chinese here in L.A. are rooting for Wang as I saw in the crowd.
Wang, Yao and Bateer fan
Sunday, November 03, 2002 at 16:16:09 (PST)
[64.130.235.33]
Counter puncher,
Hello. Did you just wake up from a coma? What is the medal count for China at the Asian Games?
Wipe the "L" off your forhead, loser.
AC Dropout
DROPOUT,
How many friggin' Chinamen are there!
With a country with one billion three hundred million people you should of won 90 percent of the total medals. Look at Corea with only 47 million we're still a sports powerhouse in Asia.
China win any from physical sports??? Or popular sports besides irrelavent sports no one cares about? I bet you actually look forward to men's diving or ping pong, huh? You guys really must be proud. Bunch of wimps!
good luck, ming. enjoy your stay because you're headed back to china soon.
Ming has no game
If he had any sense he'll try to stay in the US instead of going back to China. At least he'll enjoy that money instead of coughing it up to the commies for their gymnastic programs:O
Yao had 8 points with his parents watching, I heard that the whole country celebrated and even broke out their best drinks for such joyous occasions, BUDWEISER. HAHA!
I think if he's lucky, Yao will average about 8 pts per game. I'm crossing my finger he'll save us from further embarrassment.
Truth,
See how these Chinese losers tries to consistantly post false information. They just flat out lie, like one Chinaman who said "chinese are good in wrestling" paha! Just because they can't beat us in any physical sports like boxing or wrestling they restort to lying. Why does a Chinese loser even care if Japan can beat Corea in rugby or not, which they can't. Worry about your own miserable runts from China who got creamed in rugby both by Corea and Japan. Besides Yao what do you Chinese guys have to celebrate about? I don't see you guys raving about your ping pong team, even for you guys its kinda embarrassing I bet:)
Counter Puncher
Sunday, November 03, 2002 at 15:26:44 (PST)
[205.188.209.43]
Hey, don't hate on Chinese, when they got 3 in the NBA with more to come...
I am sure counterpuncher and other KPs would back up Michael Ri if he were in the NBA, but fact is he isn't and never will be nor those midget South Corean basketball players who lucked out in the Asian games against a Bateer-less and Wang-less Chinese team.
Yao is going through a lot. Whites and blacks don't like him and now we also have some non-Chinese Asians hating on him as well. He needs more minutes and confidence from his team/coach to get more scoring action. Till then, will he silence his critics. We'll see...he is still young and signed to 4 years.
Clippers suck. Why not give others, like Wang some chance to see some playing time. Who knows? He might do good?
ball up
Saturday, November 02, 2002 at 19:44:12 (PST)
[64.130.235.33]
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