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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.]
realist,
we'll stick to archery..and baseball, soccer, basketball, rugby, volleyball, boxing, wrestling, judo. how did china peform in these sports at the asian games?? stick to ping pong.
how lame
Saturday, November 16, 2002 at 16:57:16 (PST)
[209.179.44.46]
The question shouldn't be one of "superstar" or "also-ran" ... yet. The question, TODAY, should be: since when does a guy who's only been here a TOTAL of two TWO T-W-O 2 months and counting, 2 months adjusting to America, American culture, the city of Houston & his teammates; 2 months playing AMERICAN basketball, 2 months playing NBA-LEVEL basketball -- have his ENTIRE future judged, dismissed or eulogized?
This isn't Shawn Bradley -- born and bred in America who's had a LIFETIME of opportunity to prove/disprove his abilities playing YEARS of AMERICAN high school, college and NBA-level ball.
This isn't Hakeem Olajuwon, who came to America at age 18, played 3 years of AMERICAN college ball at the Univsersity of Houston before playing 17-18 more with the Rockets in the NBA.
And I don't mean to disparage Chinese professional or international ball but AMERICAN basketball is what it is, despite the recent World Games embarassment -- the orginal and best level of basketball on the planet.
As a result, it is WAY too early to offer *informed* judgements or predictions of Yao Ming's future in the NBA. 2 months and a handful of games playing a handful of minutes has told us NOTHING about his eventual impact as a player. I remember reading something where Yao said his role model as a kid in China was Sabonis. There's some truth to that because there's a lot of "European" in Yao's current game. Can and will Yao eventually become "physical" enough to survive America's NBA? If Rik Smits could, if Sabonis could, why not Yao? There's only ONE Dream. ONE Shaq. ONE Kareem. Yao will be Yao in whatever form that takes. Bill Walton saw Yao play extensively in China before calling him the UN-Bradley, i.e., "a SKILLED basketball PLAYER who happens to be tall, NOT just another tall guy trying to play basketball" (see Bradley, Yinka Dare, Manute Bol).
I'd agree some of the persistent kneejerk bedwetting towards Yao is couched in race-based prejuidice, some of it attributable to xenophobia regardless of race, all of it emanating from a media culture increasingly infected with tabloid rush-to-judgement herd-stampeding stupidity.
So why should players(i.e. Shaq), fans be immune from such stupidity? And if we're paying millions to stupid athletes and entertainers for stupid but skillful entertainment, why be surprised when stupid is as stupid does so long as stupid keeps paying?
Stupidian
Saturday, November 16, 2002 at 15:35:12 (PST)
[24.197.0.6]
Another thunderous dunk, another monster block. 10 points in only 14 minutes against phoenix. Yao Ming is the real deal.
chinatown
Saturday, November 16, 2002 at 12:33:20 (PST)
[67.98.161.196]
Yao Ming tonight had 10 points in only 14 minutes of action, while Wang Zhizhi also had 8 points in only 9 minutes of play time.
The Chinese players can score if you give them more time to play.
By the way, why isn't Mengke Bateer to be seen in San Antonio uniform? Are they gonna use him or what?
Great Wall trio fan
Saturday, November 16, 2002 at 01:19:28 (PST)
[64.130.235.33]
To all you haterz', the last time i remember, the only player to live-up to being a first pick was Allen Iverson! How many other first-picks lived up to the hype? I don't see haters talking spam about Kwame Brown...he's a big bust!
Far East Guy
How about Patrick Ewing, Tim Ducan and Kwame Brown is way better than Yao.
Chinese Bust
Friday, November 15, 2002 at 19:57:24 (PST)
[64.12.96.205]
Ed, where are my response?
Don't tell me your another Chinese who can't take the truth. So censorship is your response huh?
Counter Puncher
Friday, November 15, 2002 at 16:27:17 (PST)
[64.12.96.205]
[To answer your questions: Etherized for being more flame than fodder; we won't; it's called editorial discretion. --Ed]
Did any of you see the Clippers game tonight and saw how Wang Zhizhi drove in to make that straightaway jumper over Orlando Magic starters? He is not the same guy he was last year.
I don't know what's up with Clipper coach Alvin Gentry? Wang is sure better than Sean Rooks.
Give him more playing time off the bench, on average he can give you 10-13 pts. per game.
I think his level of play is just as good if not better than Yao Ming now. In practice, you see him shoot like any American NBA player.
Maybe it is his slow reaction and defense that irks some. He needs to fight for rebounds and dare go up to block people at times.
Him, Yao and Bateer have these same areas to work on. They need to be more quick and responsive on defensive ends. That is the only way to get the attention of coaches for more playing time. I know that Wang has the offensive skills; he just needs to work on defense more.
Great Wall trio fan
Friday, November 15, 2002 at 00:34:17 (PST)
[64.130.235.33]
Send him home,
I'd like you to do better. Can you imagine how it is like to be Yao? No, you can't! There are just too many
expectations and he is overwhelmed by that. You keep talking smack about Kwame
Brown and Sam Bowie. For your information, Brown is improving in rapid speed. You're one of those basketball player wannabees who criticizes professional athletes and thinking they were you.
Sorry man, truth hurts.
Truth Hurts
Thursday, November 14, 2002 at 17:31:11 (PST)
[68.96.110.59]
not to mention yao ming has already had two dunks so far. WOOHOOO, he's no pussy like wang zhizhi.
chinatown
Thursday, November 14, 2002 at 16:00:51 (PST)
[67.98.162.51]
Give YAO MING some time....for god sakes. How many busts has there been in the NBA...lots. Yao Ming has talent, but he has to develop his talent against NBA players. If you train him properly, in three years he will live-up to his potential. The Rockets drafted him on his POTENTIAL TALENT....get that through your head.
To all you haterz', the last time i remember, the only player to live-up to being a first pick was Allen Iverson! How many other first-picks lived up to the hype? I don't see haters talking spam about Kwame Brown...he's a big bust!
Far East Guy
Thursday, November 14, 2002 at 14:54:32 (PST)
[138.16.131.240]
Culture is also very important. You see these South American countries and it is sad. They play mostly soccer and nothing else, it is a national obsession. Here in the states you have some who play soccer, basketball, football, baseball, tennis, etc. The percentage of american youth who play soccer may be only 10% compared to what 40-50% in South/Latin America. GET IT?
What percentage of China's 1 billion people do you think obsesses over soccer. How many parents want their kids to grow up to be a soccer star? How many kids play soccer as a hobby when they have time off? If less than 1% of chinese kids has ever even kicked a soccer ball to 20% of Koreans, will the population idea still hold water? Think about it.
Counter punch this
Thursday, November 14, 2002 at 11:16:49 (PST)
[66.47.79.250]
One thing that everyone here needs to remember is the fact that the performance and skill level involved with sports is based alot on the length of the program in that country.
There is a reason certain countries excel at sports that others do not, because they have been playing it longer. You cannot compare a country that just started giving soccer balls to 10 year olds last week to a country that has been playing it for 200 years. The experienced country will have the culture, the wisdom, experience to dominate. Their kids will start kicking that ball as soon as they can walk, and are often the off-spring of proven athletes.
The reason you see such one-sided victories in international sports is often due to the in-experience of one teams'players, staff, coaching, program. Also the national focus on the sport is important too. Countries tend to put more focus on sports that they have had success in.
All other aspects aside, one of the reasons you see so one sided victories in certain sports for certain countries is because many countries are still playing catch up. People like to contribute it to their racial superiority or heart of their countries, but that is only a very small part of the formula for success, especially when they are within the same race. Countries with an even amount of development time will have more comparable performances and results.
Yao Ming may be a bust, but he needs more playing time and adjustment. The adjustment time needed could be from a few months to a year or more. People here who expect him to adjust after 5-6 games are just idiots. Remember that he will be playing catch up too for the rest of this season or longer. The sooner he is able to 'catch up', the sooner we will be able to see his real potential.
Counter punch this
Thursday, November 14, 2002 at 11:06:03 (PST)
[66.47.79.250]
To All:
Yao Ming is making great progress. His most recent game: 15 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks. Extrapolate that over a full game, and these are great stats.
Yao is going to be a great player!!! The Rockets are bringing him along slowly, which is the wise thing to do.
Realist
Wednesday, November 13, 2002 at 17:34:48 (PST)
[210.0.188.194]
people here need to give some credit to iran's soccer team. for some of you who didn't know, they did win the gold at this years asian games and brought some of their top talent. they are currently ranked 32 by fifa and were ranked as high as 29 last year. so in reality, iran is and has been a pretty good team in asia. now china on the other hand is ranked 64. if japan and korea would have lost to them, then that would have been a real shame.
rafsan
Wednesday, November 13, 2002 at 16:19:08 (PST)
[63.206.24.50]
Yao is the biggest bust since sam bowie. Even Bradley had a better rookie year, and Bradley is not exactly dominating.
send him home
Wednesday, November 13, 2002 at 11:35:46 (PST)
[63.161.167.120]
Counterpuncher, let's talk about LIES.
You have been claiming that Korea has always been the best in Asia in rugby.
Well, for the 2003 World Cup Qualifiers, played earlier this year in 2002, in rugby, Korea got drubbed/demolished twice by Japan, 55-17 and 90-24. Man, these are landslide, lopsided scores!!!! Korea sucks!!!!! Japan is the qualifier from Asia to go to the World Cup. Korea? Whatever......These scores indicate that Korea is not even close to being a good team. Man, you suck!!!!!
Goes to show: you are the LIAR. You are so desperate to cover up your insecurities that you make up things that are not even true. Look at the scores, man. Korea sucks in rugby!!!!!
Realist
Tuesday, November 12, 2002 at 22:50:01 (PST)
[210.0.188.194]
Counterpuncher, like I said, you are a racist!
Let's talk about the facts. Korea hosted the Asian Games this year and came in a distant second. Man, that is tough, huh? And to top that off, losing to Iran, at home, in front of thousands of fans, with 5 World Cup players, while the other side had underage teenagers. Man, you suck!!!!!
Ha!!!! I laugh at your boxing and greco roman wrestling examples. You are right, China does not medal in those events, cause China does not even try to compete there. China had a ban on boxing up to a couple years ago. But do you really believe that Koreans are that good? In the Olympics, the boxing medals go to Cuba, while Greco is dominated by the U.S. and Russia. Man, you suck!!!! Stick to archery......
Realist
Tuesday, November 12, 2002 at 17:37:43 (PST)
[210.0.188.194]
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