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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.]
20 points on 9-0f-9 shooting, in 23 minutes in Yao Ming's most recent game against Laker.
So how is that?
Ping Pong? If ping pong can earn china more than 150 gold medals then i am more than pleased.
JJH
Monday, November 18, 2002 at 03:30:51 (PST)
[202.62.139.237]
Does the facial features of Chinese basketball player, Mengke Bateer represent the Mongolian type? He is from Inner Mongolia minority group, but he looks more like a Tibetan based on what I know and have seen. I know that Mongols and Tibetans mixed a lot after the Mongols converted to Lamaism.
Asian basketball
Monday, November 18, 2002 at 03:28:02 (PST)
[64.130.235.33]
Yao Ming just had a very nice game against the Lakers. 20 points in 23 minutes, 9-9 FGs, 2-2 FT, and 6 rebounds. Granted Shaq didn't play, and probably would have battered Yao to pieces had he played. But that's only 4 games out of the 82-game season (well, technically 3, since Shaq was out for this one) that he has to play Shaq. That means he can potentially play about this well against lesser opponents if he gets consistently good. I think about 12-15 points and 5-10 rebounds a night would be a good estimate for next year when he gets into the flow of things and his minutes increase.
My message to Counter Puncher and all the Chinese Nationalists here is to just chill out for one New York Minute! I'm sure about a hundred guys will post here tommorrow saying how Yao is the best ball player ever. Some of you have already called him a big dissappointment, after what -- NINE games? Give me a break, you morons. All of you. I've always had faith in Yao -- right from the start. I was also patient. I knew he's improve, and I didn't mouth off about how crap he was after his first game, nor did I tout him as the next Chaimberlin even before the exhibition games.
To top it off, here's a quote from SHAQ, after the game:
"Congratulations to Mr. Ming, first of all. He's done a lot for his country. He has all the tools -- shoot, dribble. He can play, he's no slouch."
Get this... the greatest center to ever play had this to say this about Yao Ming, our 22 year old Chinese son from Shang Hai. Indeed -- he HAS come a long way. We're behind you 100% Yao. Go do us proud. It doesn't matter if your Korean or Chinese or Vietnamese -- on this side of the Pacific, we're ALL behind you.
Korean Fella
Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 23:50:11 (PST)
[128.253.186.46]
So much for the Yao Ming haters all over the place (including here). You all should be ashamed of yourselves. He had a stellar outing tonite against the lakers, 20 points including some sweet finishes. Yao definitely has some great skills, and he moves really quick for a guy that is 7, 5." I think what has been keeping him back earlier is that he wasn't as aggressive, understandable when you come from a different country and placed smack dab in the jungles of the NBA. But as he gets more and more comfortable, I think you'll see Yao become a truly dominant force, one who can score inside or from the outside with a sweet touch.
JA guy
Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 23:10:41 (PST)
[12.232.219.239]
Give it up for Yao, my boy.
20 points in only 22 minutes of play time. 4 or 5 dunks over them blacks and whites, and I enjoyed every one of them.
I'm a die-hard Lakers fan, but tonight man, it was different.
All those white people at the Staples Center were looking at me like I was a criminal or something, but they can shove it up all their asses...
Yao did us proud.
What's up with that Korea? When you gonna score 22 points in the NBA? Oh, my bad, Korea doesn't even have a player in the CBA, let alone the NBA. Maybe someday...LOL...
But, man, anyways, you guys should have seen the parking lots when Yao arrived off the bus, there were groupies of white, black and Mexican girls calling his name. Man, if I could only even get one of them, I would be one happy dude.
I bet that Yao and Wang getting some fine white or Mexican chick every night. Too bad that Bateer is already married with kids.
Next thing we need is for Yao to sign a contract with Nike and a TV commercial. This guy will do us good in the eyes of white, Mexican and black chicks. And, we would get the respect we always deserved.
When I play at the parks, the whites and blacks won't be picking me last and laughing no more.
NOW IT IS YAO!!!
Asian basketball
Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 22:34:38 (PST)
[64.130.235.33]
To ALL:
20 points, 6 rebounds in only 23 minutes. A perfect 9 for 9 from the floor. Hitting clutch shots down the stretch against the defending NBA champs. Yao is for real. To all the naysayers: SHUTUP!!!!!!! To all the jealous people: man, you guys are going to be sad and insecure for a very, very long time.......
Realist
Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 22:21:37 (PST)
[210.0.188.194]
Rockets over Shaq-less Lakers
Yao Ming has best game of his short NBA career.
9-9 FG 2-2 FT 6RB 20 points in only 23min. How do you spell domination?
http://www.nba.com/games/20021117/HOULAL/boxscore.html
Sir Charles, Kiss My Ass
stevewang@yahoo.com
Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 21:37:54 (PST)
[63.205.166.139]
Just look at Counterpuncher comments to the Editor: the guy is a total, complete racist. The guy should be ejected from America. We don't need people like him here. He is the complete antithesis of what the U.S. stands for.
Realist
Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 18:24:15 (PST)
[210.0.188.194]
How lame, how did China do at the Asian Games you ask? Complete domination of the Gold Medal total.....Man, it is tough to come in second place when you are the host country......
Realist
Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 18:20:58 (PST)
[210.0.188.194]
Another thunderous dunk, another monster block. 10 points in only 14 minutes against phoenix. Yao Ming is the real deal.
chinatown
Chinatown,
How about the ankle breaking move Stephan Marbury put on Yao? Sending him tumbling to the ground? eeeee-yaaaaooo.
I did like that one jam after the rebound, he should be doing that all might long. As I said, he'll be lucky to average 5 pts oer game. I believe he's averaging about 3 or 4 pts now.
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]
* Its called freedome of speech Ed ol'boy. Just because you don't like doesn't mean its not true. Funny how you continue to let a cetain Chinaboy Realist post lies. And I guess you didn't realized this whole website is full of imflammatory comments huh?
Counter Puncher
Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 15:47:36 (PST)
[152.163.189.134]
[Do everyone a favor and take a moment to read our Editorial Policy on Reader Posts (The links are everywhere). This is an edited discussion board. Freedom of speech is an oftÐmisunderstood principle that limits restrictions by governmental or state-funded entities. You are free to be provocative as long as you are also tasteful, factual, non-repetitious and acting in good faith to promote discussion. Now get back to the discussion or just get back. --Ed]
Check this out.
www.nba.com/china
Even if you guys are biased againsted foriegn born players in the NBA. It seems the guys in suits see the potential in China.
Who knows given the fact the China has the potential for 5 times the market share than the USA. We might be seeing whole teams in the NBA with foriegn born players in the near future. There are now 67 foriegn born players in the NBA and the number is still rising.
But I guess certain Yao haters won't be satisfied until they get a
www.nba.com/k(c)orea
AC Dropout
Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 10:07:00 (PST)
[24.90.98.143]
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