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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.]
"* Oh yeah, that must be it. You sound so intelligent loser. Yao has potential, maybe he'll live up to it someday but for now he hasn't."
CounterPuncher
You have lost, so now you make yourself a way out ^^
Hahaha - you never wanted him to succeed. Admit this, as much, and we may have peace.
Bataar
Friday, December 06, 2002 at 06:51:06 (PST)
[63.162.229.2]
I want to see Yao in some American commercials. Yeah...that would be cool. Why not?
David
Friday, December 06, 2002 at 04:34:48 (PST)
[198.81.26.235]
That guy Wang only gets to play four minutes last game. He should improve soon and get more playing time. Or they gonna kick him out of the NBA and replace me in there. I'm dead serious, that guy seems to have no motivation or something. Even I could do better than him.
wagaling
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 20:59:06 (PST)
[162.83.146.45]
The very first Asian NBA player was a Japanese American, and I think his name was Daniel Mitsukawa. He was 5'7". Of course, the NBA never really mentioned this, because they needed a "Jackie Robinson of the NBA" type of deal for their public relations, since even until a couple of years ago, no one gave a sit about Asian atheletes in the US, even if they were the first non-whites in a league (like Mitsukawa). So instead, the NBA claims that the first black player (Read: "first non-white player".... obviously a blatant lie) was, shee... I don't even remember his name, it is that unimportant.
Props to Mitsukawa.
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 17:43:49 (PST)
[128.253.186.46]
zhan yi:
This guy (Iverson) also shoots about a thousand times a game and at about a third of yao ming's shooting percentage.
just something to think about...(not much)
chinatown
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 15:36:50 (PST)
[168.53.109.33]
The first ever Asian NBA player is "Wat Misaka". He had a short career with Knicks in 47'. He got axed after a few games.
FOP
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 14:04:53 (PST)
[65.146.35.141]
In response to Andersen Ex comment:
He's had a few monster games (30 and 15, 27 and 18) but also some very quiet ones. That's OK, because all rookies are pretty inconsistent.
don't insult Yao! if you watched all the games, Yao's low scoring games were because his team would not give him the ball, and all the low scoring games he shot a high percentage, but not enough touches.
slamdunkfan
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 13:35:30 (PST)
[68.50.64.144]
zhan yi,
*Dawg*, why you comparing a center with a guard. That's not how you compare thing, ya know.
kiko
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 09:46:22 (PST)
[162.83.146.45]
Andersen Ex,
No, no, no.. shaq is not considered one of the greatest passers in the league. It's the guy from the kings, name VLADE DIVAC, he is one of the best passers in the league. He always knows how to move the ball around. And he usually has a lot of fake. He is definitely a smart player. And if you haven't noticed, shaq, lately has been strugling. They lost to the Jazz in their last game. Karl Malone, out play him. All shaq has is body, that's why he dominated the paint, and when he is near the basket, he either dunks or throws a hook shot. He does this effectivly is because of his body mass. But he will dunk more than he will do a hook shot and players guarding him knows this and try to keep him away from the basket. He shooting percentage from the field has increase compare to when he first came in.
nobillli
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 09:26:47 (PST)
[162.83.146.45]
Yao Ming has been getting A LOT of love on SportsRadio 610 in Houston from all the fans. However, those of us who were Yao Proponents all along (myself, Charlie Pallilo, Lance Zierlein) can all say "WE FREAKIN' TOLD YOU SO!!!"
Even Jim Rome was giving him A TON OF LOVE on The Jungle yesterday. Rome praised his shooting, passing, blocking and defensive ability. He further went on to say that Yao's learning curve was unbelievable and called him "Yao Freaking Ming"--when Rome adds "freaking" to a player's middle name, it means that player is one of the tops in his game.
Yao's got great fundamentals, he's become more aggressive in the low post, when he doesn't have the shot he is always able to find the guy with the open shot and pass the ball effectively, and he's going to be a shot blocker on par with Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Yao Ming ROCKS and all the nay-sayers SUCK!!!
GO ROCKETS!!!
Hank Lewis
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 06:34:29 (PST)
[161.159.4.21]
Justin Wong, you are an idiot. In the history of the NBA, there have only been THREE, T H R E E, 3 asian players. Want me to name them? Wang Zhi Zhi, Meng Bateer(sp), and Yao Ming. You dont know anything about the NBA. You cant compare Ming to KG, thats like comparing your d*** to mine. Dont hate..
and oh yeah, for the dumbass that said KG hasnt gotten past the 1st round against the eastern conference... Uhhh.... hes in the western conference moron. PEACE
Jordan
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 20:09:02 (PST)
[205.188.209.43]
The man can't play. . .yao ming
27 pts. 18 rebs. uh huh. right.
where are the doubting thomases? Even Shaq's owned up.
Nope. . .there's been nothin' but silence for a long while. I guess they all must be busy kissing donkeys with Barkley.
shingenius
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 20:00:42 (PST)
[24.76.142.89]
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think there was once a black or white NBA player who was half-Japanese on his mom's side? And, he was in the NBA before Wang Zhizhi, so would that make him the first Asian player in the NBA or what?
But, most people still say Wang is the first Asian to make it?
Asian basketball
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 19:38:02 (PST)
[64.130.235.33]
It was 18 rebounds, not 17. And he also pulled down 6 offensive boards. He was also a perfect 7-7 from the line, and to top this all off, he collected 3 assists.
The Yao-haters in here, and elsewhere, always nagged on the opinion that Yao would be schooled by the Tim Duncans and the Shaquille O'neals of the league. Well, now we can scratch one guy off the list and move on to the last great hope; Shaquille O'neal. I think Yao will be able to hold his own...and then some.
chinatown
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 18:39:17 (PST)
[67.98.161.51]
I'm a big Yao fan and I hope he does well. Everyone in the NBA (players, coaches, GM's) is pretty much in consensus that he CAN play, and that he will be a good, maybe even very good player. Right now, he's a rookie (22 years old, basically a college senior) so he's going to be up and down this season. He's had a few monster games (30 and 15, 27 and 18) but also some very quiet ones. That's OK, because all rookies are pretty inconsistent. I too was pretty surprised when he dominated the Duncan/Robinson matchup, but don't expect him to post Wilt Chamberlain-like numbers every night. Likely, he's going to have a lot of single-digit scoring and rebounding games this season than double-digit ones.
Also, it's unfair to compare him to Shaq, or call him the Shaq-Equalizer. If any of you people even watch the Lakers, especially during the playoffs, you will realize that NO ONE can guard Shaq. Even Shaq admits that if he had to guard himself he couldn't stop himself. When Shaq gets the ball down low, near the basket, it's 2 points. No one in the league can stop him, not Mourning, not Duncan, not Hakeem or Ewing or Robinson in their primes. That's why when you play him you use the Hack-a-Shaq philosophy: you gotta foul him when he's that near the basket. MAYBE Chamberlain or Bill Russell in their primes might have had a prayer of containing Shaq, although let's face it even they'll get a facial or two. He just leans his massive body into you and it's all you can do to keep your position, even if you're a 300lb center yourself. Also, for a man his size, he's got surprising coordination and athleticism, with a soft baby hook shot and some nice little up and under moves. It's not all bang-bang-dunk with Shaq. He's a smart player too, knowing how to get into position, with all-around court awareness (he's one of the best passing centers in the game).
Andersen Ex
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 18:22:10 (PST)
[12.249.142.184]
Allen Iverson Stats:
*Named All-NBA second team in 2001-02 and voted as a starter on the Eastern Conference All-Star Team
*Led league in scoring in 2001-02 with 31.4 ppg as well as steals (2.80 spg) and minutes (43.7)
*Named the 2000-01 NBA Most Valuable Player, leading the league in scoring (31.1 ppg) and steals (2.51 spg)
*Most Valuable Player of the 2001 All-Star Game
*Selected to the 1999-2000 All-NBA Second Team
*Named to the 1998-99 All-NBA First Team after leading the NBA in scoring (26.8 ppg)
*Named the 1996-97 Schick NBA Rookie of the Year, becoming the first 76er to ever win the award
*Set the Sixers' all-time rookie record with 1,787 points
*Scored 40 points in five straight games in April to set an NBA rookie record
*Named MVP of the Schick Rookie Game during the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend, posting 19 points and a game-high 9 assists
*Named NBA Rookie of the Month for November, 1997, leading all rookies in scoring (21.8 ppg), assists (6.4 apg) and steals (2.67 spg)
**This guy is one and one half feet shorter than yao ming, and scores 29 points per game...Just something to think about**
zhan yi
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 12:43:51 (PST)
[66.167.249.220]
Taken from an ESPN article (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=221203010)
''He played great. He was all over the boards,'' [David] Robinson said of Yao. ''He shot the ball well and he moved the ball around with his passing. He was a handful. He was the difference in the game.''
''He was impressive tonight,'' [Tim] Duncan said of Yao. ''He's got a great touch and he's bigger in person than you think he is. He shot the ball better than I thought he could. We had a hand in his face and it didn't matter. He played great tonight.''
''He played very well, obviously,'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ''He did a great job of playing a complete basketball game. He's a natural. He's going to be a big-time force in this league. Anyone who thought differently is few and far between now.''
Go Rockets! Go Yao!
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 11:25:59 (PST)
[143.183.121.2]
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