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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
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This, from the CNN/SI NBA Fantasy league section:
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Yao Ming: We were wrong. We know it, and we're sorry. We could only hope to have a player on our fantasy roster who dropped in about 20 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, blocked almost three shots and shot almost 50 percent from the floor (as Yao has done in his past four games). More important, the Houston players are starting to believe in Yao. They are starting to see the benefits of having a double-teamed center kick the ball out for open jumpers. They are starting to understand how a legitimate low-post scorer can make their team good enough to knock off the Sacramento Kings. And they are starting to see how many more chances they can take on defense with a virtual giant behind them to swat away what they don't steal.
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See, even the doubters are flailing and giving in. This is going to start a tidal wave of Asians doing well or even dominating within the next HALF-generation. Those 7-foot teenagers in training in China should come over in about 4-5 years. And I'll be watching.
These are exciting times for Asian sports in general.
Go Yao
Monday, December 16, 2002 at 04:13:02 (PST)
[128.253.186.46]
Stats on Yao Ming so far this season:
11.9 pts/game
7.4 reb./game
23.9 min./game
It's not outstanding, but it definately isn't crappy. In fact, his stats are rock-solid, given the playing time. If he were averaging 30+ minutes a game, he would be scoring in the mid-high teens, and grabbing close to 10 rebounds per game. If he could somehow get the nitro to kick in this or next season, he could take his play into All-Star level as early as next year.
Props to Yao Ming.
Sunday, December 15, 2002 at 19:29:14 (PST)
[128.253.41.126]
Metal Deer Solid,
You can't blame that game all on Yao though. Yes, I think he should have more rebound then just 9, but his shooting percentage or offensive wise is not bad. And steve francise who usually makes like 20 to 30 points per game, didn't do to this one. He only score 14 pts. If he had like 20 pts and Yao add like three more rebound they could have won the game.
Also you have to know that in the beginning of the game, Rudy T, uses the zone defense. This wasn't a good idea because that is how the clipper score in the beginning. Part of it is Yao but also a lot has to do with the team being at fault.
Don'tblameallonYao
Sunday, December 15, 2002 at 16:37:13 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
Metal Deer Solid,
Why would you be UPSET, you're one of his haters......In fact you probably wish he would fail and wish the Houston Rocket never even make the play-off. As you said earlier you like Laker and shaq, but you didn't bring it up when they fail. That teams is failing too. They lost like 6 games after shaq can back. Toe injury or not, doesn't cut it. That team as of now is not moving anywhere.
You being a Yao hater, why keep watching his games? Just so you can see him make a fool out of himself and so you can make a big fuss about it on goldsea? com-on, you need to get a life........
Idiot in dehouse
Sunday, December 15, 2002 at 16:28:40 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
Wang gets no PT ever. 11 minutes on the court is an eternity for him. Other than summoned to face ming, he's collecting DNP every night. But he's still getting paid so much money. What do you call a player like that? Least bang for your buck! Wang is just not aggressive enough, and that is sad.
No faith in Wang
Sunday, December 15, 2002 at 10:46:46 (PST)
[63.161.167.211]
More on Wang from Yahoo Sports:
The Clippers led by as many as 16 points after a 21-8 run in the first half. Wang Zhizhi scored five of his eight points during the spurt, including a 3-pointer.
"Those two guys played on the national team together," Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said of Wang and Rockets rookie center Yao Ming. "Whenever you're playing against someone who's been a teammate, there's a little incentive to play well. The 3-pointer loosened him up and he made some good moves to the basket."
Houston shot 54 percent (20-of-37) in the first half but slumped to 32.5 percent (13-of-40) shooting after intermission. Yao, who scored 12 points in the first half on 4-of-5 shooting, scored only four points in the second half, making 1-of-4 shots.
"(Wang) told us about (Yao's) two best moves and his head fakes," Gentry said. "I think we were as prepared as anyone's been to play Yao."
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Is he only gonna let Wang play more when and only if they play against Yao Ming? They didn't pay this guy 3 million a year just to do that???
Asian Basketball
Saturday, December 14, 2002 at 22:20:06 (PST)
[64.130.235.33]
Today was Part II of Yao Ming vs. Wang Zhizhi in the NBA.
It was a great game if you were a Chinese or Chinese-American fan of these players, you had to be proud of both.
I still remember some of you dissing or losing hope on Wang. Well, today he had 8 pts. in only 11 minutes. How can you talk trash for that? The man has potential to be just as good as Yao. It is unfortunate his coach (Gentry) doesn't see it.
Yao should be credited for his unselfish play. Those guys are very reluctant to pass him the ball. Yet, he is still averaging 16 pts. these last 6 games. Imagine if he played for Golden State? He would have easily been scoring 20-30 pts. a game.
The future of Chinese and Asian basketball remains shining.
I root for all 3 always. Yao, Wang and Bateer. They will get their day in the NBA!
Asian Basketball
Saturday, December 14, 2002 at 22:09:21 (PST)
[64.130.235.33]
You guys, I have voted on the NBA official website (www.nba.com) for this coming All-Star game. I voted for the best, and other than Shaq, I think the next best center this year on that vote list is Yao Ming. Duncan is listed as a forward, or else I would have voted for him. Let's really vote for the best and not for ethnic pride.
Asian basketball
Saturday, December 14, 2002 at 11:51:00 (PST)
[64.130.235.33]
Im not even gonna be upset. When Yao and the Rockets miss out this year on winning the Chamionship by 9 points and they do the same next year, then your vision will be 20/20
Metal Deer Solid
Friday, December 13, 2002 at 18:23:15 (PST)
[211.156.17.51]
Metal Deer Solid,
Hey ignorant, no-self respect low life. You want to see how many Yao fan there are? Look here, and say, he told me so but i'm an idiot to not listen.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47796-2002Dec12.html
AznMan with pride
Friday, December 13, 2002 at 11:54:58 (PST)
[198.105.45.18]
Hey Metal Deer Stupid,
Sure. Shawn Bradley is taller than Yao Ming, but Yao Ming dominated him completely. So shut up and don't bother opening up your mouth and making a fool of yourself again until you really know what you're talking about.
And, if you are saying there aren't any VCRs in China, only VCDs, then you are even more stupid than I imagined. The Chinese have had both plus LDs for many years now. Some even have DVDs -- wow just like us here in the freakin' wealthy West -- isn't that just so freakin' amazing? Who woulda thought?
Idiot.
Time to school MDS
Thursday, December 12, 2002 at 15:08:41 (PST)
[207.214.44.147]
Metal Deer Solid,
You're an ABC in Beijing right now and yet you know everything about Yao in the States...talk about pathetic.
You best stop typing on the USB keyboard for the PS2 cause you're not making sense.
Look it don't matter what you say, even with Shaq back, the Lakers are not doing that well right now.
So take your cheat codes turbo button fantasy and shove it.
"5 feet tall, bleeding and unable to be a father"
Is this your personal self description, or what?
AC Dropout
Thursday, December 12, 2002 at 10:45:14 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
Time to school you
--Have I been there? Im an ABC dammnit! Im right here now in Beijing. communal VCR? I havent seen vcr cassettes, only VCDs. what are yoooooooou talking about? Communal Vcr? What? Your kidding yourself and boring me. Yao Ming isnt the only 7'5 in the NBA and certainly not the tallest. Check the other tall guys and see how they are doing sometime why dont you
Metal Deer Solid
Wednesday, December 11, 2002 at 18:18:23 (PST)
[211.156.10.214]
This is what I like about this guy. Yao's scoring average is growing. Like I have said, give the guy a chance to adapt himself in this country and the Houston Rockets.
dsfbcbsijbdax
Wednesday, December 11, 2002 at 11:47:41 (PST)
[24.90.37.100]
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