Yao Ming: The Next Asian Superstar? | Asian American Issues

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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?

     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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Yao Ming...well, you all know me for being a proponent of the man even before this board was established. And now, it has entered into fruition. Yao is second in western conference center balloting for the all star team. He's less than 10,000 votes behind Shaquille O'neal. And if Indiana was any indicator, as was Shaq in Jersey, Yao is right on par with the big dunking ruffian, if not better.
chinatown
Friday, December 20, 2002 at 07:12:22 (PST) [67.98.161.225]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/1710234

WoOoOo HoOooO Yao is gunning for the 2003 All Stars baby. He is currently only second to Shaq in voting for the Western Conference squad yeaaa baby yeaaa. With the way it's going right now, he will probably be on the bench for the West. Great stuff to be an All Star in his rookie year. Vote for him @ nba.com
Unleash Yao Ming.
Thursday, December 19, 2002 at 23:16:28 (PST) [210.54.71.115]

yup...dumbass people behind the heat ..did anyone read Jim Rome 's web site about the fortune cookies....I think he's the only white guy in the media who takes no crap with anything racist ...good on him
dumb n dumber
Thursday, December 19, 2002 at 19:35:05 (PST) [195.92.168.170]

Today Rookie Yao is now already the third best basketball player in all of the NBA based on the Efficiency Formula. http://www.nba.com/statistics/default_48_minute_leaders/LeagueLeadersEFF8Query.h
Get a Vote for Yao and your other favorite players for the NBA All-Star Team this year. When you consider their overall statistics, Shaq should be Yao's only competition.
Yao Da Man

Some of you guys are so PATHETIC!!
Imagine if he did this and that and played over 35 minutes?
Hold on to his jockstrap tighter won't you? Get off his wood! I cheer for Yao. Yao has progress faster than most assumed but he still has long way to go.
Dose of reality is needed
Thursday, December 19, 2002 at 19:15:22 (PST) [152.163.189.134]

Amazingly, Yao trails Shaq by only 10,000 votes in the All-Star voting for center so far.

http://www.nba.com/news/all_star_ballot_021219.html
nyasian
Thursday, December 19, 2002 at 14:39:07 (PST) [172.155.38.14]

I'm voting my all-star player, and ya know who I'm voting. The one and only Yao.
wassabi
Thursday, December 19, 2002 at 10:51:05 (PST) [24.239.152.113]

Yao-Zaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I think "Yao-Zaaa" sounds much better than "Dynasty". "Dynasty" is a little corny
Azn Khan
Thursday, December 19, 2002 at 08:16:10 (PST) [68.40.50.114]

I caught Rockets against Pacers yestarday.

That Yao really gots that soft touch. Sweet Sky-hook, jump hook, and fade away jumper.

Three defenders on him and what does he do...a soft underhanded scoop shot.

This man has talent and moves. Not some ape in the paint. He is just oh so smooth. No overaggressive bumping, no flagrant fouls, just good ole' no nonsense B-ball.

The Pacers even injured their best player to flagrant foul Yao.

But does Yao gets mad or get into a fist fight. Nah, like a true sportsman he just goes about his business, and does a sweat in your face jumper on the next possession.

Does he bad mouth the press or players when they doubted him. Like a true man of confidence he just shut their mouths on the court.

His translator sucks though...I should apply for that job...^_^

I predict Yao is going to be on the next NBA console game...the true test of success in the USA...commercialization.
AC Dropout
Thursday, December 19, 2002 at 07:16:37 (PST) [24.136.115.189]

I love hipocrosy. I remember when Yao was selected 1st in the draft, there were hisses and boos. I remember his first NBA game where he didn't play much in the game (plus didn't go to training camp) people were calling him a bust. I remember Sir Barkleys bet on TNT. Where are the doubters now?Just saw him destroy the Pacers. It's only been like 2 months and his stats are impressive. Plus he's going to improve throughout the years. He's not better than Shaq, yet, but he's making a name for himself.
Asian baller
Thursday, December 19, 2002 at 00:00:23 (PST) [68.116.192.110]

Vote for Yao and your other favorite players for the NBA All-Star Team this year. When you consider their overall statistics, Shaq should be Yao's only competition.

http://www.nba.com/allstar2003/AS_Ballot.html
Yao Da Man
Wednesday, December 18, 2002 at 21:38:01 (PST) [172.162.247.220]

Yao had another great game tonight versus the Pacers.
29 points on 10-15 shooting, 9-10 on free throws, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks.
Yao Da Man
Wednesday, December 18, 2002 at 21:28:39 (PST) [172.162.247.220]

Okay folks, it's time for there to be a full on boycott of the Miami Heat. Why do you ask? When our Houston Rockets and Yao Ming played them on Monday night's OT game, the Heat promotions department passed out fortune cookies. WTF???

Never mind that there are no fortune cookies served in China, but was this supposed to be funny? I guess we all know where the former marketing agents of Abercrombie & Fitch found jobs.

Yao and the boys beat the Heat in OT with some authoritative dunking by Yao. Serves them right.
Bill Fong
Wednesday, December 18, 2002 at 10:06:42 (PST) [161.159.4.35]

Korean Yao fan,

You can do your part by going to the basketball games of Yao Ming. Cheer for him when he makes a shot and you will let the non-Asians in the stadium know that we Asians have come of age and know how to play ball as well.

Everytime Yao makes a shot or dunk, it is for the good of Asian basketballers.

Everytime a Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Cambodian, Thai, what have you steps on the court, all those white and black ballers assume you are a fan of Yao.
Asian basketball
Tuesday, December 17, 2002 at 18:26:59 (PST) [64.130.235.33]

Korean Yao fan,
You're right, we all look similiar in some ways. Korean, chinese, filipino, japanese etc are the same thing.
word
Tuesday, December 17, 2002 at 16:51:36 (PST) [24.239.152.113]

Yao Ming has got so big a thing
It Makes all the Women Sing
He's Hung Like A Pneumatic Drill
He Gives All the ladies such a Thrill

Yao Ming has got the bling bling bling
The ladies all shout "Yao Da King!!!"
And no, this isn't any hype
So much for the Asian Stereotype
Chance McClain--composer
Tuesday, December 17, 2002 at 11:49:50 (PST) [161.159.4.20]

Yao's current numbers are as follows:
24.6 minutes/12.0 points/7.6 rebounds/ 1.7 blocks/59.3 FG%

Now, if Yao had been averaging 35 minutes a game, as the other top centers in the NBA usually do, his numbers would project to:
35.0 minutes/17.1 points/10.8 rebounds/ 2.41 blocks
nyasian
Tuesday, December 17, 2002 at 09:49:54 (PST) [172.131.239.63]

Yao Ming is doing outstandingly. If he got more shots a game he would be averaging well over 20 a game.
His teammate Steve Francis averages about 23 points a game and takes about 19 shots a game.
On the other hand, Yao is averaging 12 points on about 7 shots game.
Yao is shooting over 59% from the field. He easily leads the NBA in shooting percentage. Look here:
nyasian
Tuesday, December 17, 2002 at 09:42:50 (PST) [172.131.239.63]

Hey I'm Korean and I know there's this Korea-China thing going, but go Yao. I didn't think he was going to be this good, and I had my doubts when the Korean team beat China, but I think he's gone above and beyond any of mainstream America's expectations. It's a win for all Asian-Americans, since most people can't tell us apart anyway.
Korean Yao fan
Monday, December 16, 2002 at 22:02:47 (PST) [128.36.78.76]

I want the Chinese and Chinese-Americans on this board to know how important it is to support our brethren in the NBA. If any of you have been to Dodger games back when Hideo Nomo and Chan Ho Park was here, you see all these packs of Koreans and Japanese rooting for their national players. And, you see lots of Korean-Americans and Japanese-Americans.

Now, it is time we do something too. I know it is more expensive to watch a basketball game, but by being there you feel proud of yourself and of your heritage. Buy it for you and the family. I already got tickets when Yao Ming and Houston comes to play the Lakers and Clippers. The last game I went to was so wonderful to see all the young Chinese in the stands watching Yao and Wang play.
Asian basketball
Monday, December 16, 2002 at 21:01:03 (PST) [64.130.235.33]

What a game. Steve Francis hit a 3 pointer at the buzzer to tie it at over time. Good for him, and Yao Ming's reaction after the game. Cool team, I'm beginning to see chemistry between the two.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news/ap/20021216/ap-rockets-heat.html
lokiloki
Monday, December 16, 2002 at 20:44:51 (PST) [24.239.152.113]

All-star next year?

Hell, he's an all-star this year. I voted for him and y'all should as well at www.nba.com. Who else would you vote for? Michael Olowakandi?
chinatown
Monday, December 16, 2002 at 11:34:38 (PST) [168.53.109.33]

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