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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.]
I can't wait 10 more days to see the long awaited matchup (Yao vs. Shaq)!!!
It will probably be a good one :)
Asian basketball
Thursday, January 09, 2003 at 00:10:51 (PST)
[64.130.235.33]
only 13 and 8. BIGDEAL?!?
Your the same guy from the past that kept on saying the same thing over and over. You need to get a life, I bet you, when your like 90 yrs old you'll still say the same thing like, " Yao... hesss...noooo gameee, he's nott strrong.. ". LoL what a idiot.
Do you think Shaq is good without Kobe? He is jack without Kobe, he would be like Sharwn Bradly scoring a pathetic average of below 10 pts every night.
Look at TRACY MCGRADY, he only does good because he takes about a thousand shots a game. That explains why he is leading scorer in the league. He struggle against Houston Rocket last night shooting from the field of 10-26. Wow, Tracy Mcgrady is so, so good..
NOT, he sucks, NBA should kick him out and let me be on the team so I can earn millions and win for them. I don't know why he gets all the ALL-Star votes any way.
Get over it.. you have no life and your miserable now becasue Yao has more votes than Shaq...
Puncher the CounterMan
Wednesday, January 08, 2003 at 18:38:09 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
only 13 and 8. BIGDEAL?!?
Yao has two of the fastest guards in the NBA...hmm ok and so does Shaq in Kobe Bryant...your point???
phil the thrill
Wednesday, January 08, 2003 at 17:36:09 (PST)
[172.150.82.99]
TO only 13 and 8. BIGDEAL?!?,
How can Yao score more if he's only getting 8 shots a game. Do the math, Einstein.
When Iverson makes 10 of 29 shots, of course he gets at least 20 points.
When Yao makes 5 of 8 shots, he can only get 10 points!
The best way to sum it up is what I heard one of the telecasters say during a Rockets game. He said "Why don't they pass Yao the ball? They've got a Kareem in the post, but they're taking ill-advised jumpshots and three pointers."
Yao fan
Wednesday, January 08, 2003 at 10:01:13 (PST)
[172.157.3.176]
only 13 and 8. BIGDEAL?!?,
"They...(Yao's performance) seem great now because the center spot is so weak"
Okay let me get this straight you are shifting the argument to Yao is an average player, and the whole NBA sucks now, that is why Yao seems good.
Okay loser. Noticing how little ground is under your feet at this time.
Don't worry I have faith the Rockets will find a way around the recent trick defenses teams are using against Yao.
AC Dropout
Wednesday, January 08, 2003 at 09:59:31 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
only 13 and 8. BIGDEAL?!?
There are no true centers today..... ONLY Shaq and why? The guy dominate because he is buff, otherwise his is just shawn Bradly. Did I also tell you that they clog-up the paint in today's play. That is why centers are less pivotal now. Shaq only over come this by his size, other-wise he is just as useless. And for Yao's 13 and 8, reason for his 13 is because he never gets many free throw attempts. Look at all his games, he only gets about 4 free throw while other player get like 12-15. Kevin Garnett for example did good in his offense because he is 6-18, that is 33%. Not great at all but he capitalize his point mostly on free throws, he's 12-14. That gave him a total of 25 pts because of one three point shoots. Is his number good, NOT AT ALL. I tell you, many great player capitalize on free throws, but Yao didn't. If he does, watch out cause he is going to break records.
lokiloki
Wednesday, January 08, 2003 at 08:27:40 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
only 13 and 8. BIGDEAL?!?,
So I guess you know more about Basketball then Isiah Thomas, Bill Walton and all numerous of other reputable sports figures that say Yao Ming is extremely talented and will dominate the NBA?
Do I sense some jealously?
By the way, can you score 13pts in an NBA game? Didnt think so, I bet you couldnt even score against my momma you computer nerd.
stophating
Wednesday, January 08, 2003 at 07:59:01 (PST)
[64.236.245.243]
"doesn't have a movie like Shaq or Jordon" doesn't have a movie YET. ahahahah. Personally I doubted Yao. He seemed like everything I expected him to be in the beginning. Then he got Barkley to kiss ass. I see him as the next big thing now. Give him about 2-3 years to get his point average up.
IvaznGTS
Tuesday, January 07, 2003 at 15:10:05 (PST)
[67.118.253.100]
Yao's da man! Great skill and agility on the court! Just because Yao Ming doesn't have a TV ad (like Shaq), doesn't mean he's not a great basketball player.
....and yes, he WILL be the next Asian superstar in the NBA!!!!
Pake_Boy
Tuesday, January 07, 2003 at 14:04:35 (PST)
[64.75.151.88]
Yao has no power game. He gets shut out when opposing team front him. Give him a minor double team, and he disappears. He's just not supersta material. Why is he getting points? Simple, he has 2 of the quickest guards in the league. They draw away so much attention that Yao is just having it too easy. If yao was on another team with lesser talent, a lot of defensive focus would be on yao and he would simply get buried every night. Yao is unable to contirbute anything when the other team makes him work for it. That's why he's still so weak in the eyes of so many true superstars. You look at shaq, and he was triple teamed since his rookie year. He beat out Ewing because he earned it. What were Shaq's rookie numbers? Outstanding. They were better than Eqing's. Shaq earned his votes. But Yao? His numbers suck. 13 and 8 are like 2nd to 3rd rate type center numbers. They seem great now because the center spot is so weak, but overall, Yao is not really that impressive compared to any of the historical greats. Yao is just lucky to be playing in a very weak period where strong centers are rare. But still, Shaq is the beast in the west. In comparison, yao's only a kitten, or a cardboard. If you know anything about the game, which some of you obviously don't, then you would not be so upset when someone points these facts out.
only 13 and 8. BIGDEAL?!?
Tuesday, January 07, 2003 at 11:41:29 (PST)
[63.161.167.211]
Here's some interesting tid bits.
Yao video game is expected out end of 2003 by a company called Surrent. So you to can play like Yao...
Yao has refused sponsorship deals from Nike, Reebok, and Adidas. So what sneakers are his fans suppose to wear....
AC Dropout
Tuesday, January 07, 2003 at 10:11:06 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
Yao is not only liked for his skills, but his attitiude.
We have an NBA where players have gotten into brawls, been suspended for smoking drugs, been arrested for weapons possessions, and drunk driving. The game is filled with greedy, selfish ballhogs who only care about dunking and dollars.
Yao on the other hand is the quiet humble player who understands the fundamentals of the game, who has endeared himself to the media and fans alike.
Yao
Tuesday, January 07, 2003 at 08:22:30 (PST)
[172.148.85.217]
People who think Yao isn't ready to play more minute or get more touch is just wrong. If they think that Yao only play against inferior competitor in his life-time is bunk. This is just ignorants, if they kept thinking this way then Yao will not win Rookie of the Years award. Other players that just came out of high school basketball are getting more minutes and touches. Is one reason why they have an advantage in them get the Rookies award. Rudy-T sucks, he praised Yao and still aren't confident in him in getting more touch and minutes while other coaches of other rookies are getting more touch and minutes. And some of them are high-school ballers too. Just mess-up....
Why is it that coaches of other rookie gives other player more minutes and touches when players never play pro-basketball before.... o0o is it because their black? Why not Yao be respect as a player as he is number one-pick, be given more touch and minutes... is it because he chinese and they never seen chinese people play good basketball? I don't know...
Counter Puncher,
Now you see why Korean athlete never made it here cause it has touble with U.S. Here is the proof as you see them on the news.....
U.S might go to war with north korea. If U.S does goes to war with North Korea, who you think will aid them? An embarssment to all asians for what your country did and how american people see us as villian. Did you know that U.S gives about 600 million food aids to North Korean over a ten years span. point is.........Korea has touble with U.S it is why their athlete never made it here.
ABC
Tuesday, January 07, 2003 at 08:10:22 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
It's very apparent that Yao is well liked by both the Asian and white fans in China as well as the USA.
This is evident in that the NBA paper balloting (mainly filled out by white spectators and fans) also vote overwhelmingly for Yao.
I know some white NBA fans are fed up with black players arrogance and off court behavior. That is why they see Yao as a semi "great white hope."
For one thing, I know that Yao is adored by quite a few white girl fans. You see how they jump and cheer for him at the Rockets home games.
Hopefully, this will usher in something new for us young Asian men in the USA as well as abroad.
Asian basketball
Tuesday, January 07, 2003 at 03:42:06 (PST)
[64.130.235.33]
Doubters,
Yao Ming will shut you up in time.
S.A.M.
Monday, January 06, 2003 at 22:37:44 (PST)
[204.30.143.161]
Counter Puncher
----If Yao garners most votes for the all star game he should show some class and let Shaq start.----------
Nah, I don't think so, that's not how the NBA works. We have to go by NBA rules and allow player who has the most votes to play in all-star. If we were to agree with you then the NBA will not be base on fans vote. And Fan will be really really mad. Probabaly there wouldn't be any fans either. Now, we don't want that to happen, now do we?
---Imagine all the positive press he would get for that.-------
Positive press? Are you kidding me. It's more like quiting and letting his fans down. Yao's fan want him to play... and so he should. This will be enjoyable to watch by his fans that voted him.
-------------All star voting is nothing but a popularity contest. I think there are alot of anti Shaq voters voting for Yao. I not a fan of Shaq either but reality is Shaq is waaayyy better than Yao.-------
Not true at all. So do you mean Kobe, Iverson sucks and are only popular, is why they gets the votes? It has to do with skill and also having many fans too. Following your logic is no logic. The reason why Yao was chosen is because his fans believed in him. They don't think it is a hype thing. They believe he has skills and will become better, that is why they chose him as the chosen one. I also don't think is anti-Shaq voting Yao. If so, then there must be a lot of Shaq haters out there. I just think Yao is the NEW, Shaq is the OLD and his fans are dying as well.
Kimchi
Monday, January 06, 2003 at 16:17:13 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
It's a pity Yao doesn't play for a team like the NY Knicks or the Denver Nuggets, where they desperately need scoring. On the Nuggets, Juwan Howard is the leading scorer at 16 points a game! The Knicks center Kurt Thomas is averaging 14 a game. Now I know Yao is better than these two. If Yao played on these teams, he'd score a lot more.
But it's not all about the points anyway. The starting center for the East will be Ben Wallace, who is averaging 7 POINTS a game.
nyasian
Monday, January 06, 2003 at 15:06:04 (PST)
[172.142.198.76]
Yao is gonna be an All-Star because he is new. We should all accept this.
When Shaq came in the league, he beat Patrick Ewing for the All-Star game. Ewing was an All-Star for years averaging 20pt and 10rb his whole career, yet a fresh rookie named Shaq won out.
While it is true Yao does not have as good as numbers as Shaq, Yao is not the go-to guy on the Rockets. With the small number of shots Yao gets, even if he shot 100% from the field, he could only average 20 a game.
The truth is this:
Yao is the most skilled center in the NBA. He is no Shaq yet, but he is still more skilled.
Breaking it down
Monday, January 06, 2003 at 14:53:41 (PST)
[172.142.198.76]
Let's face it Yao is going to be in the all star game. Let's face it Yao can play basketball. Let's face it Yao is popular.
Anti-Yao people have almost no ground to stand on.
Next thing they will be saying is Yao sucks cause he doesn't have a rap CD like Shaq; or doesn't have a movie like Shaq or Jordon.
AC Dropout
Monday, January 06, 2003 at 12:09:34 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
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