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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Yao Ming: The Next Asian Superstar?
(Updated
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025, 04:38:56 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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I have to say that I really really admire this kid. Can you imagine it? In an alien environment, his life under a microscope and such enormous pressure to perform at his best. He must be missing his Chinese teammates like hell, not to mention his freedom to just go out and ride on his bike. He is literally a prisoner here because he can't go out without getting recognised. Sometimes I can see it in that 'little boy lost' look he has on the court. I think he yearns to be accepted as one of the boys but it will take him a while as he is so much different from the rest. I don't think he is doing this for money or fame. He has admitted that he doesn't like the publicity and attention. I don't think he is trying to be the greatest center in NBA history or that he is trying to alter the game. I think all he wants is to play the game he loves and to be given the space to grow and be the best he can be. He is still very young but he is forced to leave his youth behind to be the symbol of Asian pride. Not just the millions of Chinese in China but quite a lot of Asians is looking up to him as well. I just hope he can cope, although he is managing quite well at the moment. I also hope that he will get out of this rookie wall he seems to be hitting at the moment.
Best wishes to Yao Ming
Monday, January 20, 2003 at 02:52:45 (PST)
[203.103.159.5]
B Lee,
The highschool player for S. Korea is 7'1", not 7'3". But who knows... I think he just turned 18 so he may have an inch or two left in him. Not sure about his skill level though - it's probably mediocre, since the basketball program in Korea isn't as heavily funded or nurtured as China's, because raising basketball stars isn't a matter of national pride in Korea like it is for China.
And as for the future Chinese centers, I hope none grow up to be 8 feet tall! That is just unhealthy, becuase the human skeleton just hasn't evolved to accomodate such stressed produced by such large bodies. They will probably turn out sickly if they get tall. Granted Yao Ming is freakishly tall - he is indeed a genetic freak -- he has unhealthily large proportions, but his skeletal system is robust enough to accomodate his body size. The most encouraging thing is that he has ample space for muscular growth, as you can see when he is on TV. Unless the 7-8 centers end up being as robust as Yao, we don't need any Asian Manute Bols.
About 7'1" - 7'6" centers would be ample height for the newbreed Chinese centers, though personally I want to see some guards enter the NBA. They might not make an immediate impact since competition at the 1 and 2 spot is very stiff, but just having some Asian players at that level will show that Asians can compete at any position in basketball, not just those that require size.
Asian Ball
Sunday, January 19, 2003 at 22:52:10 (PST)
[172.140.95.219]
To "Where was Yao after 3min?":
You're an ignorant loudmouth who doesn't really know basketball.
Even my wife could see that Yao effectively contained O'Neal. I think she has more basketball knowledge than you do.
Fact: Yao handled O'Neal better than any other center in the NBA today.
Fact: Nobody ever blocked O'Neal like Yao did. Conversely, O'Neal was not able to block Yao.
Fact: Yao had a sprained finger that threw off his shooting touch. If that little accident didn't happen, we would most likely see more of the first three minutes the entire first half.
Fact: You are a moron.
In your face
Sunday, January 19, 2003 at 22:47:11 (PST)
[67.113.196.39]
After seeing Yao Ming play on tv several times, my opinion of his playing skills and on court presence is that he's the Chinese David Robinson. The Admiral was another over-sevenfooter with a sweet shot and great defensive presence...they're also both criticized for lack of physical play...So a safe prediction for Yao's career would probably be somewhat like Robinsons-a Hall of Famer with several MVP type seasons, but not in the category of Wilt or Shaq.
Thomas
Sunday, January 19, 2003 at 18:57:18 (PST)
[129.81.147.133]
Just want to say, to the disappointed guy,certain # of designed plays are called for everybody so every player is involved. After Yao took his called plays he backed off to let others shoot. The team is not revolved around Yao YET (like lakers are around Shaq feeding him ball constantly). But next time around Yao is sure to have better shooting touch.
No one has a better turn-around, fade-away jumper than Yao. That is what differentiates between the skilled Yao and no-skill beast Shaq!
To the guy lamenting Wang and Menk, I'm hoping there is a campaign to have Rockets sign Wang and Menk as Yao's power forwards. (The new Chinese players coming in will be picked by other teams for sure).
This is what Houston Rockets needs to be a dominating championship contender!
skillvsbeast
Sunday, January 19, 2003 at 18:51:01 (PST)
[140.209.34.20]
Just want to say, to the disappointed guy, certain # of designed plays are called for everybody so every player is involved. After Yao took his called plays he backed off to let others shoot. The team is not revolved around Yao YET (like lakers are around Shaq feeding him ball constantly). But next time around Yao is sure to have better shooting touch.
No one has a better turn-around, fade-away jumper than Yao. That is what differentiates between the skilled Yao and no-skill beast Shaq!
To the guy lamenting Wang and Menk, I'm hoping there is a campaign to have Rockets sign Wang and Menk as Yao's power forwards. (The new Chinese players coming in will be picked by other teams for sure).
This is what Houston Rockets needs to be a dominating championship contender!
skillvsbeast
Sunday, January 19, 2003 at 18:47:52 (PST)
[140.209.34.20]
Everyone,
Sure, Horry dunked on Yao. It was only because he was delayed in getting his position. Size does matter in the NBA.
That is why Shaq has dominated everyone. No on had ever been stronger and dominant as he was. As stated by many NBA analysts, the only way to stop Shaq is to keep a lengthy figure with skill on his face because if he gets inside, that is it and he will dunk on any one no matter how tall he is.
Oh yeah, about Mengke Bateer and Wang. They will everntual get plenty of more opportunities to succeed. As some of you know, the Clippers have almost all of their starters and some Bench guys on the Free-agent list next year. That is a bad situation to be in because these guys are demanding too much money and it is likely, as expected, that Olowakandi, Elton Brand, Quentin Richardson, Miller, Maggette, Rooks, and others are going to end up in other teams next year. These guys are too expensive and they are not getting any results. They are currently last in the bottom in the pacific and have no hopes in reaching the tight Western Conference because of skilled teams.
They are not really expecting to sign big names; they are trying to save money, thus they are going to get some players who couldn't shoot but could defend and some players that couldn't defend and some that can just shoot.
"Wang is a guy who has range," the Clippers would say. He is an underrated defender either. His rebounding skills are questionable because he is not the aggressive kind of player. And some people would say that he is not a guy who could play center effectively, but would make an excellent small/power forward considering that he has good shooting skills and can shoot over most of his competitors.
Wang signed a 6 million dollar 3-year contract and he is not going anywhere for at least 3 more years and is likely going to become an American like Olajuwan. It is natural for the Clippers to play most of their starters because their starters are not going to be there next year. If they get hurt, they wouldn't care. Wang will get his chance next year because the Clippers will lack good players and the new ones will be cheaper. That's probably what the Clippers meant when they promised Wang alot of playing time and why he signed with them. Back in the Mavericks, there are just too many talents. Expect him to try to prove himself next year with less talented and cheaper teammates.
Meanwhile, Bateer is in the same situation. As you all know, David Robinson is retiring next year. If the Spurs do not sign a free agent next year like Olowakandi, it is likely that Mengke will have his chance to prove himself in the court. The other upside to Mengke's situation is that Willis, the backup center is 40 years old and he will not have the same performaces as he used to. Mengke was signed as a third string after Willis and Robinson, and if these guys are not going to be there next year, and that the Spurs do not get a free agent Center, it is even possible for Mengke to start some games
if Malik and Willis get hurt.
To say that Wang and Mengke are not going to play alot more in the future is false. It is only those who do not know the situation of their franchise that do.
In the duration of this events, rising stars are making a huge wave of scouts ingress in the country of China and other Asian countries searching for the next Yao Ming, thus this makes China and other countries take their basketball more seriously. They feed them with plenty of meat and milk to insure that they get the best nourishment as possible in addition of their tall parents in which they searched and reviewed to see how tall they were. Tall parent's= tall babies+ better nourishment= taller babies.
I would have to agree that because of this, it is likely that there might be 8 footers pretty soon in the NBA. As mentioned by another, there are already 12-year-old 7 footers in certain isolated parts of China. These are the parts that the NBA is concentrated in.
Each Asian part is different and there are parts in Asia that Asians grow tall and these parts are usually the North because they happen to eat alot of meat and wheat. The thing is that China is poor, but regardless it is dedicated to raising athletes. There has even been controversary that the Chinese government encourages tall girls to marry tall boys, but that is false. They just let things go by the flow of nature. And if by an instance that a tall man marries a tall woman, they are likely to raise the male child, if they have a boy, to a sports program.
All I ate was rice and fish and that basically says everything about my diet. But I did eat more than my brothers and parents did when I was young because I was raised in America.
I tell you. They fed me fish, vegetables, and rice more because they expected me to. I grew up to 5'8, which is 3 inches taller than my brothers and 5 inches taller than our father and I'm the youngest, but if I had eaten more meat and other essential foods I probably would have been 6 foot. And I'm skinny, just about 130 pounds. My bones did not develop as it could have if I ate more essential foods. As a result, my bones did not develop in the earliest and most crucial part of my life that would have given more results.
This is the same with other Asian kids all over the world. They do not only have to contend with starvation due to poverty, but also the lack of nutrients
from the food that they eat.
But in America, Asian-American kids have more opportunites, which is why the Asian-American population is among those showing the fastest signs of growth over the last generation while the Whites and Blacks have somehow remained stagnant. This can be argued though. Some scientists claim that this is just a sign that Whites and Blacks have reached the limits of the average height that the human body could handle.
For example: Taller people above 6'7 or above experience more back, leg, knee, and neck problems than the average person later in life. This is true and is not meant to torment the relatively taller person, but it is. Researchers say that too much lenght in the average person's body creates too much stress in the bones, which is why they are on average less mobile than the average person. When I say by average is 5'9-5'10. When I say relatively taller than the average person is a person who is 6'7- 6'-8.
Some scientists claim that it's just Asian-American kids and Asian kids everywhere eating more American-like foods and that is why more Asian athletes are somehow emerging; they are catching up.
People will argue this, but according to studies done by scientists and other researchers, it is, on average very much true.
Basketball Man
Sunday, January 19, 2003 at 12:29:38 (PST)
[68.96.110.86]
Where was Yao after 3min?
Shaq must have been really embaress with Yao blocking him 3 times in the fist 3 minutes. When Yao block Shaq, Shaq didn't know what hit him. He's like, "hmm, what's happening here". Then later he got a little smarter. But still Yao later in the game block another 2 of his shots, Yao ain't bad.
Yao already has the skilled and size that no big man his size has.
All he needs to do is have a better shooting percentage as he did in his previous team. He also need to get stronger on his upper body. Yao also needs to have better chemistry with his team-mate. All this will come with time, and when it does. He will become a factor. He has a CHANCE to even change the game and be the most dominate center.
lokiloki
Sunday, January 19, 2003 at 11:29:49 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
------Yao shooting 35% is not that efficient, especially being 7-5. He should try to take better shots and avoid the stupid fadeaway. He's too tall for it, and it's not even effective for him. He just needs to learn to take it up strong instead of backing down from competition.---------
Your don't know what your talking about. This was the purpose, he was suppose to make fade a way jump shots. So Shaq could be away from the basket. And Steve Francis was suppose to run up and make an easy lay up. That was the play. He, right now can't take it up strong against Shaq. He's not ready for it, maybe next year. Rocket now want him to gain weight by having Yao eat high calories food.
He didn't back away from a competition. Everyone gives him the credit that he did a very good job on his first match up against Shaq. The fade away ain't stupid, the only one stupid is YOU. His fade away are unblockable. That's what they like about him. Lately he didn't do a good with his shooting. But I think soon his shooting ability will come back. He is a good shooter, from his past games he shot 70%. I think he just need to adapt to the NBA. Once that happens and when he feels more comfortable, he should have his shots back.
KFC
Sunday, January 19, 2003 at 09:39:22 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
Where was Yao after 3min?,
"His (Yao ming) offense was limited and stopped by the Shaq diesel train."
What? Shaq had no blocks in the games. His only defense was to smack Francis to the ground, for a flagrant foul, 3 point action.
"Shaq got a couple mean nasty rim shattering jams on ming though."
Only in overtime though, very late and very behind in the game. Yao basically let him pass, knowing not to get into foul trouble, or letting him get possible 3 point action. Actually the second drive from the right side by Shaq was an offensive foul, cause he started the drive with an obvious forearm push. But you know late in the game refs only care about momentum and not about technical issues.
"Yao shooting 35% is not that efficient, especially being 7-5"
What are you talking about. Yao was doubled and tripled teamed when he got possession. Rockets usually let Yao take Shaq all by himself. Notice Yao was usually behind in coming to the offensive side to help set up beautiful screens (I've never seen an asian male cup himself in public so much). Notice Yao was usually one of the first to defensive end to slow down Shaq.
Rockets offense that night was to take advantage of the Lakers "trick" defense on Yao and let Francis score his 44 points.
Notice how fustrated Shaq got against Francis and flagrant fouled him in the end of game. Or how Shaq forgot about Yao for in OT to go after Francis, which lead to the beautiful jump pass and finishing dunk by Yao. Rockets played beautiful strategy on the Lakers all night long.
Sorry NBA is not 1-on-1 action. It's 5-on-5. Are you the same idiot that bought the Ewing vs. Jordon hype a few years back.
AC Dropout
Sunday, January 19, 2003 at 09:31:49 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
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