Rooting for Asian vs. U.S. Teams | Asian American Poll

ROOTING FOR ASIAN VS. U.S. TEAMS
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:09:45 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

In contests between athletes from Asia and U.S. athletes, for whom do you root most often?
U.S. Athletes | 26%
Athletes from Asia | 48%
The underdog | 14%
Varies with event and nationality | 12%

What factor is most important in your desire to root for athletes from Asia?
Racial identification | 42%
Nationalistic Feelings | 7%
Scarcity of visible Asian figures in the U.S. | 51%

This poll is closed to new input.
Comments posted during the past year remain available for browsing.

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WHAT YOU SAY

[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]

Blacks are the best in sports, especially atheletics. Black Americans are the best in short-distance running, while the African brothers are good at long distance. The blacks are good at boxing and basketball as well. There are exceptions to this, for instance, Kris Yamasaki of Stanford who became the first Asian American to play for the US World University Basketball team. Man, is she good. Similarly, there is a great white basketball player by the name of Jennifer Azzi who also used to play for Stanford. But, these are exceptions. So, when it comes to sports involving sheer stamina and strength, and those that are played in the summer, blacks are the best. Germans could not even compete with us despite taking steroids.

So, my suggestion to the whites and Asians: Get over it!!

African American Wednesday, September 05, 2001 at 15:41:27 (PDT)

Would root for any team that is minority white. And would root for any minority athelete against whites. Thus, I proudly backed the US atheletes in Korea when the beat the crap out of the white steroid consuming German atheltes. Would love to see the Williams Sisters beat the crap out of all white females, American or otherwise. But, I would not root for the all-white American synchronized swimming team.
Asian American Male Wednesday, September 05, 2001 at 15:35:26 (PDT)

Very well said, The Truth!
Asian Dominatrix Monday, September 03, 2001 at 18:43:43 (PDT)

The reason why I cheer for the Chinese team is simple. If a mainly White/Black team beats a Chinese team, it would only maintain stereotypes that I face every day. But for example, if one day you see towering Chinese basketball players beat the Dream Team, then all the stereotypes that affect me on a daily basis are destroyed. A whole new world and image opens up for Asians.

The bottom line is, I don't root for America because I have NEVER been considered an American. Obviously, the greatest amount of racism I face is from my own "fellow countrymen", who can't even get past the fact that I'm Asian and the stereotypes that go with it, and treat me like a regular human being or American. You White people can bash me all you want, but the fact is, that you KNOW NOTHING about what we go through. And in fact, I find your attitudes disgustingly patronizing, ignorant and the very reason why I don't root for White athletes.

What would those White American athletes think if I was cheering for them with an American flag? They'd thyink, "Look at that crazy Chink waving our flag!".
The Truth Saturday, September 01, 2001 at 09:22:51 (PDT)

disputatio,

Finally, a Black man that understands. Thank you.
AM Saturday, September 01, 2001 at 09:17:52 (PDT)

i don't know...maybe if i was Asian, i would root for the Asian athletes over the American athletes too. But since i am black, i don't usually have to face this dilemma. The visibility of blacks in the Olympics (at least the Summer Olympics) is overwhelming. It is guaranteed that American blacks will come away from the Olympics with medals. So my hope that any notions of black inferiority will be squashed is a sure thing. My feelings of racial pride will be satisfied by American blacks; so there is no temptation to root for some random African. But it is not as certain that American-born Asian athletes will do the same (in part b/c there are so few) for American born asians. So it is understandable that American-born Asians are forced to look to athletes from Asian countries for vindication from self-limiting stereotyes and cultural pride.

But this dilemma could be solved if more American Asians infiltrate the American teams and become athletes. Are there any hopes of this happening?

disputatio - 24 yr old BM Tuesday, August 28, 2001 at 10:07:59 (PDT)

I personally like to cheer for underdog in most cases. I think that explains why some of us asian americans tend to cheer for asian teams, even against US teams. We simply tend to root for the underdog, especially if we have much in common with the underdog. It's human nature not just an Asian tendency.

If a Chinese team was the overwhelming favorite against US team for example, I would likely cheer for the US team. But such is not the case, at least not yet, for the sports that i like.
I dont like the term FOB Wednesday, August 22, 2001 at 21:11:27 (PDT)

Kristy Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan and Michael Chang are all American athletes. You want to see national pride? Go to an Olympic event this winter and see how the American crowd roots for Michelle Kwan as she finally wins that gold medal.

Malpaso Malpaso99@aol.com Wednesday, August 22, 2001 at 09:47:25 (PDT)

sorry i always cheer for asian first. i don't know why. I shouldn't have, but somehow i always want asian people beat up other people.
junkie Wednesday, August 15, 2001 at 14:33:42 (PDT)

Peeps, take it easy now, ok? Olympic games is not a war nor it is about vicious rivalry between nations. Its a goodwill international olympic games. it doesn't matter who you cheered for...US team , Asian team, European, African or LAtin American. its all good.
i cheered for many nations during the olympic games. its good when its harmonious...and it gets ugly when people get into hate and prejudice. Think about it.
a good fob Andys1123@aol.com Tuesday, August 14, 2001 at 16:17:27 (PDT)

99.999% of white people cheer for America first, regardless of the ethnicity of the athletes.

If you are one of the silly few who thinks white Americans cheer for white European teams over black American teams, you are dead wrong and you have no idea what you're talking about!

White Americans will cheer for an all-black American team over some European team, anyday. White Americans always cheer for America first, and it doesn't matter if the American athletes participating are black, white, brown, yellow, red, etc.

On the other hand, it is both disgusting and racist when Asian Americans cheer for Asian teams to beat American teams.

If you are living in America and are an American citizen, you should cheer for America first, because America is your country.
Peacelover Monday, August 06, 2001 at 00:13:49 (PDT)

I think it's absolutely disgusting that any of you would even consider rooting for anyone other than America. I really don't care where your ancestors are from. You and your children and their children's children are Americans. End of discussion.
Kor-Am 25
Thank you Saturday, August 04, 2001 at 17:01:55 (PDT)

re: Go team Go (july 12th)
I speak as a Japanese, so no offense to American people, but anybody who is an Asian American you are a punk bitch. Why can't you be "American" because your white friends wont LET YOU!!!!! You will forever have an attachment to your nationality to separate yourself. Why do you cheer for European Basketball teams? What for? European teams can NEVER beat American BLACK Basketball team. In Japan, we knew that and even we wrote about it in the newspapers and magazines. China and Korea too, but I guess since you are ASIAN-AMERICAN, you probably can't read the words of your "ancestors" (since you know English so well )
I'm sorry because I know I might have offended other Americans of Asian ancestry, but you are the type I dislike. Even if you are a "japanese "American, your type of people never think of yourselves as Japanese because you want to be American White but REAL Japanese (or Asian) people think you are ASIAN!! (Just like American White people) you don't want them to be nice to you because you don't want any part of them. But I WON'T. I can kick your ass because I KNOW you are WEAK.
So, just stay in the middle because I know over there you don't count.
Respect your culture!! BITCH. ]
And don't hate Black people because they are good at Basketball. You and your white friends will always be sad because they WILL NEVER LOSE!
PS: If you want to know more about truth and reality you can e-mail me. I'll even give you my address in Osaka,Japan you can come here and let me whip your ass.
Princess of Country hisato@classified.co.jp Saturday, August 04, 2001 at 06:26:45 (PDT)

I'm from Japan. I get mad at Japanese people because they only cheer for Japanese people not because he is good or bad! If the athlete is weak, they condemn him and disregard his/her effort. When "Sakuraba" was weak, nobody even cared, but now he is the strongest fighter in Japan and everybody likes him.
Princess of Country Saturday, August 04, 2001 at 06:05:08 (PDT)

soccer fans circle december 9 on the calendar. Korea and the u.s. will square off in a soccer match in Korea. both teams play a similar style and are even in talent. not being much of a soccer fan myself, i always root for the team on attack (i wanna see some goals dammit).

anyhow, i think black americans would find it easier to root for American teams because blacks have good representation on many of the teams. i would think it's easier to root for Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley rather than some Angolan. likewise, if an all-white U.S. equestrian team faced Nigeria, i think many blacks wouldn't be as confident in choosing one side over the other. no? lubricant Wednesday, July 25, 2001 at 08:07:03 (PDT)

Girlie white trash:
Are you ASSUMING i'M ASIAN???
Nooooo... I'm Asian American.
You're a good reason why incest is illegal! LOL!
Don't shit on me, you know its true, I have white friends who gladly root for mostly or all white European teams over our mostly black Olympic basketball team. LOL!
go team go Thursday, July 12, 2001 at 19:22:35 (PDT)

China was one of the leading medal contenders (third only to Russia and the US). Considering China only entered the olympics in 1984, I hardly think it's ass was whooped in the olympics.
observing person Sunday, July 08, 2001 at 15:04:30 (PDT)

Hey I vote for Asia cause I fear that if I vote for America I would get beat.

Bruce Lee taught Westerners kung fu so he was challenged in many fights by other Asians who say he broken the code of only Asians may learn kung fu.

So Bruce Lee, which is one of the best jung fu master (actually the best in modern times) died and the rumors in the far east say that he had been killed by jung fu styles using the one hit kill techniques. Trust me...I'm from SE Asia near Vietnam and we practice alot of spiritism...some forms of kung fu are based upon it.
Not even Bruce Lee could touch kung fu that are supported by evil spirits.
To learn more: alter7nate@hotmail.com
Alternative alter7nate@hotmail.com Friday, July 06, 2001 at 19:00:56 (PDT)

Go Team Go: you racist piece of filth.

I love how you think you can "read" the white American mind.
No, actually I was rooting for the Chinese in one Olympic basketball game, because they played the most fairly and they were the underdogs. However, I proudly cheered on MANY black American athletes in the Sydney Olympics. Whatsa matter? Jealous because our Black, Asian, and White athletes whipped your ass?
Girlie Love Sunday, July 01, 2001 at 12:12:58 (PDT)

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