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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Yao Ming: The Next Asian Superstar?
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:50:33 PM)
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.]
Where was yao?
All I gotta say to you is, Yao held his ground. He's got strong legs.
nobil
Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 06:05:32 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
Post Intelligent Comment,
Fact: Yes, Fish has alot of protein, but lacks other nutrients that are essential as well. Fish does not have alot fat.
There are alot of kinds of proteins you fool.
Here's to name a few.
These are called Amino acids:
Leucine, Isoleucine, Valine, Lysine, Theorine, Methionine, Pehylaline, Trytophan.
Arginine, Cystine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Histidine, Proline, Serine, Tyrosine.
While Fish has alot of protein, it does not contain alot of these essential Amino acids and many nutrients that aid it.
There are many kinds of proteins, you fool. Know your facts before you talk smack. Proteins need the help of other nutrients to aid them for proper growth.
Meat however has almost all of these combined.
These are also the protein pills that American Basketball coaches encourage or command their players to take. And as you can see, Body Builders as well. My 7 foot classmate who plays basketball in College swallows alot of those.
TO GAIN WEIGHT, these amino acids need the help of high calorie diets!!!!
That means not vegetables and fish....
Why do body builders and weight lifters eat alot of meat and drink alot of amino acids? It's because they work together. You are an idiot!!!!!!
Why is Rudy Tomjanovich making Yao eat high calorie foods like American food? It's because his body needs to gain weight first before he can develop more muscles.
Explain this: Why are Northern Asians by average 3-4 inches taller than Southern Asians? It's because the only things that they eat maybe wheat or meat because the weather is colder. That's with the lack of food too. Rice do not grow in the North.
I have some Northern Chinese friends and Southern Chinese friends and the Northern ones are at least 5-6 inches taller. You will not in your lifetime, as an African-American see many Northern Asians in America; most of Asian-Americans are of Southern Asian decent and lifestyle. Most Chinese who immigrated were of Southern decent.The next time you see an Asian who is above 6-5, he is definitely on average going to be from the North.
A Chinese friend of mine actually went to some of these quite unknown Northern provinces. It is true. He witnessed for himself 7 foot teenagers and men a couple of years back.
Yao Ming, Wang, Mengke, the Korean Kid, 7'10 Michael Ri and other prospects coming their way.
I don't even want to mention the Mongolians. Go there, and you will see that these guys are big and thick.
Oh, Yeah Mengke Bateer is the heaviest(by height standards) and strongest among these men. How did he get so big and strong? By eating alot more meat his entire life; he was raised like that because he's Mongolian, an uppermost Northern Asian.
Many NBA players would admit, and someone did, that Mengke and Shaq are the only guys that they could not hold their post against with. Skillwise, of course Shaq is better!
Oh, what a coincidence. These men are all Northern Asians.
You ignore other factors that the human body needs for proper development.
Why don't you take a biology class?
Or a history class to see for yourself.
Not just long ago Europeans were on average 5'3. Why are Black people in Africa shorter than African-Americans?
I have alot of African friends and I towered next to them. African-Americans have better nutrition and more access to meat. Meat over there are expensive to them, but once again they have been eating meat their entire history as mostly a hunter and gatherer society. But Africa is also a third world country, which is why African-Americans were able to rapidly grow faster.
Also study the Cultural Geography of each nation.
You've got alot to learn, kid.
You are so ignorant that I am not going to waste my time next time.
Give it up, kid!
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 21:19:14 (PST)
[68.96.110.86]
where was yao?
All I gotta say is give Yao time to adjust to the NBA, culture, language, and his team-mates. And wait for him to get stronger as his body builts up, he will be a killer. lol, hahahahaha.
JC
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 20:38:24 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
Actually, for the people debating about fish and meat and diet vs. genetics for growth, whatever, one convincing study I read detailed WHEAT as a strong influence in determining height.
For example, Northern China vs. Southern: Northerners are significantly taller, and subsist on more wheat noodles than the shorter rice-dieting Southerners.
Asian Basketball in Yao!
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 20:04:30 (PST)
[134.173.88.81]
to: where was Yao?
If the refs didn't blow the out of bounds call off of laker with few seconds to go, Rockets would have won without overtime, and shaq would have only had 19 points with no blocks!!! With 10 points over Cato!!!! Which means shaq only had 9 points over Yao, one less than Yao has over shaq!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
END OF DOMINENCE ARGUMENT ONCE AND FOR ALL-
You can teach a 800 pound gorilla to do what shaq does, put the ball down the basket from 0" away with brute force that can't be stopped by any human, including shaq.
But you can't teach the gorilla what Yao does, shoot the ball skillfully and gracefully.
you and shaq like,and are, bestial. Yao is skillful.
If there weren't special treatment for your kind and blacks, there would be none of you in colleges and universities!
Yao is everywhere!
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 19:38:19 (PST)
[160.94.237.240]
where was yao?
Do you know how to read the news? I don't think you do. well most of the paper said Yao was a sucess against his first meeting with Shaq. Did that threaten you? If it does then let me repeat, Yao did good against Shaq. Every time Yao did good, you always seem to get threaten. From the very beginning when this topic was discussed. Do you also get threaten when China does good too?
--------Eddie Griffin blocked O'Neal plenty of times before. Bradley has blocked Shaq many times before. Jamaal Magloire rejected Shaq's shot big time only a couple days ago. Shaq is nowhere in shape, and yao, being 7-5, blocking shaq is no big deal.--------
dummy, if Yao block Shaq is no big deal. Then Shaq dunking on Yao is also no big deal, cause he does that with strength and that is all. And he does that to all the center so doing it to Yao is no big deal.
---But skillwise and strength, yao is nowhere close. -----
lol, hahahaha. This is funny. Off course he did meet Shaq stats. Shaq is a senior in the game. He's 30 with 11 year experienced so what makes you think Yao can match up to Shaq
LoL, your one delusional idiot. Did you worship Shaq, well that's good. You can't worship him any longer cause he soon will be out of the league. The american mainstream worship Yao more than Shaq.
Truth is Yao got more skill then Shaq. LOL,
--Pay attention to the game instead of cheering mindlessly. You might learn something.----
lol, hahaha. Are you talking about yourself.
-----Players play with pain. Whiners complain. Stop being a whiner. You are probably one of those weak kids that call phantom fouls when your shot gets rejected to the other side of the court.---------
hahah. Yup, talking about yourself. The proof is on top.
Everybody,
This guy is a troll, did likes to get on your nerves. This is his purpose, but his goal in doing this is not useful at all. So, I ask him to keep trying. hahhahahahahah
Nokia
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 19:01:00 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
all chinese or asian,
This is a guy who doesn't want to see Yao dominate Shaq or the center position. And when Yao does he makes every excuse to talk trash about him. He lives in fear, the only thing is that the mainstream american want to see Yao play good and dominate the center position. That is why Yao has more votes.
Nada
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 18:36:27 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
AC high school dropout,
"Notice how fustrated Shaq got against Francis and flagrant fouled him in the end of game. "
Your observation of the game is pretty awful because there was definitely no flagrant foul. Even the league came out to admit that it was a bad call. They only showed the replays 4 times during the game. I guess maybe some people are just slower than others to catch on to the obvious. Too bad that they don't enforce IQ tests here, or else you wouldn't even be posting and I wouldn't have to explain these simple things to you.
http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0121/1496366.html
You are wrong
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 18:34:13 (PST)
[63.161.167.211]
where was yao?
Let me make it simple for you so you can understand. You seem to have a hard time understanding people's message. So as simple as I can make it, here goes. Four words.
Yao blocked Shaq, 5 times.
Anonymous
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 18:28:33 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
D-boy,
I'll be looking forward to seeing him. But the korean government has to have no problem with the U.S for that to happen. We'll see.
juju
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 18:19:33 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
Big Dave that lunatic, aka where was Yao is a troll. He has not one thing good to say about Yao. I think he forgot to mention Yao's 5 block against Shaq instead he brought up Shaq's two dunks on Yao.
oka
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 18:15:00 (PST)
[24.239.152.113]
where was yao?
This is written for you buddy. Shaq sucks, I don't care how you put it but he really sucks. He is not crafty, all he does is his dunk. Without it, he can't survive in the NBA. If he doesn't come strong and dunk the ball, he will get 80% of his shots blocked.
All Shaq has is power and dunking skills. He just bump's his opponent's out of the way and does his dunk or hook shot. However his hook shot is not as effective as his dunk.
If You have a guy with Shaq's strength and Yao's skill. Shaq is nada, he will score below ten points every night. The guy is fat and slow. He can't jump very high either. Shaq's weight is against him, and he is too heavy for the NBA.
Here is my post to you for you trash talk. These are fact as we have already seen.
NoJo
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 14:57:56 (PST)
[198.105.45.18]
where was yao?
You don't know what your talking about. Yao has been playing all year long with no rest. Plus he has no training camp, has to adapt to the culture, language, and his team-mate. So far Yao is doing pretty good given those circumstance. No player in the NBA has done what he has done. And how he did against Shaq was good no matter how you put it.
I think you have a very low IQ on analyzing Yao's game. You just want to bring up lame reason to back yourself up. But it ain't working, everyone knows Yao did good.
-----------You obviously don't know much about basketball because that wasn't a flagrant foul. The ref's missed it. If Francis was fouled flagrantly by Shaq, he would not have gotten up. [bull shit, many player were foul by Shaq and got up]-----------
All I can say here is you're an idiot. What Shaq did to Francis in the end was a flagrant foul. It is because the ref say so, he don't lie about it. And when he say it is then it is. If this is not a flagrant foul then Yao's block on Horey in the end of the game shouldn't have been a foul either. Instead he would have total of 7 block.
---The fadeaway shot is one of the worst shots to take. Short guys may be forced to take it, but for a 7-5 guy to take them is ludicrous. The shot sets him off back, and he loses balance, and he doesn't get a good chance for an offensive rebound. Uhhmm... Hello! Common basketball sense. Any fundamental coach could tell you that, but i guess since your only experience in basketball is only a video game, you wouldn't have any idea. Ask questions if you are still lost on this concept.---
Are you a freaking retard? Look if you want everyone here to say that Yao can't beat Shaq physically then say it. But Yao is far more skilled than Shaq, everyone knows this. Rudy T knows this, I know this, the world knows this.
Rudy T want's big men, Yao to take fade away shots. Because he knows that Shaq will not be able to block it. Shaq can't block Yao's shot because he can't jump very high. Plus all his weight makes him slower than Yao, that is why Yao beat him to the rim for a lay-up.
Do you have problem reading KFC's post or do you need glasses? We know that Yao is suppose to play center position and Yao did, and he did well too. But the point Rudy T want Yao to do in his game against Shaq is to lure him out of the inside. And to do that, Yao takes outside shot that is unblockable. That way Shaq can come out and leaves the rim unguarded. Do you understand. I think my little brother understand's basketball concept better than you.
-----------"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." [Posted by AC Dropout]---------
---The facial jam was right in front of Ming. Shaq just went staight to the rim, and all yao did was stretch out his arms while being included in Shaq's highlight. That defense needs some work. [Answer by a lunatic that have very low basketball IQ]---------------
What does this have to do with what AC Dropout said in his post? Do you have a mouse's brain, go to the doctor and get them check.
While AC is saying one thing, you jump off the topic and say something else. Are you a retard? AC drop out say the jam was in over time and you say it was in his face. Any person with little or no common sense knows that this doen't correlate.
Since you lack in reading and understanding. I'll break it down for you. Before, in your earlier post you said Shaq dunk in Yao's face. True, and AC said it was only two in over time, very late in the game. Also true, and now you are explaining the dunk that Shaq made. What is the point of this, don't you think we know and see it already in the game. Point is this, what you said don't make sense.
Since you brought in Shaq's dunk, why don't you brought in Yao's three block? It is also some of the highlight.
----No, Francis score 44 because yao was unable to get it done. 7-5 tall, but he was only able to make 5 out of 14 shot attempts. ----
Francis score 44pts because Yao lure Shaq out under the basket. If you need a copy of the game, ask me. I'll send it to you by mail. That way you can learn more about what people do in the NBA and how the game is play.
You're the same guy from the past that keep on putting down Yao. Are you on drugs, because you seem like it.
I know that you are trying to get on AC's nerves but it's not happening.
Posted
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 14:51:32 (PST)
[198.105.45.18]
where was yao?,
"Players play with pain. Whiners complain."
Oh if that's the case. Why did Shaq take the begging of the season off. Cause his big toe was hurt. Boo hoo. What does Shaq do everytime the Lakers loose. Go on TV and say it's my teammate's fault, it's the ref's fault, it's Kobe's fault, or it's Jackson's fault.
Thank you for establishing who the whiners and players are in the NBA.
"The fadeaway shot is one of the worst shots to take."
Uhm so Jordon, who took the fade away to an artform is a loser in your opinion also.
"The ref's missed it. If Francis was fouled flagrantly by Shaq, he would not have gotten up."
Which part did they miss. Shaq's right arm slapping down on Francis' face. I think you need glasses or a larger TV. You're right they missed the part where they eject the player for unsportman like behavior.
"Shaq just went staight to the rim, and all yao did was stretch out his arms while being included in Shaq's"
Which drive are you talking about. Both were started by a pivot and a forearm shove. The second drive was more blatant offensive foul than the first. Yao was probably tired of stuffing it in Shaq's face all day long. He had nothing to prove in OT, and knew they would coast to an easy win.
AC Dropout
Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 09:09:59 (PST)
[24.136.115.189]
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