Asians in American Sports | Asian American Poll

ASIANS IN AMERICAN SPORTS
(Updated Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025, 06:39:09 AM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Which male athlete has done the most to promote the image of Asian American men?
Tennis Player Michael Chang | 36%
Pitcher Chanho Park | 23%
Golfer Tiger Woods | 8%
Linebacker Dat Nguyen | 13%
Rightfielder Ichiro Suzuki | 14%
Left Wing Paul Kariya | 6%

Which female athlete has done the most to promote the image of Asian American women?
Figure Skater Kristi Yamaguchi | 19%
Pool Player Jeanette Lee | 1%
Figure Skater Michele Kwan | 58%
Golfer Se-ri Pak | 22%

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WHAT YOU SAY

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"He was oh so popular ... especially after becoming the first AA to win a grandslam tournament (the french) and the way he won it.. with sheer determination and fierce tenacity."

Too bad he couldn't do much after that. I guess I was too young (26!!!) to see his glory days. Most of the matches I've seen him playing are disappointing. With only one grandslam win and given that it's been looooong ago, he doesn't deserve to be up there.
Not a Michael Chang fan. Monday, July 08, 2002 at 10:50:40 (PDT)

"That goalie was a phreak of nature ,

The shortest person in the chinaa team is 176cm thank you very much!!! Thats the same as the average of american people! Hehehe Now! Most I saw after clicking on their profiles was 183cm.. thats 6ft buddy! HA AH HA HA HA I win.
OHYEAH"

OH YEAH,

What do you want, a COOKIE?? You moron... just exactly WHAT do you think you "won"? I get the impression that you thought I was some white guy trying to assert that the Chinese team was short... guess what you immature punk -- I'm KOREAN! You jackass. I have no wish to play some kind of dumb game with a juvenile like you. I was merely stating my opinion. So what if some whiteboy thinks Chinese are short... us Koreans did all of us ASians a favor by defeating most of the Euro teams.
Shut up, you idiot (Phreak of Nature) Monday, July 08, 2002 at 03:03:05 (PDT)

"Michael Chang? You've got to be kidding me. He's so stereotypically Asian/Christian goodboy, seemingly a bit sheltered, and far from interesting."
There is some truth to this statement. Chang looks like your typical chinese guy. Just no coolness about him. Ichiro and Kariya on the other hand just look like cool dudes. And baseball and hockey are cool sports. Tennis???
And Michelle Kwan sucks, never won gold and her parents look pushy. They were embarrasing at the olympics. e.g. crying, hands on hips. At least Kristi Yamaguchi won gold.
Chinese people reinforce negative images in my opinion. Japanese seem to assimilate better.
Ath Monday, July 08, 2002 at 00:53:59 (PDT)

None of these chinese basketball players are going to make a significant impact. its all hype!!! can you say shawn bradley?
FLOP Sunday, July 07, 2002 at 21:32:32 (PDT)

Actually Chang was pretty huge during his prime. He was like Yamaguchi, the female skater, in the terms of sponsorship in the USA. In the sense that most of his sponsorship deals were in Asia.

I remember there were some issues in the Asian community about how a female asian had more sponsorship in the USA, then their male counterpart. Yet in Asia it was a the asian male that got more sponsorship deals.
AC dropout Sunday, July 07, 2002 at 17:24:22 (PDT)

"I can't believe Michael Change gardner the most votes. THIS IS A JOKE!
Damn, its sad all the Chinese males only have Michael Chang to look up to.
He ain't even good."

"Michael Chang? You've got to be kidding me. He's so stereotypically Asian/Christian goodboy, seemingly a bit sheltered, and far from interesting."

God I hate these young peckers, in their teens to 20's on Goldsea, who think they know it all already. Reflect alittle; be respectful. Ya you muthtaf***in asian teens, Michael Chang WAS THE MAN, the original-modern day. He was more that your Ichirio back when your slightly older asian brothers and sisters were in college ~10 years earlier back in the late 80's/early 90's (damn, i'm getting all nostalgic!). He was oh so popular with the college AA crowd back then especially after becoming the first AA to win a grandslam tournament (the french) and the way he won it.. with sheer determination and fierce tenacity. Didnt matter if you were a tennis fan or not, we were just oh so proud and it just made us feel so damn good. all AA's back then delighted in his victory (our victory). remember this was in the 80s/90's when we AA had so few recognized Asian/AA athletes as role models. I remember me and my college buddies ranting about Changs french open, much like you young peckers are doing with Ichiro today. SAME THING. But who was first and the one to start this modern swing in AA sports? CHANG not Ichiro or the other more recent. By now I hope you know why Chang leads the voting. Peace
No, I'm not being Chinese bias either. I'm Korean.
AAX (Asian American X) Sunday, July 07, 2002 at 00:46:14 (PDT)

i think hideo nomo was the asian athlete that did the most for asian males. he came to america and made a big splash, which opened the door for other asians to make it in MLB. soon after asians made it into the NBA and NFL. if nomo had crashed in his first season i don't think there would be as many asian athletes today in pro sports.

in the above poll i think nomo should be included. i think he was the jackie robinson for asians.
hakka guy Saturday, July 06, 2002 at 17:29:37 (PDT)

Michelle Kwan is amazing. She is an asset to the nation, especially the Asian community.
Michael Saturday, July 06, 2002 at 01:34:02 (PDT)

He's listed at 295. I believe a few team weighed and measured him. 7-5 1/2 bare feet, 7-6 1/2 with his shoes on.

He's pretty skinny on top but he does have alot of definition. He's not used to big centers pushing him around, that's why he's having problem holding his ground. This kind of stuff is coachable.

Bateer used to move him around all the time in China but Yao has improved. The last year, Wang Zhizhi had alot of troubles with Yao and resorted to shooting from the outside.

I saw Yao played against a young center by the name of Tang Zhengdong, a a strong kid but shorter (7-1) and Yao was pushing Tang around without too much trouble.

Me me me Friday, July 05, 2002 at 17:42:40 (PDT)

To Tri,

Ma Jian is still playing hoops in the CBA, and still manages to maintain superstar status, but at thirty-two, his dreams are quickly vanishing away to ever play in the NBA.

Did you know?

That Wang Zhizhi was of course the first Chinese to play in the NBA, but certainly not the first to be drafted. In the 1980's the Atlanta Hawks drafted Song Tao, a National center for the Chinese team, but could not play because of a seriously busted knee during the offseason. He could have easily been the first Asian in the NBA.
Ray Friday, July 05, 2002 at 13:31:40 (PDT)

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