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

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

china definitely has the best athletes...just look at he olympic medal we win...but Michael Chang is definitely not deserving...Ichiro is definitely better...Michael chang is a mommas boy...hes defintely not cool...Ichiro isnt cool either...look at him...hes like 5 foot..he looks weak...forget ichiro and chang...lets get back on the subject of Yao Ming...hahahhahah this guy will dominate
thrill Thursday, July 11, 2002 at 05:42:42 (PDT)

I'm on the side of those who can't believe that Michael Chang leads the poll, and Ichiro Suzuki does not. I WAS of age during Michael Chang's prime, and the guy just wasn't a notable athlete. The only notable thing about him is that he was Asian-American. Yeah, he won one grand slam event. But we're talking about a sport where the truly great players win 10 or so grand slam events. In hindsight, Chang's one win seems like a fluke.

Also -- and this might be an unpopular opinion -- Chang's constant "testamants" to his "Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" whenever he got in front of a mike were downright embarrassing. I've just never liked athletes/entertainers who wear their religion on their sleeve. This next statement will show my bias and contradict that last sentence, but I don't care: For once I'd like to see an Asian or Asian-American stand up and proclaim the Eastern religion of his/her ancestors. Just once.

Ichiro Suzuki, on the other hand, is THE MAN. Michael Chang does not come close to even comparing. First and foremost, Suzuki is a phenomenal athlete. He's taken the great American past time by storm, and even the rednecks respect him for his athletic prowess. Already, from his years playing in Japan, he has had a noteworthy athletic career. And now he's sitting atop the Major Leagues. On top of that, the guy exudes coolness. I actually know someone who covers the Mariners for Japanese TV, and who deals with Ichiro on a frequent basis. Nice guy, focused, and has his head on straight.

By the way, how does Suzuki promote the image of "Asian-American" men? He's not Asian-American, and has never shown the least bit of interest in what's going on in the AA community. He's Asian. He promotes the image of the Asian man come to America from his homeland (and who will undoubtedly return there when his Major League days are over). Issues of Asian-America are the furthest thing from his mind. And when Americans think of him they don't think the slightest thoughts about Asian-America. They think about Japan.

I've noticed on this and other sites how people tend to lump Suzuki, Jackie Chan, Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, and others in with "Asian-Americans." This is wrong, misleading, and damaging. Have you noticed that most of the prominent athletes/entertainters of Asian descent were born, raised, and came to prominence OUTSIDE of the United States? They were huge before Americans had any idea who they were. Asian-America, however, has not had these iconic superstars. And it's not from lack of trying. Believe me -- there are multitudes of Asian-American actors/actresses in L.A. and New York trying make a career of it, and there have been for decades. Could it be that Asian-American entertainers have been suppressed by a culture that is racist towards them; while Asian superstars were allowed to flourish in native cultures that accepted them, and let them have/create heroic, powerful images? Damn right! So lumping these Asian superstars in with Asian-Americans is misleading and DAMAGING to Asian-America. ACTUAL ASIAN-AMERICANS continue to struggle, and are still a good 10 or 15 years away from seeing stars at the level of a Denzel Washington or Samuel L. Jackson.
The Truth Wednesday, July 10, 2002 at 20:52:13 (PDT)

Ath,

"Chinese people reinforce negative images in my opinion. Japanese seem to assimilate better."

what do you expect from a people who once thought they were europeans...or european wannabe. a people with no originality. copy dis copy dat.

Hoklo Taiwanese Wednesday, July 10, 2002 at 09:27:28 (PDT)

Ichiro by far has had the most positive impact for Asians in sports. He is cool and plays with flare. His name is always mentioned on ESPN's sportcenter and he has graced the covers of numerous sports magazines. He has been the leading vote getter in the All Star game for the past two years.

His talent is no fluke. The best hitter (average wise) in the game! He is a genuine superstar.
Fans and Media love Ichiro Wednesday, July 10, 2002 at 00:28:31 (PDT)

ummmm...talk about retarded...

"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"?

visit the FIFA world cup site's Chinese page @ http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/en/t/t/chn.html

you are a moron who lacks reading skills. The Chinese roster has two goalies, one who is 196 cm, the other who is 198 cm. that's 6'6...so we have two 6'6 people. And there were players at 187 cm, several 186 cm's, and the shortest player is 175 cm who goes by the name of Hao Haidong. He was one of about three or so players under 180 cms on the entire roster of 23 players. The majority of the Chinese team was filled up by guys 183cms in height. Check it out yourself if you don't believe me.

Please, stop posting false information...it's disturbing, really.

chinatown Wednesday, July 10, 2002 at 00:24:18 (PDT)

I'm not sure what this forum is about exactly but it's kind of unfair to compare Michael Chang to Ichiro and the other asian athletes of today.

Firstly, Michael was an army of one in the early 90's. Name another asian athlete recognized in mainstream media at the time. Yes, he only won one grandslam tourney, but name another Asian who has done it since. Jim Paek played in the NHL, but he didn't have very much success. I think Peter Ing might have been happa, but he didn't shine very well either.

Kariya, Ichiro and who ever else is in the MLB (I hear there's alot), and the NBA guys are all having success, so each one of their successes compounds on the other's, making the Asian image in sports appear to be a lot larger than it may actually be.

So it is a bit unfair to compare then and now.

I'm just glad we don't have any reperesentation in men's figure skating, we know how manly a sport that is viewed as.
huu76 Tuesday, July 09, 2002 at 23:31:49 (PDT)

yes, michael chang may be cool by AA standards, or because of his time, and so on, but face it, buck reddnekson or nathan goldbaum cant tell the political differences between m-chang & ichiro.

and by absolute standards, he simply cannot hold a candle to ICHIRO.

ichiro's got hall of fame skills, hype, looks, attitude, dough, aura, EVERYTHING.

when's did hos ever rush m-chang? ichiro's got them and kids lining up for him in seattle.

mchang is good, but he's just not in the same league
God of Asia Tuesday, July 09, 2002 at 17:07:20 (PDT)

i think X is correct. china needs american coaching to really excel at basketball
tt Monday, July 08, 2002 at 20:57:37 (PDT)

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