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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Forget Michael Chang, Ichiro Suzuki, Carl Lewis, or Jim Thorpe, the greatest athlete of all time is definitely Takeru Kobayashi of Japan, who consumed 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes to win the 86th annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. Kobayashi, 23 years old and weighing in at 131 pounds, defeated fellow Japanese competitor Arai Saitama, who placed second by eating 31 hot dogs, also breaking the record he set last year of 25 1/8. In no sport has the margin of victory been so great, and this is from an athlete whose size is so ordinary in comparison to his huge and large American competitors. ‘For the Japanese it is a day of extraordinary success," declared moderator George Shea. Kobayashi competed against 19 others from the United States, Japan, Germany, Canada and England. All were required to qualify through a series of regional contests. "The hot dog eating contest is not only a beautiful display of athleticism, it is a fundamental way for citizens of all nations to display patriotism," said Wayne Norbitz, president of Nathan's Famous. http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/07/04/hotdog.contest/
The Greatest Athlete of All Times Friday, July 19, 2002 at 11:01:09 (PDT)

These China people (namely chinatown and facts) are in some kind of fantastic denial; they continue to perpetuate the stereotype of the impish but stubbornly arrogant and cunning China man. First off, what constitutes a Chinese man. Those in northern China are so clearly different than the ones more southern. The northern Chineseman(clearly an admix of the more hearty Mongol-Manchu-Korean stock with the smallish, indigineous stock of original "Han", whatever their true origin and/or definition, claim themselves of "aristocratic", "royal", "intellectual" heritage. And look down with disdain on their little, darker, more indigineous looking, brother-cousins in the south, southwest when the original "Han" themselves have origin from this same region. I don't think there's any doubt that most of their best athletes come from their Northern regions which is quite reasonable since they are relatively taller and heartier, because, again, due to that Mongol-Korean-Manchu linkage. You continue to discount why a country's population does not matter, when it is so clearly evident that it is a high determinant. You clearly skipped even the most basic Stat class, lol. Also you whine about your overpopulated, ethnically divided country being poor and thus has little support for your sports programs. This is clearly a lie, as it is a well know fact that communist countries pour huge amount of money and resources into their sports programs so they can show up "capitalist pigs" and other propagandistic whatnot. Remember East Germany, Russia, Cuba, N. Korea? Either way, most Chinese always like to point out the fact that their country has the 2nd largest economy, is rapidly developing, and fanatically proclaim that China is not a backward and poor country. So which is it? You seem to change facts when convenient (again that cunning quality). Get away with that "we're poor so we can't compete" shit. It's a poor, convenient excuse. We all know that Korea, not too long ago, was absolutely an improverished nation by western standards. Still, Koreans were able to compete well in the Olympics, Asian games, etc. Far out-rivaling China and even those resourceful Japanese per capita.
I don't know, then maybe Chinese are the more scholarly, intellectual ones? But then again, we know this is false too.
AAX Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 22:58:54 (PDT)

Facts and Chinatown
Why are you bragging about the Chinese basketball team? So what if they are the best in Asia, Asia as a continent sucks in basketball. I heard that the Chinese basketball team lost by 40 points to France, even with 7' 5" Ming and France sucks in basketball too.
Can you imagine if they would of went up against US Olympic team? On the international stage China's baskeball team SUCKS!!!! Its like a Japanese guy saying "Japan's rugby team is the best in Asia" yeah they recently beat Taiwan like 160- 15 or something like that but who cares? How many people play rugby in Asia? But on world stage they suck, they're not in the same league with Australia or England.
Get my point?
Corea and Japan have world class baseball and soccer teams, on international level they are very competitive. Look Corea reached the semis and Japan got to the second round in the most popular sport, soccer. I've never seen China even mentioned in Olympic baseball. Coreans are also very good at wrestling (freestyle and Greco Roman),marathlon, boxing, taekwondo, judo, you know, manly sports. None of that badminton crap, ok.
So pound for pound Coreans represent Asia best.
Wouldn't you say ? Why don't you Chinese just admit it? I admit Chinese cusine is delicious!

REAL FACTS Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 20:31:10 (PDT)

What's up with all this "talk" (or writing) about how the Chinese are not athletic and the Koreans and Japanese are so much better per capita?

Yes, China did miserable in World Cup Soccer this year compared to Korea and Japan. But, hey, it was even an achievement for China to even make it to the World Cup. Remember, previous World Cups, Korea did not have an impressive record. So, who knows what the coming years will hold.

Then, there is talk about all those Korean and Japanese baseball players and how "cool" they are and helping the Asian-American male image, despite the fact all the players named are not Asian-American. Or writing that the Chinese men only do well in sports that are "non-macho" like gymnastics, ping pong or diving.

Give it more time, dudes! China is weaker in soccer than Korea and Japan. But, I did see somebody write that Korea was better than China in basketball. That I would disagree. I think China's basketball team is superior to Korea's and Japan's, in my humble opinion.

I'm not hear to present a China vs. Korea and Japan thing, but rather lending support to the Chinese, to even things out. What? Maybe some of you writing are Chinese or Korean or Japanese and now you going to think you are superior because people of your ethnicity does better in some sport? Give me a break- you are taking credit for something you had nothing to do! Get a grip! Again, give it more time, dudes! If China focuses on some of these sports that they have not done well in the past, I think they could do well (with determination, money, facilities, good coaching).
Determination can make you Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 18:29:52 (PDT)

China is only now beginning to upgrade its football training and program. Remember, that Japan was not near as good as it is now four years ago. This was China's first World Cup entry, so let's not compare it to some more established nations.
Soccer fan Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 18:26:19 (PDT)

it's obvious that China is dirt poor compared against Korea and Japan. Just compare the GDP- per capita... sure, the government gives money to sports programs, but so does S. Korea and Japan. The truth is that most Chinese are still impoverished and unable to focus their energies in sporting achievement.
***with one of the lowest GDP per capita in Asia, China is still in fact the Asian country with the most medals in the Asian games, in the Olympics,etc.Chinese still rule badminton,table tennis,diving,basketball,women's volleyball,gymnastics and ocasionally swimming,etc. If China grows into an economic superpower with a higher GDP and GDp per capita in the coming years, i think China would have a much bigger chance to rule in every sport there is.
Babe Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 16:57:25 (PDT)

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