I understand your language skills are limited so I think you meant Loyalty. Royalty would have a much different connotation. As in Yao expects to be treated like royalty.
All of this stuff reminds me of David Robinson. Humble, patient, loyal, unselfish... He also didn't have anything approaching a killer instinct.
Kareem wouldn't hesitate to take over a game. Just because a big man plays a finesse game doesn't meant they're not assertive or aggressive. They might not run people over or exchange fisticuffs but they won't hesitate to take it to the hoop when needed.
ok...i think this falls short...here's why. Hakeem was freaking dominant by year 2. He was a HUGE reason they made it to the NBA Finals, knocking off the Showtime Lakers and winning 2 against arguably the greatest team of all time, the 1986 Celtics. The whole...it took years for Hakeem to develop thing...it just doesn't comport at all with what Hakeem did do in his early years. He was an absolute wrecking ball. At this point of his career, he was averaging around 23 points and 12 rebounds a game, to go along with 3.3 blocks and 1.8 steals. That earned him All-NBA FIRST TEAM. Hell, even in his ROOKIE YEAR he averaged 20/11. We are not going to get an Hakeem out of this....I don't think we're going to get anywhere CLOSE to Hakeem out of this. That may be fine. But the comparisons with Hakeem and his development seem flawed to me.
I don't find it offensive because you can't ignore cultural background and NBA basketball values traits that are not celebrated in Chinese culture. I would find it offensive if someone said that because Yao is Chinese he is physically incapable of of playing strong or that Chinese culture cannot produce strong leaders. There are different ways of measuring strength and leadership but the NBA and professional sports in general tend to celebrate those who lead through personal flamboyance and overt aggression than other fields.
I agree with Max, Hakeem played an agressive, attacking game. His problem was always the opposite, he didn't trust his teammates early on in his career and would attempt to take things on all by himself. His transformation into a more patient, trusting teammate was what elevated him from star to greatest-player-in-the-NBA for a few years. But he still retained that agressive edge that Yao's never had. Just a different personality type, I don't think it's necessarily cultural.
I totally agree. But what about Jeff's statements. Chinese culture tends to value these things. In the NBA, the opposite of those things seems to prevail. Thus, a product of a Chinese culture might have a harder time succeeding in the NBA because of that background than someone from a more individualistic culture.
Being a p***y (as in Yao's case) is not a Chinese trait, but rather, a southern Chinese trait. Yao is a southern Chinese and hence he's a p***y. End of story.
What a shame, sigh. Such a good thread just turned out to be like that in a second. What's that old Chinese saying? One little piece of rat $hit, spoils the whole soup.
Bulk, The traits you discuss are valued by me and I believe most Americans. Yao does need to be more aggressive on the court; but I believe he can do this without sacrificing the personality that defines Yao and earns our respect. I too get frustrated with Yao sometimes when I see smaller players stripping him of the ball as he goes for should be a two handed slam dunk! But I need to remind myself that he is young and still adjusting to the street ball dominating attitude that is found in the NBA and how this must be different from the environment he grew up with. I would like to know what his country men think about this. Do you feel it is likely he will change? Is it HIS personality OR is it his cultural heritage to be less agressive? Also, I strongly feel that Yao is just worn out after so much basketball; and that this makes it difficult for him to put out maximum energy for every game. I would like to know if there is any movement in newpapers trying to make the case that Yao should get some rest in his country instead of constantly playing basketball? Thanks for your comments Bulk, out of curiosity - how did you select the user name of Bulk - seems out of character for one from the Orient - are you a Suma wrestler (forgive my attempt at humor - no offense.). My user name was just an attempt to find something easy to remember combined with my love for the old Charlie Chan movies.
My point was not that Yao Ming could become another Hakeem. I was pointing out that there is nothing inherently wrong with those traits, and that Hakeem demonstrated many (if not all) of them throughout his career, particularly by the time he became a champion. What Yao Ming needs to emulate are Dream's other traits, the aggressiveness, the leadership (or, at least, leading-by-example), and the (for lack of a better word) "heart."
I have great respect and admiration for these characteristics of Chinese Culture; however, Will, Jeff, and others are exactly right. To succeed in a culture, one not only has to become acquainted with the culture, but, to some degree, one must adjust to the new reality. Ming has not done this, and he is progressing very slowly. To succeed, he must adjust, pure and simple. If not, what is good in Ming will be perceived in the new culture as weakness, incompetence, and failure.
LOL - I must commend you on your knowledge of Chinese history. Alas, I don't think there are any Manchu warlords left. (my ancestors were in that caste).
I'm a Chinese, but I'm really tired of such excuses for Yao's lack of aggressiveness and emotion. Yao is born in the 80's. His generation is known for their independent thinking and digression from the traditional Chinese values. I'm not saying he's not typical, but a lot of young Chinese of his age are not like him. If he lets his so-called cultural background get in the way to playing better basketball and winning, he has only himself to blame, not the Confucius.
In the process of making excuses for Yao's frustrating performance, you're making everyone on this board think all Chinese are supposed to act like lame duck on the basketball court. Great job, bulk.
Think twice before you post something low-class like this. It only shows your immaturity as a person.
Not sure if it's true, but I have heard some posters say the other Chinese center, Wang Zhi Zhi, is as cocky and self-centered as you can get. He just doesn't have the physical and athletic abilities to succeed in the NBA.
I think that's reaching. Bulk put in some effort to raise a question, which has been brought up quite a few times, to discuss his problem. There are always reasons for each problem. BBS is there for discussion. Culture does affect one's life and behaviour. Addressing his problem and suggesting for possible causes does not equal to seeking excuses. I would rather see something like that, than just simple ranting that he sucks and his problems are his and his alone. Noone is naive enough to generalize Chinese according to one single Chinese, even he's Yao Ming. If, every Chinese thinks and acts the same way, then, THAT is a much bigger problem than the possibility that some might have wrong perception of Chinese people.
