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[Truehoop]Why Don't More Chinese People Wear Yao Ming's Jersey

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by windandsea, Apr 11, 2007.

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  1. windandsea

    windandsea Member

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    http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop...e-Chinese-People-Wear-Yao-Ming-s-Jersey-.html

    At the Sonics vs. Rockets game in Seattle the other night, Mike Seely of Seattle Weekly assigned himself a mission:

    What is sort of surprising is that, according to the NBA, the best-selling jersey in China isn't Yao Ming's. In fact, Yao comes in 6th, behind Kobe (no. 1), AI, T-Mac, Dwyane Wade, and Lebron. Yao had the 3rd spot in 2006, but he's apparently fallen even more out of favor amongst his countrymen.

    Last night, I set out to find a Chinese person wearing a Yao jersey at the game, so I could ask them why Chinese people don't buy Yao jerseys. It wasn't easy.

    He got enough interesting answers that it is well worth reading Seely's whole blog post. (It's PG-13 owing to one word.)

    I imagine the answer to be that a lot of Chinese basketball fans are serious basketball fans. They're watching closely. While some might hand their hearts to Yao because he's from China, they won't let the cultural factors cloud their basketball judgment.

    Serious Yao Ming fans watch the Rockets all season, right? You watch the Rockets all season, and then tell me which player you dream of being. I'm guessing it would be the one who dunks over people all the time, and makes shots from all over the floor. It's no coincidence that Tracy McGrady's jersey sells better, as do all of the NBA's great vitruosos who are so fun to watch.

    In 2003, David Barboza wrote from China about Yao Ming Mania for The New York Times (Select):

    Young people here, however, do not universally favor Yao. Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant are also popular.

    Lu Zhihua, 25, was playing today wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey and Air Jordans. (He insisted that he owns all 18 styles in the Air Jordan collection.) His favorite player is Michael Jordan, but he admires Yao.

    ''Yao has the capability,'' he said. ''And if you have the capability, you should go to the N.B.A. Everyone knows the N.B.A. is the best.''

    That's my feeling: when Yao Ming proves that he is the best in the NBA, when he's an MVP, when he's the most transcendant player on the floor, then he'll sell a lot more jerseys in China and everywhere else there are NBA fans. Until then? It's not like Yao's not feeling the love. He's still selling more jerseys in China than Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Carmelo Anthony, and Gilbert Arenas.

    UPDATE: The Chinese edition of Forbes, for what it's worth, considers Yao Ming to be the biggest celebrity in all of China three years running. Thanks to Renjun Bao for the link.
     
    #1 windandsea, Apr 11, 2007
  2. Jacquescas

    Jacquescas Member

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    maybe because Yao hasn't changed his number, AI changed teams, Kobe changed numbers, Wade just won a championship, and T-Mac is getting his residual yao effect much like Francis did years before.

    ie they already have a Yao jersey, why get another one.
     
    #2 Jacquescas, Apr 11, 2007
  3. demon77

    demon77 Member

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    yeah, additionally yao being a center doesn't really attract the typical fan. People tend to go toward those athletic type.
     
    #3 demon77, Apr 11, 2007
  4. aznboi

    aznboi Member

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    when you think about it, Asian people in general aren't all exactly huge people. You can't be a big man unless you're big too. So it's logical to look up to smaller players that are very talented to try to play like them.
     
    #4 aznboi, Apr 11, 2007
  5. yipengzhao

    yipengzhao Member

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    Also, it's kinda played out to be wearing a yao jersey if you're chinese no? I thought about getting one, but then it's like "dude, you're chinese, i get it." You know what I'm saying?
     
    #5 yipengzhao, Apr 11, 2007
  6. pollaxt

    pollaxt Member

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    I agree. A little too much on the nose.
     
    #6 pollaxt, Apr 11, 2007
  7. demon77

    demon77 Member

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    maybe, but I think it have more to do with the fact that yao is a center.

    I think most chinese are more willing to ware Yi Jian Lian's jersey then yao's, if he turn out to be just as good as yao.
     
    #7 demon77, Apr 11, 2007
  8. agentkirb

    agentkirb Member

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    Ok... this guy doesn't understand economics. The reason Yao is so far down in the charts is because everyone and their mother in China already has Yao Ming jerseys, why would they buy another one?
     
    #8 agentkirb, Apr 11, 2007
  9. robbie380

    robbie380 ლ(▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿ლ)
    Supporting Member

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    #9 robbie380, Apr 11, 2007
  10. YaoYoYao

    YaoYoYao Member

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    What a chicken ... flaunt it, man! :cool: :cool:
     
    #10 YaoYoYao, Apr 11, 2007
  11. SirCharlesFan

    SirCharlesFan Member

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    I'll say this, it's annoying as hell to wear a Yao jersey to a road game. Honestly, a good 50-50% of fans will be walking behind you going "Yo, YAO!" (the fans in Memphis seem especially fond of doing this.)
     
    #11 SirCharlesFan, Apr 11, 2007
  12. rofflesaurus

    rofflesaurus Member

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    im taiwanese and have been a fan of bball before yao. i like yao but i'd never get a yao jersey because i like players who i can relate to. i have an iverson jersey and wouldve had a francis jersey because those were my fav players.
     
    #12 rofflesaurus, Apr 11, 2007
  13. nyquil82

    nyquil82 Member

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    this article is r****ded, How about I do an article on humvee drivers, ask one humvee driver why they drive a humvee, and then come up with my own conclusion based on lazy assumptions?
     
    #13 nyquil82, Apr 11, 2007
  14. Joe Rz

    Joe Rz Member

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    A little off topic. When will the Rockets be able to change their uniform design?

    I'm tired of looking at those pajamas on tv. :mad:
     
    #14 Joe Rz, Apr 11, 2007
  15. rockets fan

    rockets fan Rookie

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    I second that. I don't even have one of the new jerseys because their so ugly. Can someone please let the organization know how much most people hate the new jersey design.
     
    #15 rockets fan, Apr 11, 2007
  16. dntrwl

    dntrwl Member

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    Yeah I like the retro jerseys, red and yellow baby!
     
    #16 dntrwl, Apr 11, 2007
  17. Bandwagoner

    Bandwagoner Member

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    We need to play all home games in the good ole' yellow stripe jerseys

    Victory!
     
    #17 Bandwagoner, Apr 11, 2007
  18. dfwrox

    dfwrox Member

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    All I want to say is WELCOME BACK windandsea :D Haven't seen your post for a long time.
     
    #18 dfwrox, Apr 11, 2007
  19. roflmcwaffles

    roflmcwaffles Member

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    That is exactly it. Yao was number 1 for his 1st 3 seasons, I can guarentee 90-95% BASKETBALL CHINESE FAN (in china), Yao was their 1st jersey, thus no need to buy another one.
     
    #19 roflmcwaffles, Apr 11, 2007
  20. crimson_rocket

    crimson_rocket Member

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    I saw more Parker and Ginobli jerseys than Duncan jerseys in San Antonio. Nobody is making a big deal about that.
     
    #20 crimson_rocket, Apr 11, 2007
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