How Yao Ming has adapted to the temptations of NBA stardom

How Yao Ming has adapted to the temptations of NBA stardom

He came from China five years ago and many wondered if he would make it with the Houston Rockets. Now they know the 7ft 6ins giant has arrived - big time!
Five years ago, when Yao Ming came to America and into the NBA, I wondered aloud how long it would take Yao Ming to adapt to this country. ‘Coming to America’ could not have been an easy thing.

Being raised in a repressive society, where individualism is viewed as evil, and then adjusting to a culture where ‘everything goes’ had to be difficult. Would the NBA corrupt this mild, quiet spoken, gentle giant of a man? Would he be a candidate to become the ‘Chinese Dennis Rodman’? And worse, would he disappoint his parents, Yao and Feng, causing them grief and shame?

I pictured in my mind the Chinese system as holding down Yao like a compressed spring and when here, in the NBA-influenced USA, the spring is released and he goes flying off to a life of debauchery.

I could just envision Yao, three months into the NBA season, visiting dance clubs in all hours of the night. Showing up in a limo with the Yao entourage of groupies. Stepping out of the 36ft Hummer Limo, all 7ft 6ins of him, dressed in a full length fur coat, bedazzled in ear, eye, nose, and lip rings, spiked hair, dyed red and white, and yelling “Hey bro, wazzup!” As he high-fives the Doorman. I lamented: “Those Decadent Imperialistic Capitalist Swine! You’ve poisoned another one!”

How soon before Yao Ming would start to demand more playing time, more touches, private hotel suites, private jet plane rides to Vegas? When would he succumb to “I don’t do autographs, unless you give me your credit card number first?” And when would he view team practices as something that just gets in the way of his golf game? “Practice, practice? I don’t need no practice!”

Five years has passed and this fall Yao Ming is in the news, and it isn’t good. Yao to miss the first part of training camp. The Houston Rockets will fine and discipline him. My jaw dropped. “Told you. It took a little while, but we corrupted him.” Then I read the next line. The reason for missing camp practice. Yao is to chair the Special Olympics in Shanghai.

He was contractually obligated to the Houston Rockets to show up in time for camp. But acting as Chairman Yao, he decided to keep a commitment he gave to the kids of Shangai, which would make him late for training camp. Houston fined Yao an undisclosed sum. Coach Adelman had to fine him, it was the principle of the matter. No one is above the law, no matter how tall he is. But knowing Ric Adelman, the fine was probably a bowl of Yao Mings’s moms, famous chicken soup, a hug, and a promise never to do such an evil deed again.

Who is this Yao Ming? And say it like you are really puzzled. By the way, in case you are wondering, he is no relation to Ming, of the Ming Dynasty fame. Yao is his family name and Ming, meaning Bright, was his given name at birth. Although probably more well known worldwide than the Ming Dynasty guy, his popularity in China is also ever growing. If you go to Shangai, you will notice very clearly, Yao is everywhere. He’s on billboards, bus ads, newspapers, and when you turn on TV, he’s ever endorsing a product.

Besides endorsements, what else has his notoriety in The Peoples Republic of China gotten Yao? How about a charity Allstar Basketball event in Beijing. With some of the world's greatest NBA stars coming to contribute. He even got his pal Jackie Chan of movie fame to play. Part of the charity money he helped raise this summer went to help poor handicapped children in Western China, to get an education.

Fifteen years ago, this would not have been possible. Because China would never have admitted, nor publicized, they had any problems, especially ones needing charity. Although not building a Great Wall, this Ming has opened the door to some very nice, ‘little great wall’ like things.
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As his game has improved in the NBA Yao Ming has become a dominant force. All five years of his career, he’s been a member of the NBA All Star squad, even if the first two years, he didn’t deserve the award. (NBA fans vote for the players. China has 1.3 billion people. Yao is always the leading vote getter)

Watching him in the first game of the season against the LA Lakers it is evident that he not only is All Star deserving, but MVP consideration could also becoming his way. After pushing Yao away from the basket, a sound NBA defensive strategy, Yao calmly swished outside shots or made passes to open teammates. I figured the only way the Lakers could stop him, was to put Jordan Farmar on Kwame Brown’s shoulders in an effort to alter Yao’s shot (a not so sound strategy). Nothing the Lakers tried would work, and Houston won the game.

It's obvious to me, the NBA has changed this man. But not in the usual way. He no longer feels it is shameless show-boating to dunk the ball. It is okay to have fun while you are playing the game. High fiving is acceptable on the court, but never to disrespect your opponent. A little individualism is not that evil, especially when it leads to helping others. Yao Ming, son of Yao and Fang, you have made your parents very proud.

http://www.sportingo.com/basketball/how_yao_ming_has_adapted/1001,5672