Jim Rome on now talking about Shaq's racist comments In my car I just heard the beginning of Rome's show, and he mentioned that he would be discussing Shaq's "racial blast" towards Yao Ming later in the show. I am currently in the office, where I cannot listen to the show. Can someone that can listen please post a recap of the segment? Or better yet, since we've been spoiled rotten by you, how about an mp3 file of the segment, edc?
Apparently, Shaq was approached by an Asian reporter and asked what he thought of Yao. He said "Tell Yao Ming I said ching chong ching chong" or something to that effect. I think this is an old story being brought up again to hype the laker game next Friday.
whatever it was (I will read the article in another post) - Rome has gone 2 segments straight on the topic !
i'll bet he's talking about when michael irvin interviewed shaq for the best damn sports show a few months ago....he said something like "wong ju ju, or whatever your name is, come get some of this". fairly harmless, if you ask me. he was just talking a little harmless trash. the media blows everything out of proportion. i highly doubt shaq is racist.
If Rome is talking about that old story (link), which has been beaten into the ground on this bbs, then I'd still like to hear Romey's take on the whole thing.
Rome is just saying that he doesn't think Shaq is a racist (neither do I) but he thinks he should apologize to Yao. He says that racist comments are racist comments no matter which race is directing them at which race. I like Rome, but sometimes I think he's a frustrated political talk host. Of course, Yao will take the high road (duh, he's 7' 6') as usual. If it doesn't bother Yao, it doesn't bother me.
Thanks for the info. I don't think Shaq is a racist either but the comments were out of line just the same and justifying them as "jokes" isn't going to cut it. I agree Shaq should appologize. If he wants to joke about the Sacramento Kings being the Sacramento Queens or whatever, then fine, but don't mock someones race/lifestyle/culture etc. Chris
I agree with Rome. What if a white guy said something to the same effect about a black player? He would be fined and suspended right away. Why is it ok for Shaq to make fun of Yao's heritage and language then? If Shaq was just talking smak about Yao's game and stuff like that, that's one thing, but I think he crossed the line, attacking the man's ethnicity. I really think it just stems from him being bitter about the All-Star voting and the respect and attention Yao is getting from around the league. And I know Shaq isn't racist, but it was a stupid comment and I wouldn't blame people for being offended by it.
The difference is that the black community has leaders that will bring such remarks to light instantly (Sharpton, Jackson, etc.) while every other minority community doesn't. I somewhat liken Shaq's comments to Fuzzy Zoeller's. Zoeller got lambasted in the media for what he said, and even lost his promotional contract with K-Mart. No one came to Zoeller's defense and he publically apologized. Shaq lost nothing, has some defenders who called it a "joke", and has not apologized. Just plain wrong. I don't want to stir this up again, b/c I know its been talked about ad nauseum around here... I just wanted to put my final $.02 in.
Does anybody think Yao cares? Yao seems to have a strong internal stability. The guys foundation seems pretty strong, Im sure he just excuses and pardons Shaqs slip of ignorance. And hey if the guy he was directing his comment to doesnt seem to be affected by it, why should a billion chinese? maybe offended people across the world can learn from Yao. imo, that dude Confucious has nothing on Yao.
The same Jim Rome has blasted Fuzzy Zeoller (sp) for years for the "joke" he tried to make about Tiger. Rome called Fuzzy a racist. Why the double standard? I think because, typical Rome, he's afraid to step on the toes of someone in his own backyard (LA).
I don't think Yao really cares, if he even reads the papers to find out about it. He comes from a country that is mostly Chinese, so racism may be kinda foreign to him. I do think it sucks that Shaq can say something like that and get away with it. I guarantee you that if someone asked Brad Miller: "So how do you feel about your upcoming game against Shaq and the Lakers?", and Miller replied: "Tell Shaq I said 'Tell Shaq he betta ax somebody! Tell him ain't enough colla greens or fried chicken in the hood to keep me from smackin' his baby's mama." If Miller had said that, he would go the way of John Rocker or Fuzzy Zoeller. But if Shaq says something racist, it is looked at as funny. It's funny how it is only considered racism if someone who is not black says something bad about blacks. If it is the other way around, then everyone's excuse is "oh, he's just a joker being funny." I am Chinese, and I didn't appreciate Shaq's comments at all. I think the NBA should get involved and throw a fine or suspension at him.
I dont really care what Shaq talks about. I hate him! he should not even be in the NBA with attitude like that. He should go to those and1 mix tapes, maybe they'll take him more seriously there. I hate the guy.
I wouldn't assume that Yao was unaffected by the comments simply because he has made no public reaction. In the situation he finds himself -- in a new country and culture, a new job, with everyone watching his every move, going from being from the privileged ethnicity in China to a minority in the States, and knowing he has to meet Shaq on the basketball court for years to come -- I think it very human to just sit and take it when he's attacked, even if it does make him angry. It is hard to know. It might not really be nothing to him, or it might be something that affects him deeply.
I read in some of the posts that "if Yao doesn't care, why should we care" or something to that extent. Just because Yao is a humble individual and probably not willing to make a public stink of it in the media since he's new to the country, NBA, etc., it's not right to ignore the insensitive racist remarks a popular media figure like Shaq said publicly. The remarks doesn't just affect the particular individual (in this case Yao), but all that hears it. For example: - Kid or Teenager: I heard Shaq say "ching-chong..." on the radio so it must be cool or okay to say it to the Asian kids at my school or on the streets. I won't get caught or punished for it. It doesn't hurt anyone. - Asian person (child or adult): I'm even reluctant to speak since others will make fun of my accent. With Shaq's public comments, more people will make fun of me. It's not even true, since I got an A in English. Hmmmm...am I speaking with an accent at all? I'm trying to fit in the best I can... - Media personalities: Well, since Shaq said it and no one reprimanded him, then it's okay to joke about it in the public spotlight. - Average Joe: Since Shaq, the radio host, and callers all think the remarks are funny and okay, it's really no big deal. It doesn't hurt anyone. Some of the remarks are funny and sort of true. Let me tell my family some of these jokes I heard. They'll crack up. Ignorance breeds Complacency
I can understand why you say that. But i can also understand why many Chinese Americans would also be offended by it because many Chinese Americans have experienced "ching-chong" taunts from others in a malicious and hurtful way. Therefore regardless of Shaq's intent, I can understand why a Chinese American would find it difficult to disassociate Shaq's comments with those of people who were genuinely trying to be hurtful and malicious. I think it is this context that makes such taunts resonate with Chinese Americans that others may not appreciate. As for Yao Ming himself, it is not clear how he might react to it but it wouldn't be too suprising if Yao himself doesn't take it as personally as many Chinese Americans do since Yao Ming didn't grow up in the US and hasn't experienced these "ching-chong" taunts the way many Chinese Americans apparently have. Therefore Yao might not associate Shaq's making fun of the Chinese language in the way that many Chinese Americans do.
I think it is double standard for a african american or any minority group to get away with racial slur and the Caucasian have to paid the consequences. I think it should be the same for everybody if your goal is to eliminate prejudice. How can you promote equality when you don't treat people equally. So it doesn't matter if Shaq make the comments or Brad Miller making the comments. The consequences should be the same. I don't think Shaq is a racist (at least I hope he is not ). It might not bother Yao because he had not live in this country long enough to experience prejudice against Asian or any other minority. A bigger effect it had is how society perceive them. If those remarks doesn't have any consequences then I guess society accept them as OK. Imagine a kid watching the show (and hear those remarks) and people laugh and think it's cool then he perceived it as it's a OK things to do. Supposedly at school he came up and said those words to an Asian kid how do you think that kid feel? On one hand the kid who pick up those comments from Shaq think it's OK to said it because it's OK with Shaq and there is no consequences to the comments. On the other hand the Asian kids was hurt by it because he realize that someone is making fun at the way his parents talk. We are talking about a bigger issues here rather than just if those comments hurt Ming or not. It might not have hurt Ming but it might hurt another race. I think Shaq sould apologize for those comments even though he might not have any racial or hatred intends behind it. It is not just about Yao but also the people that he represent.
