Yao Ming speaks an more eloquent homegrown style of Mandarin (a higher standard of mainland-based Mandarin as opposed to the rough & choppy Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singaporean, etc. renditions of Mandarin). Shaq's fortune-cookie styled "ching-hong-wing-dong-chicken-fried-lice" is nothin' like what Yao speaks. Yao speaks with his mum & pop in an altaic-like Shanghai dialect that's sounds more like what the Mongols, Koreans, and Japanese speak. I really like northeastern styled homegrown Mandarin and Beijing styled Mandarin, it's more like "Chinese Ebonics", at the same time, very poetic, rhythmic, and excellent trash value too.
I still say that the commissioner of basketball should have acted forcefully and emphatically with a hefty fine and a long suspension just after the remarks were made. That would have sent the correct message to all parties and this thread would not have been necessary. In retrospect, the fine and suspension is no longer possible. However, if Shaq does not publicly acknowledge, and sincerely apologize for, his outrageous remarks, then Stern should assess a hefty fine and a long suspension. For the record, "I was just joking," is not an apology.
BTW. Here in So Cal, I've seen Asian guys call each other "g@@k" when one of them do somethin' stupid, as you'd see African Americans call each other "ni@@a" to point out a stupid brotha'..... and we all call some stupid white people "rednecks"... but one must excercise discretion when using these terms in public, because we're still in a social-political darkage, still lack understanding and respect for the multitude of cultures and languages 'round the world. It's unfair to say Asians have confidence problems with their English language. I see Asians that speak with a characteristic accent, but are successful and very confident people, with a love for life. I see Asians (and white Americans too) who speak perfect accentless English, but definitely have confidence problems and complexes..... i guess that "beauty is in the eye......" (you know)...... well, when it come to rascism (schit, I cant spell that word!) and psychological complexes, it too is in the eye of the beholder. And the beholder is either White-American, Black-American, Asian-American, etc. etc.
Wouldn't it be funny if Yao made a statement about getting the chitlins recipe from Shaq so he could bulk up? I wonder how that would be taken. Of course, Yao will not do such a thing. He is above that, a true professional. He will revolutionize the NBA by his style and attitude alone.
If Rome feels the same way about Fuzzy, then at least he is consistent. I can accept that. If though, he feels that Fuzzy is racist while Shaq is not, that my friends is inconsistency.
Does anyone think Tiger cares about what Fuzzy said? Tiger seems to have a strong internal stability. The guys foundation seems pretty strong, I'm sure he just excuses and pardons Fuzzy's slip of ignorance. And hey if the guy he was directing his comment to doesn't seem to be affected by it, why should a billion black people? maybe offended people across the world can learn from Tiger. imo, that dude Convucious has nothing on Tiger.
You mean, the black community still has pimps that want to keep their people slaves and use their own people for political and financial gain just like Saddam still does the Iraqis? So they bring such remarks to light instantly (Sharpton, Jackson, etc.) while every other minority community doesn't.
I wish some of you get a clue and read the posts before showing your ignorance. I don't want to summarize all of the posts in this thread about racism, its history, people in the public spotlight and double-standards. Just in response to this post... If Fuzzy made his remark to Tiger directly and personally, and Tiger is not offended or makes a stink of it, then the issue is dead. However, Fuzzy (like Shaq) made the comment in the public spotlight, in front of media, for all the world to hear. Unfortunately, people in the public spotlight need to demonstrate responsiblity for their actions and words. They get paid big bucks (by us, by the media, by corporations) to be in front of the camera. If they violate their responsibility due to their own stupidity and ignorance, then they will pay for it in bad press, booing, criticism, loss of contracts, loss of reputation, etc. When stars are in front of the camera, they need to know that they're not just talking to Yao or Tiger, but to the world. And think about it....there was a significant amount of people who were offended by Shaq's and Fuzzy's comments. How many times do I have to hear "ching-chong" crap in my life, since I heard it first in the first grade? How many times do I have to let it go and not get violent? Why the f*ck should the fat slug Shaq be allowed to do it in front of the camera? I was offended by Shaq's comments. I'm not Yao. Think about it. Ignorance breeds Complacency
That is my point! I NEVER said that I know how Chinese people feel about anything, by the same token saying that Chinese people feel how we feel is ludicris because WE HAVE NEVER BEEN EACH OTHER! Come on G, your energy could have been better directed. The "N" words history is based on the hanging, rape, murder and burning of blacks in THIS country for hundreds of years, I hardly think they compare.
This continuing saga of comparisons reminds me of the "Jaws" scene where Shaw and Dreyfus were comparing scars. Trouble is, this isn't funny. The Native Americans were treated every bit as badly as black people, and the Asians were just as much slave labor in the West. The point of this whole exercise is that wrong is wrong and hypocrisy is hypocrisy. One cannot defend a wrong by saying the wrongs to one side were worse than the other. There is no justification for either. Shaq should be ostracized and punished with fines, suspension and loss of advertising revenue because he de facto accepted the role of public personage with public responsibiliites.
And I assumed right, Yao Said he knew Shaq was joking but he knew people like you would not understand such a joke. You have a lot to learn from Yao. Shaq apologized, Yao said he understood Shaqs comments were not meant to be mean, so relax and take notes from Yao. I personally admire the way the dude handles it all.
So how long did you stay offended? a day? a few hours? Im just curious how long it takes for one to go from not being offended to offended and back to not being offended again...Or does one just stay offended and in your case will he see a black man and associate the black man with Shaq and feel offended all over again. Im not trying to be an ass, Im just curious how that all works.
Think through your last sentence. Mackomon did not say anything about Shaq being a spokesman for all blacks just as Zoeller is not a spokesman for all whites just as....well, you get the drift. He is just trying to make you understand that "I'm was just joking" and "for those who were offended, my apologies" is not a true apology.
With the whole Shaq issue? Well, I'm not walking around with a chip on my shoulder b/c of Shaq's stupid comment. I heard the same crap since first grade from all types of people, not just African-Americans. It only bothers me when I hear his comment in the media or ignorant comments about it made in the media or on this board. That's why I'm posting to respond about how I feel about this issue. What does bother me is Shaq's ignorance since he's in the public spotlight. Maybe Shaq is not a racist, but his comment was. He can say what he wants in the privacy of his home or with his boys or even to his 3 children. I don't care. What pisses me off is that he did it in front of the camera. There's just no excuse for it. His stupid comments just reinforces the racist comments and thoughts that still go on in 21st Century America. C'mon! Grow up!
mackmon, I understand where your coming from now more than I did before. thanks for the sincere reply.
You know what would be great....if stuff like "ching-chong" and "n----r" jokes are gone and people deal with each other as individuals. However, Shaq's joke was broadcasted to the public, to children. This joke in the media just reinforces the problems and teaches a whole new generation how to hate and emphasize differences that people find "funny". What a world we could live in if children (esp my future children) didn't hear these jokes while growing up.
What Shaq said, reinforces hate? Wow, that's a stretch wouldn't you think? If he hated the Chinese why is he practicing on how to say "I'm sorry" in the language?
I think it's more nasal and parrot sounding... You know what? It's so true and sometimes I wonder getting into these debates. Like Fuzzy, this Yao context is only for the matchup against the Lakers, and the rest will soon be forgotten thereafter. So yeah, Asians are racist with their friends, Blacks are racist with their friends, and Whites are racist with their friends (Latinos, Indians, etc...) But never, EVER say anything of race in public. Someone might get mad and "overract" to a "harmless joke". That's what our schools have taught us, and no, it wasn't in the book. We're such a classy group of people. We think money will solve our race divisions, but it's really a red herring. And since the better alternative has to be started by people who are "guilt free" and without hypocrisy, let's just keep the way things are. Our economy is chugging along, and the media says race is getting better and better.
BTW! Following the commerical success (cultural atroc) of Miami handing out fortune-cookies for the arrival of Ming Dynasty, the Heat will be handing out Taco Bell coupons for Mexican Pizza when Ed Najera and the Dallas Mavericks come to town!!! And don't be publishing Yao's name with them "chopstick" fonts......
I am so tired of this crap! Who cares? The guy is an idiot. He made a mistake. He is probably going to make more!
