Time For Kids interview: Getting up close with Yao Ming

Something interesting for the long offseason...

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/living/14421526.htm

Getting up close with Yao Ming
By TRISHA MORRISON
TimeforKids.com
Time For Kids kid reporter Trisha Morrison, who speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese, recently had a chance to meet basketball star Yao Ming and interview him in their shared language.

Yao, the 7-foot 6-inch "Little Giant from China" and Houston Rockets center, has been the focus of the media both in China and United States since the moment he arrived on the basketball scene in 2002. Yao is a three-time NBA All-Star.

Before Yao arrived, I kept wondering if with his enormous size, he would be intimidating. But I immediately became relaxed and comfortable after he started to talk. There is something special about his personality. During my entire interview, he was sincere, kind, caring, personable and sometimes philosophical.

TFK: I heard when you were 9 years old, the same age as me, you started to attend the amateur sports school in Shanghai. What was your life like as a kid growing up in China?

Yao: Nothing really special. I went to the school in the morning. In the afternoon at 2 o'clock, I did my homework and then played with neighborhood kids. When I was 9 years old and began to play basketball, I had a regular time to practice basketball from 2 to 5 in the afternoon.

TFK: What is the major difference between playing in China and here in the United States and what do you like best about playing in China and in the U.S.?

Yao: In terms of playing basketball and life, there are just too many areas that differ. This is because the differences that exist in the cultures between the two countries are so vast; it takes time to change yourself and get used to them. In terms of comparisons, what do I like best about playing in the U.S.? I should say the way they create the atmosphere in the games is much better than that in China. China's professional league basketball games are not very mature; the atmosphere during the games is not very enthusiastic. It has not been exploited to its max. But there are a few good things about playing in China.

... It's my family hobby.

TFK: What has been your most difficult adjustment to make from a CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) player to an NBA player?

Yao: I feel that I did not make too many adjustments, except for the language... I must speak English when I am here.

TFK: I know you participate in the NBA's "Read to Achieve" program and you have read to kids both in the U.S. and China. I read that you said, "Reading and learning are important no matter where you live." Can you tell me your purpose of reading to the kids?

Yao: Knowledge is very important. Even for players like us, we still need to read a lot. Knowledge is not just the knowledge of books. There are various kinds of knowledge. For us who play basketball, we should be able to summarize our experiences of success and failure. This is also a type of learning. So learning is very, very important for every profession.

TFK: Most great basketball players are always trying to improve their skills. What skills are you trying to improve?

Yao: I want to learn to better help my team. Any types of skills that can better help me to assist my team are what I need to learn.

TFK: Which teammate has helped you the most during your NBA career? Why?

YAO: My career is still very short, (you know) my professional career. But I have learned good experiences and better things from almost all my teammates. I must say that every one I have dealt with has been very helpful to me.

TFK: Would you say Shaquille O'Neal is the toughest rival you have faced so far? If not him, who is the toughest rival for you and why?

YAO: (Laughs) There is no such thing like "if not him"! It is him! There is no "if" at all!

TFK: Which player in the NBA do you enjoy watching the most? Why?

YAO: You should know this world is very exciting! Just like you don't want to only stick to eating one thing out of the whole meal. You eat a little bit of everything. Playing basketball is the same. From the view of appreciation, watching different types of players play is a real enjoyment for me.

TFK: This is your fourth year with the NBA. Your performances in recent games have made many fans very excited! How has your role on the Rockets changed as you have gained experience and improved your skills?

YAO: My coach always has very high expectations of me. I have also been constantly trying my very best to meet his expectations. Not just because he expects me to, I want to do this myself too. He has given me a goal and I feel that now I have found a way to reach this goal.

TFK: Who has been the most influential person in your life helping you getting where you are today? Why?

YAO: My parents. Because they have influenced me so much! From basketball (because they used to be basketball players themselves) to lessons in life.

TFK: When you are not playing basketball, what other sports do you like to play?

YAO: Swimming. Before I played basketball, I used to play water polo, but I was considered a slow swimmer, I wasn't allowed to swim anymore, so I started to play basketball. Right now it is the basketball season, I don't have much time to swim. But I swim in the summer when I have some free time.

TFK: You are considered China's pride. People in China and Chinese Americans here in the States have very high expectations of you. Do you feel a lot of pressure and tension knowing that all of China is watching your every move on the court?

YAO: Yes, I feel a lot of pressure and I used to be nervous, but I am getting used to it. You need to learn how to play your game and live your life normally under pressure and tension. Those things are beyond your control. You can only get used to them, they won't get used to you.

TFK: You are a great role model for today's youth. What advice do you want to give to the kids in the U.S. who want to become a great basketball player or a great athlete like you when they grow up?

YAO: Study hard. Do not get injured.