Like I said before, Rockets better not see a gangster come out from Shanghai who can ball like Michael Jordan. Yao is Chinese, but it doesn't mean all Chinese all passive like him. I bet there are some pretty aggressive dudes that can ball. The Communists just don't want to promote them since they will probably defect if given the chance. Yao is not going to defect, but the dude is passive as passive can be just like the Communists want him.
The only problem is that there are lots of kids now as cocky as possible, but can't ball. Same thing in life, it's frustrating to deal with people with aggressive, arrogant, and mean attitude, but can't really do any work.
Yao should see himself as the country of China. Stromile Swift is the United States of the America. This means the United States just dunked on China pretty badly. If Yao can use that as motivation, I think he should use it.
Yes, I'm pretty sure they are a lot of arrogant basketball players. It seem the Communist regime prevents this kind of player from being promoted. When I heard the Communist officials scolded Yao for being too opinionated about his team's effort, then it just showed what kind of player the government over there wants. I know there are a lot of folks there who died to try to get the government to change. It shows that a lot of folks are rebellious and defiant and not just compliant like Yao. I bet there are some pretty damn good basketball players in China who are probably planning to sneak out on the next boat and defect. Yao better watch out. An aggressive Chinese baller is waiting to elbow him in the chops.
That is so true. I noticed that Yao does not feel he can assert himself much because he does not believe he is the best on the team.........at least not yet. I believe he is afraid to "demand the ball" and fail to deliver the goods.
Sports are a game of egos. Look at all of the best athletes. They all have one thing in common, huge egos. This character trait is not a beneficial trait for Society but it seems to push the athlete to a level that can't be reached otherwise. Ex. Jordan, Ali, etc...
Without a background in Chinese psyche, I doubt you would know what a northern Chinese or a Manchurian warlord behaves like.
I know it probably will start another war here among Chinese by stating this, but it's a common knowledge, at least among Chinese, that "southern Chinese" has a "soft" reputation when compare people from northern, particularly, males in Shanghai, and Sichun. Don't get start with me just yet, because I'm not saying this is a fact. It's just a common believe among Chinese. Wether Yao's personality is a result of that is a different issue.
my my.... nd this thread was showing such promise in the first page... cant you guys that feel the need to insult and b**** go to one of the other threads that are already ruined?
Hey, y'all wanted to know the source of Yao's problems, that's the source right there. The problem is gettin' it fixed.
Regardless whether you're American or Chinese or whatever... we can all use more of Yao's traits, may be we'll become better people.... just a thought!
I personally find it a bit offensive. Because people are getting the wrong impression. There's a difference between Chinese culture in general, and the Chinese <i>sports culture</i>. This is a HUGE distinction. I would not be surprised at all that Yao was taught to be a "team player" on the basketball court growing up. Not to show up others, and generally be a nice guy. All of which is showing up in his play in the NBA, and hurting his game. But Chinese people in general are just like everyone else. There's plenty of selfishness, arrogance, impatience, etc. in the country. No less than the US. Yao plays the way he does because of the way he was taught to play basketball growing up. No more, no less.
My friend, in a past life, I spent many many years in the service of Zhang Zuolin as his personal valet, so trust me, I know the type; Of course, I am just the son of a humble Uighur wool merchant from a dusty backwater hamlet in Xinjiang so you are right in that my experience is limited
I think Hakeem is a prime example of someone who exemplified admirable qualities off the court while showing the necessary assertiveness on the court. That's what made him special.
MadMax; When I talk about different kinds of leadership I don't mean one translates to success while another doesn't, even in the NBA, but its what is celebrated. For instance as others note Tim Duncan embodies all of those traits, has won 2 championships and will probably win more before his career is over but he gets less endorsements and has less fans than Shaq or Kobe and even players who have never won a championship like Barkley or Iverson.
