As an Asian, I don't think that being Asian necessarily makes you a Yao only fan. I've been supporting the Rockets through good and bad since we immigrated to the US in 1983. Yep, I watched all the games on TV(channel 20) and grew up cheering for Robert Reid, Akeem, Rodney McCray, loius Lloyd, Lucas, and so on. With that said, i must admit that when an Asian athlete becomes involved at the sport's highest level of competiton, whether it be basketball, babseball,or football, I will root for them because they are automatically underdogs. For example, I'm Korean. So those of you familiar with baseball know about Chan Ho Park, first Korean player in the Majors. When he came to the Dodgers, all Koreans would go to the Dome to catch him when the Dodgers would face the Astros. They would cheer him on to strike out Bagwell, where i'd want Jeff to light him up. They would question my pride in my culture and I'd say, "Chan Ho can no-hit all the other teams in the League. I'd be happy. BUT when he steps in Houston, I'm rooting for my team." I thinks some fans who weren't Rockets fan are having hard time distinguishing betweem being a true fan or circumstantial fan. Meaning they wouldn't care if Yao got drafted by The Cavaliers.You root for the team first, then the player. Unless you are a golf, tennis, or figure skating fan, one superstar will get NOWHERE without a team. I think after all the hype dies down, true fans will learn to become Rockets fan. Yao only fans aren't true fans and as soon as he hits a slump or gets injured, those people will disapper. Let's hope Yao stays healthy and productive)
wiredog: Great post. By the way, I think it is silly to distinguish between Asian fans and non-Asian fans when it comes to Yao. Of course, there are going to be fans from China who come here to talk Yao, but it isn't about race or ethnicity. As wiredog pointed out, there were many Asian fans of the Rockets in Houston and elsewhere before Yao came along.
I just think the rules have changed with this guy. Yes, it is weird to see fans suggesting he be on a different team. But this is like drafting Micheal Jordan after he was with the Bulls. The guy's got a fan base that we've never seen before from a #1 pick. But with this fan base comes people who are impatient and illogical (like any fan base). To some of these fans, it's like Yao had no choice on where he was going and they just want to see him succeed right away. Are all Yao-fans like this? Of course not. Most Yao fans believe that the struggles make the rewards all that much sweeter. But, like any vociferous minority, they draw the most attention. So what do we do? Do what you and I do with any idiot: call him/her an idiot and then ignore them. Everything about having Yao will be weird in the beginning. Rox fans and Yao-fans are just gonna have to get used to it. Hopefully, the solution will be the one most used in all of sports: winning. Also, I agree that he will follow in-line with the great centers and lead us to a championship especially since the Lakers dynasty will come to pass
So according to you, all posts that are not written in perfect grammar are Asians' posts, right? Not only is that stereotyping Asians, you are insulting us. By the way, "This forum was created for Rockets fans by Rockets fan, these "Yao-only fans" are lowering the quality here because they know very little about the NBA and the Rockets but make big statements like they do." That is a run-on, chief. You might want to practice your English yourself. Unless...are you Asian, too?
Well, in my personal, vague definition of a Yao-Only fan, yes, you are one. BUT, from what little I've seen from you, you're not the kind that I'm bitter about. I'm sure someone else's mentioned it (I hardly read much after the initial post), but a Yao-Only fan isn't always a bad thing. They're only a bad thing when they seem to think Yao is a godsend for the Rockets, and the only good player we have, and our ONLY hope of ever becoming anything. I don't think it's fair to suggest that; I think we'd be playoff caliber without him (and many people who haven't forgotten what we were like without Ming - before last year - would agree with me). And yeah... being interested only in him having a good statistical night isn't cool either... Otherwise, Ming fans are just an added source of much-needed support for this team. Just as long as you're here though, please be just that, support, for the WHOLE TEAM! This team's going nowhere with Yao as the only player we can depend on. My apologies if this was a really cliche, unnecessary post.
Um... that's some pretty confusing logic... if he's supporting other players on the Rockets... wouldn't that make him a Rockets fan? Still consider him a Yao-"mainly" fan, but I think it's cool he's voting for those other guys even if Cat and KT are lost causes for the All-Star team. Hey, I vote for Cat too, and I'm far from a Yao-only fan. Dunno, maybe the smiley means it was some sorta odd joke.
