i don't like complaining but people here need to stop talking politics and racial issues in a basketball forum. the truth of the matter is that yao has been the most scrutinized number one pick in recent history. but are you going to get mad everytime that jacka$$ on espn says communist block, or when there are at least a couple of racist bastards on the road who yell racial slurs at yao or bang a gong everytime he misses a free throw or says wax on, wax off when he's shooting free throws. there's no point in getting mad over what idiots think. what those idiots are doing is stupid, no question. but if you get mad over it, it's even stupider.
Remember, you said it best..."People are scared of what they don't understand." Thus, times have changed.
This article isn't about "Yao-hating." It's about commercializim and social issues. My reply to Rick Chan: Rick, I understand your point of view. I myself am put off by the state of the NBA. But you must remember that the NBA, and all sports for that matter, is a spectator sport: Entertainment. Nothing more, nothing less. Your first mistake is to place "professors, doctors, politicians, literary authors or even prime ministers" is the same sentence. Why compare those fields of study? The NBA athlete is no where close to those fields in stature and importance. I think you are putting too much value on the NBA player. Sure, Asian-boys will aspire to "be like Yao." But in the real world, they have to go out and do something that they are good at. Just like everyone else. That's where the fantasy ends. Besides, there's nothing wrong with having sports "heros." It doesn't mean that you can't also have other "heros" like your parents, or a writter you admire...etc...
hey grizzled, you're right, i haven't been on this board long enough to know the 'trends' of this message board... but i'm not posting stuff to make people happy, just voicing my thoughts. I've been back to china to visit family 4 times in the past 3 years, and while it's no north korea, rest assured that china is still a communist nation with its share of political tensions. The stereotypes I mentioned aren't my own, but they're out there whether you like it or not. people on this board seem extremely defensive as if every comment is taken as criticism. My original post was to draw a comparison between yao and tiger woods and add my own theory on why that comparison is valid. If you don't agree, just let me know. I'm sure there are people out there who look at yao as just another talented athlete. But i'm honest enough to admit that I have my own cultural biases and the success of yao is a great catalyst in the way of integrating asians into american culture.
First off, it doesn't seem to me that there are too many Yao haters left on this board. If you want to rip people for not liking Yao, I'm sure there are other message boards with a lot more targets. That aside, a big reason people thought Yao would fail is because he is 7'5". The list of guys that tall in the NBA isn't exactly a hall of fame roster. Bradley, Bol, Muhresan?, Nevit, etc. The other factors mentioned in this thread may have some validity as well, but I'm not sure they are the primary reason. As for being the Tiger Woods of basketball, if you're talking about level of play, I sure would love for you to be right.
