I've heard that Yao is polite in America. But cocky in China (especially with the media over there). Anyone remember the China vs Korea game? He was "talking trash" that whole game! Something about "they were holding and cheating..." So, he was going to teach them a lesson.
That has something to do with him comfortable and confident with his game. I remember when he first went to play in Shanghai Shark, he was also "timid" and he is shy of the medium; later on he could dominate in Asian games, and became more familiar with the medium, so he's "cocky". I think sooner or later he will also be cocky here, but not in the same pace a lot of you guys are thinking or expecting right now. After all, this is not his own country. By the way, in NBA how many times did you see a player not polite to the medium? Isn't it a common courtesy about that? Still, there's a big difference between cultures and that's why yao is still struggling on which way he should play consistently with. I hope this will not take too long
It happens. There are times when the media will ask silly questions, and the player will snap off a "cocky" reply. That's Yao in China and Asian games. But not here. Not yet. I'm sure the language barrier has a lot to do with it. But I'm starting to see a "tiger" inside Yao.
Here is an interesting inside article on Yao's sophomore year. In Chinese, someone care to translate? http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2003-12-08/0338688870.shtml
