Yao Ming

[unfocused]

Yao Ming is a 7 foot 6 inch basketball player from Shanghai, China. When American scouts got a hold of him and he entered to NBA draft, the news of such a player this size, with this much talent, skill and potential spread all across America. America had hopes of another hero. The NBA had hopes of another big ticket seller. China had hopes of such a cultural force in America. At 22 years old, the biggest man on the court had the biggest impact anyone could imagine. Yao Ming, alone, brought with him to American sports an entire country on his shoulders. He became an ambassador. He became that ticket seller, and most of all, he became that hero. But with the fame, came skeptics and critics. As always.

The sport he loved became a burden on him. In his first season, people would gather around just to hear the giant speak, yet they never listened to him. He gave hints that it was such hard work to represent China in every single game he played. With every move on the court, everyones eyes followed him. Every mistake he made was magnified, analyzed and replayed over and over on televisions. The expectations from his fans were big enough, but the expectations from his country were astronomical. In his first season, he couldn't live up to those expectations. Still, he played on, under the scrutiny, he played while critics laughed and made jokes about his latest mistake as if its not human to make one. Yet he sold tickets, and with every game he gained more fans. More believers, who see with their own eyes, that a gentle giant can dominate with skill rather than force. Yao Ming did things on the court no other player his size could ever do. Even when the skeptics said he'd be forgotten before anyone knew it, he'd shut them up with his amazing talent on the court against the angry, mean, and strong americans. A court, most people would argue, holds the best players in the world. Yao Ming was seen by many as just a small player in such a big game. Yet his country, although holding him in higher regard than he was comfortable with, still voted him into the NBA's annual All-Star game every year. The game which offers the 30 or so top players in America in a single room. Yao Ming has been one of those players in each of his four years in the league. At first, it may have been because of his popularity, or that the Chinese were allowed to vote beginning in Yao's first year in the NBA.

But now, that is no longer the case. Yao Ming is developing into the basketball powerhouse his fans believed he would be. In his best season, he has surpassed the one man, or rather, the one "mountain in my way". The 7 foot 1 inch American basketball player Shaquille O'neil. Or more famously known as Shaq. The self-proclaimed "last true center" in the NBA, he alters every game with just sheer brute force. The strongest man in the league was the single player everyone knew would define Yao Ming as a player. The one test which will show us all exactly where Yao Ming stands among the great sports legends of our times. Yao Ming blocked Shaq's first four shots to the goal in the two's very first battle against eachother. Since then, after so much hype from the media, hype that made these two players seem to be opposing forces off the court, they have become friends. When their teams face off together, its never evident which team is better. The outcome usually becomes decided in the final moments of the game. These two bring the best out of eachother. Now, it isn't Shaq who is the problem for Yao, but Yao the problem for Shaq.

Yao Ming has made it to the top players in the NBA, without the fan support. His averages exceed Shaq's now. But those are just statistics. In the game, Yao Ming dominates in a way his opponents describe to be Shaq-like. Teams admit to having to change routines solely for this one man. Players who have to face him one-on-one admit to being afraid and having to worry on support from teammates. teams have developed a system, many times, when having to face Yao Mings Houston Rockets. One noticeable system is the rotation of big players on him. Coaches say they work their centers harder to prepare for one game against Yao Ming. usually 3 different players the average size of 7 feet tall will rotate off him. Each taking their turn bumping him, defending him, and trying to wear and tear at him, chip away his durabilty. It doesn't work anymore. He schools his competitors now. He is faster than players he shouldn't be. players not as tall. He is stronger than they are. But most of all, as has been apparent since his first steps onto an American basketball court four years ago, he is smarter.

His first three years in America didnt match the expectations everyone had for him. He played each game with an injury, an infected toe. Until the middle of his 4th season, when he had surgery on the toe, he was never at his best, even when he was amazing. But now, since he has healed, he is playing among the leagues top 5 players. He has become the big story, the [i]center[/i] of attention, once again. But unlike 4 years ago, he is prepared now. And he has reached those expectations and passed them. And more than likely, he is not through. He still has another decade of youth. Unfortunatly, he went down with a broken bone in his foot, a few games before his last season. A fracture that will be healed in time for his next season. Giving him an unexpected, yet very much needed rest from the World Games during the summer.

He has become a man from that young, shy boy he was before coming to the country he dreamed of playing in. A country that accepted him even before he was able to make his first mistake on the court. Before he let Shaq know that there was a new force to be reckoned with, and before he became the man we all hoped he would. It is said that Yao Ming is to China, as Michael Jordan is to America. Jordan was arguably the best player to ever grace the court. Making him the best seller the NBA has ever had. In China, Yao Ming is the best they've ever had.

The Yao Ming Effect
The phenomenon "The Yao Ming Effect" was phraised from the emmense popularity Yao had when coming to America. Bringing with him supporters from all over the world believing that one man will represent a nation and succeed. It was known as Yao Ming Mania in China. The Chinese became basketball fans, hardcore. The NBA held games, that didnt even include Yao, in their country. Television stations aired NBA games, bringing great ratings from China. Not to mention the craze from Chinese residence in America. Yao Ming sells out arenas when he goes to Chinese populated cities to play. He sells products with his name and picture on them. The Yao Ming Effect is defined as a single man with an entire nation behind him.
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"edit : i luv james" - Layzcarter

[Red_Quatre]

Yao Ming: "Can I write a check?" 'Member that commercial. Yeah. It was pretty funny.
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[unfocused]

i dont even think he had his visa when he made that commercial.
_________________
"edit : i luv james" - Layzcarter

[Red_Quatre]

Yao Ming > Mini Me
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[KeheiZero]

As if the picture doesn't already tell you.
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"You know what? My squirrel instinct tells me he's even more of a bastard than I first thought." - Gene Hunt

[PFC]

They're holding the wrong computers. I'll bet his fingers are too big to press those tiny little buttons.