Posted on 06/13/2008 3:04:50 AM PDT by robertvance
Even if Yao Ming had never donated a single jiao to the earthquake effort, the resentment that Chinese people have had for him is largely unjustified. First, it was not China that elevated Yao Ming to his current stardom in the United States. It was his own ’blood and sweat’ that made him into a star. If anything, China has created problems for Yao Ming’s career including a host of CBA regulatory obstacles. Second, Yao Ming has done much more for his country than many Chinese people care to admit or perhaps even know about. He has been involved in raising money for various charities and has also lent his name and support for the fight against AIDS, SARS, and poverty in China. For many, in China, however, these efforts have not been enough.
(Excerpt) Read more at teachabroadchina.com ...
That and when they invite him to dinner he hogs all the rice and fish heads.
Because of the fact that basketball - a uniquely American invention - is not as well liked sport in most of the world, let alone in China, as it is here.
BB has achieved near cult status in the US.
Along with American Idol and Brittany Spears.
Not to mention the fact that he left for America...
Actually, basketball is wildly popular there -- I'd be willing to bet that apart from the US, the NBA finds its largest fan base in the PRC. I lost count of the number of high school boys I met there who could name more NBA players than I could.
Regarding Yao Ming, pretty much every young person in China knows who he is and views his success as a matter of national pride. But remember, in places like China, group identity trumps individual accomplishment. They expect him to remember that he is Chinese first, and a basketball player second. As the article mentioned, he is supposed to use his fame, wealth and influence for the benefit of his people.
Your post is right on. People love the NBA in China and many follow it religiously. It always amazes me how well my students know about basketball in the US. Students often proudly pull out NBA magazines from their desks to show me how much they love the sport. There are plenty of parks in China that may not have a badminton net but you can almost always find a hoop. But when you ask a student what his favorite basketball player is, Yao Ming is rarely mentioned. Usually it’s Kobe, Shaq or even someone like Ben Wallace that they really seem to like. As you mention, everyone knows who Yao Ming is but not everyone appreciates him...
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