Saturday, January 18, 2003
SHAQ VS. YAO
The Lakers played the Rockets last night that included the much-hyped duel between Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming. The Rockets won the game in overtime (thanks to a lousy call, but that's another story) and Shaq won the battle of the stats (31 points, 13 rebounds). But don't think that his Chinese counterpart didn't hold his own (10 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks).
I havd to admit that I'm proud of Yao's success in this game (even though it cost the Lakers) and in the NBA in general. Yao will be named the starting center at next month's All-Star game (over Shaq).
But what I really wanted to comment on was Shaq's comments that have gotten him labelled as a racist. In an interview, he used a mock Chinese accent to say, "Tell Yao Ming, `Ching chong yang wah ah soh.' " Were these comments insensitive? Yes. Does the Chinese community have a right to get upset? Of course. But is Shaq a racist? No chance. Shaq is a man who loves to joke and sometimes crosses the line between fun joking and hurtful joking. Shaq later learned the Chinese way to say "I'm sorry" so he could tell it to Yao. But what I was even more impressed with is how Yao has handled the entire situation -- with poise and dignity. He is truly representing the motherland well and America has noticed.
The Lakers played the Rockets last night that included the much-hyped duel between Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming. The Rockets won the game in overtime (thanks to a lousy call, but that's another story) and Shaq won the battle of the stats (31 points, 13 rebounds). But don't think that his Chinese counterpart didn't hold his own (10 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks).
I havd to admit that I'm proud of Yao's success in this game (even though it cost the Lakers) and in the NBA in general. Yao will be named the starting center at next month's All-Star game (over Shaq).
But what I really wanted to comment on was Shaq's comments that have gotten him labelled as a racist. In an interview, he used a mock Chinese accent to say, "Tell Yao Ming, `Ching chong yang wah ah soh.' " Were these comments insensitive? Yes. Does the Chinese community have a right to get upset? Of course. But is Shaq a racist? No chance. Shaq is a man who loves to joke and sometimes crosses the line between fun joking and hurtful joking. Shaq later learned the Chinese way to say "I'm sorry" so he could tell it to Yao. But what I was even more impressed with is how Yao has handled the entire situation -- with poise and dignity. He is truly representing the motherland well and America has noticed.
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