Yao Ming

Yao Ming wearing his 2009 West Allstars Jersey (http://www.channelapa.com/2009/02/yao-ming-at-2009-nba-all-star-game.html)

About 77% of players in the NBA are African American. And another 22% is white, that leaves about 1% to be any other nationalities. Yao Ming was born on September 12, 1980 in China. As a child growing up in Shanghai, Yao’s family was very limited. Their apartment was way too small to accommodate its inhabitants and their food rations given by the Chinese government could not sustain Yao’s incredible diet. At a young age Yao at first did not pursue the sport of basketball, he was weak and unaggressive and read military history books. But at age nine Chinese sports officials scouted him to join one of the state run athletic schools in the country. After graduating Yao played for his home team, the Shanghai Sharks, and rose to become the basketball superstar of China. The result of his great accomplishments in China made him the number one draft pick by the Houston Rockets in the NBA in 2002. As current Houston Rockets celebrity player Yao Ming breaks racial barriers and inspires many to follow their basketball dreams. In 2002 Yao Ming became the [first round] first overall pick in the NBA draft. In his first year in the NBA he made to the All-Stars games and started. He continued that tradition until 2009. Basketball or even athletics isn’t a common skill for the Asians in the United States, Yao broke that social norm and became an NBA superstar. Yao Ming’s continuing impressive skills on the court makes him an international superstar, and through his fame he has displayed kindness and care through his actions of giving back to the community, but what he had to work and persevere for to achieve greatness is what makes him my, and many others' hero.

Yao Ming hustling for a loose ball (http://olympics.scmp.com/Article.aspx?id=2083§ion=athletes)

Yao’s perseverance and hard-work built his successful career today. Brought to athletic state schools as a child he had to endure the harsh conditions of his training and the environment of which he practiced in: “…pushed through endless drills. The courts he played in were unheated, and frequently got so cold that the balls Yao played with could no longer bounce” (Belfiore 1). As a child none of us would endure the kind of conditions that Yao persevered through to practice a simple game of basketball, yet he continued to practice. This kind of perseverance and hard-work inspires many to do the same to achieve the same outcome that Yao has made. Even when Yao made it to the NBA he continued to show his inspiring character by working hard through his rookie season off the bench: “He did not start for the Rockets during the first months of his rookie season, but began to show impressive talents whenever coach Rudy Tomjanovich put him in a game” (UXL Newsmakers 1). Although Yao didn’t start like how he started on his former team, the Shanghai Sharks, he still continued to work hard and adapt to the NBA to continue his career and some day take a starting position. Yao persevered through his time adapting to the NBA’s physicality and competition. I admire this because it shows that he can be great in any condition or environment. Yao wasn’t born with talent, he had to work hard to gain it and persevere through the pain to achieve it.

Yao Ming spending time with kids infected with HIV (http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/07/page/2)

Another aspect of Yao is his caring attitude towards his home country. Yao gives back to his original home, a nation of over a billion people: “Yao established The Yao Ming Foundation in June 2008 to support the rebuilding efforts in China with an emphasis on rebuilding earthquake-resistant high quality schools” (NBA Cares 1). This shows that Yao doesn’t forget his origins and gives back to the country that has given him so much. His efforts to rebuild China show how much he cares for the next generation of Chinese so that they don’t have to endure the hardships he had to go through as a child growing up there. On top of rebuilding China Yao represents the Chinese, presenting a positive image of the Chinese people: “Yao can build a bridge of better understanding. He will represent what China is to a lot of people-big, powerful, smart, talented” (Belfiore 1). Through his popularity Yao can put in a good word about the Chinese to help immigrants [from China] to feel more welcome knowing that there is an influential person in the states that supports them. This shows how Yao cares for his kind and hopes that his people can become as successful as he has been. Yao Ming made his “American Dream” and still he cares for his people who live in less fortunate conditions.

Yao Ming dunking over Kevin Garnett (http://www.yougotdunkedon.com/2008/01/say-it-aint-so-kg.html)

About 99% of the NBA is either African American or white, and Yao represents the big 1 [percent]. “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles” (-Christopher Reeves). Yao's physique was never meant to be put under that much stress and work yet he persevered through the pain and injuries to become the best basketball player he could ever be. Once he made it he didn’t stop working and still managed time to help others and give back to those who have given so much to him. Yao today has become a successful basketball player and cultural ambassador for the Chinese people. Because of him many Asians have been inspired to take on sports related dreams, work hard, and persevere to achieve their dreams. Many others think Yao is a hero for what he does off the court with his foundation to rebuild China’s schools so the next generation of Chinese will have a better environment than the harsh one that he had to endure as a child. Yao Ming serves as inspiration to many Chinese basketball players that they too can play at the highest level.