So I think it’s perfectly legitimate to flip the question. Black (and white) players dunk because they come from a culture (or have been immersed in a culture) which promotes individuality, and glorifies the ego.

Yao’s obviously a team player. He passes a lot, he doesn’t hog the ball. But this does not mean he is not aggressive.

I used to have an insecurity about Asian people’s passivity, and would deliberately assert myself to counter the assumption. And my family’s passive attitude to deliberate provocation used to frustrate me to no end. But Ed above was right: don’t confuse passivity with good manner, don’t confuse barbaric agression with masculinity.

Passivity does not mean submission, or politeness. Often being passive is the smartest thing to do. Also, sometimes being passive is braver than being aggressive.

I think that these days this difference in cultural attitude is well known and better understood, and most importantly, respected.

So I think it’s perfectly legitimate to flip the question. Black (and white) players dunk because they come from a culture (or have been immersed in a culture) which promotes individuality, and glorifies the ego.

Yao’s obviously a team player. He passes a lot, he doesn’t hog the ball. But this does not mean he is not aggressive.

I used to have an insecurity about Asian people’s passivity, and would deliberately assert myself to counter the assumption. And my family’s passive attitude to deliberate provocation used to frustrate me to no end. But Ed above was right: don’t confuse passivity with good manner, don’t confuse barbaric agression with masculinity.

Passivity does not mean submission, or politeness. Often being passive is the smartest thing to do. Also, sometimes being passive is braver than being aggressive.

I think that these days this difference in cultural attitude is well known and better understood, and most importantly, respected.

I don’t follow basketball all that much, but the announcers kept saying how well Yao was doing. They mentioned him over and over, much more than a lot of the other players. Yao isn’t physically thick enough to play like Shaq, but overall, I think he does really well. He’s still among the very best. And when he draws fouls, unlike Shaq, he can actually put those free throws through the hoop.

I don’t follow basketball all that much, but the announcers kept saying how well Yao was doing. They mentioned him over and over, much more than a lot of the other players. Yao isn’t physically thick enough to play like Shaq, but overall, I think he does really well. He’s still among the very best. And when he draws fouls, unlike Shaq, he can actually put those free throws through the hoop.