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.

If I flipped this article on its head and said that black players dunk because their culture promotes physical aggression,

I had a slight issue of your comparison between Asians are more passive because of a collectivistic society and saying that black people are more aggressive culturally. Unlike the reason given for the Asian stereotype that you admitted holds truth, the statement about black culture goes unsupported.
I will say this about that statement black culture does not promote physical aggression. This stereotype is fueled by the media that places the black male as a poor ignorant criminal. If Asians were judged by the poorest members of the society their would be just as agressive profile placed on them.

I like this website by the way.

Also comparing a little league to the pros is different as well, the top notch players in the NBA are basically unstoppable so other players would be more than willing to pass. Sure a player like Kobe can help improve his team through getting others involved , but it still starts with him with the ball and analyzing the defense. At the end of the day…if there’s a player that can take the most shots and people would want him to shoot over anyone else, it would be Kobe Bryant. That would basically apply to other dominate players such as D-Wade, Lebron James, Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony, or even Kevin Durant.

However I do think comparing Shaq to Yao isn’t the best of comparisons. Shaq has dominated the game with his power and athleticism, even though Yao Ming is tall…he isn’t blessed with the type of attributes that Shaq and Dwight Howard have that allow them to be such a force in the paint. Even Yao Ming listed at 7′6, only has a 7′4 wingspan. Yao Ming has actually changed throughout the years, and I remember when he criticized his own Chinese teammates and received backlash for that. There’s actually other things that pertain to the development and play of Chinese basketball in general, but I won’t get into that.

Here’s a quote from a article about Yao Ming;
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/5764730/
“The Chinese officials blamed the United States for corrupting Yao and giving him American personality habits, according to the Globe and Mail. When he first went to the NBA two years ago, he was “an obedient child” with a “very good reputation,” one official said. “Now, he has changed, he’s more like an American, he dares to say anything.” ”

I’m not sure about the examples with jersey sells makes such a difference just because even in the USA, flashy wing players have always outsold big men. It was only a matter of time that Yao Ming would lose that #1 spot. If there’s ever a Chinese guard that dominates the game such as the likes of a Kobe or Lebron, or even plays like Vince Carter, I wouldn’t be surprised if they outsold Yao Ming.

Yao Ming as great as he is as a player, I really don’t see him being that #1 franchise player that can lead his team to the championship…but that’s okay. T-Mac was supposed be the one that helped Yao take over games, but he’s out with microfracture. Kobe has a Pau Gasol/Bynum, Lebron has Z/Ben Wallace, Brandon Roy has Lamarcus/Greg Oden, Chris Paul has David West/Tyson Chandler, Deron Williams has Boozer/Okur, etc.

Perhaps if Yao Ming can help lead his team passed the 1st round against the Blazers then maybe that will the beginning of a even more dominant Yao Ming…but then again, if they pass the first round they’re going to have to face the Lakers. I’ve actually always wanted to see how Yao Ming could play under the Triangle offense with Kobe and coach Phil Jackson, obviously with Kobe taking over games in the 4th but Yao Ming alongside helping both enough to win it all.

And what’s a basketball blog without Youtube clips?
Here’s one:

Yao Ming – Dominant?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9EiQIUYXeo

Please Enjoy! =)

Yao is one of the best role models out there working with charities and as a Chinese ambassader
Playing 20-10 on top of that is just brillant can’t really be pushing him too much after all that.

If he can get more points then even better but it takes a team to win Championships not an individual star player.

Am I disappointed with Yao? not at all. He’s underated.

The misconception of passiveness doesn’t stir me one bit. Chinese culture is not passive and respectful of collective harmony.

Passive and inferiority is typically an ignorant attitude from westerners towards non-white people.