I felt sad when I heard the news of Yao Ming's retirement. I followed Yao's career with great interest because he is the first Chinese athletic star in a mainstream sport in the U.S. Even though he did not have much of a formal education, he had a great understanding of the world and was very funny during interviews. My favorite was when they interviewed him before the Bejing Olympics in the Chinese team's locker room. It was obvious that in order to advance into the second round the Chinese team had to beat Germany. Right before the Games, Chris Kaman, who has German blood from about 3 generations ago, joined the German team. Yao was asked if this frightened him. Yao, with a serious expression, said that he will personally take care of Kaman so there is nothing to worry about. Then turning to his teammates, he then asked: "Now would someone else take care of Dirk Nowitzki?" This cracked up the reporters and also his teammates. Well, maybe his teammates had a nervous laugh.
Yao's coming to America was taken by some as the beginning of the invasion of players from China. It didn't turn out that way as Yi Jilian and Sun Yue had not played well in the NBA. So the question is, can China ever catch up in the major sports. My answer is no, if they continue their methods of selecting and training elite athletes. By looking for youngsters with the "right" size, strength, speed and flexibility for various sports and then train them in a very strict manner, China will continue to produce world class athletes in sports like gymnastics and diving. But this method does not work for team sports where someone is defending against what you are doing and you must defend against what they are doing. China tends to try to match westerners in size in sports like soccer and basketball. The smaller players are overlooked and are not given the training. Since there is no AYSO and youth basketball leagues in most of China, unless you are big at a young age, you will be forgotten. I think if properly trained there would be players similar in size of say Allen Iverson and Diego Maradona who can be better than people on China's current soccer and basketball national teams. Sports like basketball and soccer also require individual imagination that cannot be taught at a sports institute that has rigid training methods. Playing in the playgrounds like Americans would actually be better. Yi, who has the height, quickness, jumping ability and shooting touch, should be much better in the NBA. He looks lost out there. I think if he had grown up in New York, LA or Detroit he would be a dominant player in the NBA.
Yao is owner of the Shanghai Sharks of the CBA. I hope that he will use his knowledge learned in the NBA to improve basketball in China. He also wants to go back to school and get a formal education. You think he maybe a popular pick in intramural basketball? After he gets his education, I hope he fulfills the prediction I made a few years ago on this blog: Yao becoming a great politician>
Sunday, July 10, 2011
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Even though I wasn't surprised with Yao's decision to retire, it still shocked me. I thought that he would hold off on his announcement, especially with a lockout on the horizon. In my mind, I thought that if he had another year of rest, maybe he would feel differently and want to come back and give it a go.
ReplyDeleteWith a formal announcement like this, it seems to me that his decision is final and that he is at peace with his decision.
I would venture to guess that his life in China will be different than what it was like here. My hope is that we will see him in the U.S. again. Maybe as an ambassador, where his popularity and personality would help Chinese relations.
I wonder if he would be tutored instead of actually going to class on a campus. You would think that he would be a distraction. Plus, I would not want to be the guy who has to sit behind him in class!
You are right about the Chinese method. You would think that after all these years that they would try to at least tweek their methods. I guess that when you are producing excellent divers, tennis players, gymnasts and skaters that you think you're doing something right.
Are there any basketball players from China who will make an impact in the NBA anytime soon?
-LBOAYM
There is a young player Guo Ailin that is typical of the system ruining him. Couple years ago Guo was at a elite Nike or Adidas camp in the U.S. for high school players and was voted the best guard. After he went back to China he and a couple others that went to the U.S. were criticized for too much individual play. He played last season in the CBA,the highest league in China. He was not a starter but was part of the rotation on his team. This year there was a rumor that a few players on the U19 national team revolted against the coach. I bet Guo had something to do with it. Anyway the U19 team just played poorly in the world championship this month. They played close games against Serbia and the U.S. but lost to EGYPT! Guo was particularly bad against Egypt. It is obvious the career of the coach is finished with this result. The question is did Guo played poorly on purpose against Egypt or has his play deteriorated in the last two years in China because of all the restrictions.
ReplyDeleteThe point guard position is the most important on the national team. China's lack of point guards in international play has cost it as turnovers are their big downfall. So here is this kid who couple of years ago held his own against some of the best high school guards in the U.S. and China still didn't let him develop the way he could have. That is why I am not optimistic about China catching up in basketball.