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Length: 02:22
Posted: 7/23/2009
A documentary about Yao Ming and his transition into the NBA. watch
In response to the recent catastrophes in China and Myanmar, the NBA's two Chinese players, Yao Ming (Houston Rockets) and Yi Jianlian (Milwaukee Bucks) have taped public service announcements requesting aid from fans. NBA Cares, the league's philanthropic arm, will direct contributions to the Red Cross (for victims of Monday's earthquake in China) and UNICEF (for those affected by the May 2 cyclone in Myanmar).Yao's PSA will debut tonight during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers (May 16, 8 pm/ET, ESPN). Yao and Yi also taped versions in Mandarin and Cantonese to air in China.For more information click here.read more
While the traditional American stereotype of people from China portrays them as short, studious, and not especially athletic, Yao Ming turned that image on his head -- standing seven foot six, Yao became the most talked about player in professional basketball when he signed to play with the Houston Rockets in 2002, the first Chinese migr to play in the NBA. Yao was largely unknown when he first suited up with the Rockets, and many were skeptical about his abilities, especially when he displayed an unsure command of the American style of basketball in his early games. But Yao soldiered on, and by the end of the season he was proving his detractors wrong, among them player-turned-sportscaster Charles Barkley, who once on air promised to kiss the rear end of one of his fellow television commentators if Yao ever scored 19 points in a game -- and had to make good on the pledge when Yao managed the feat. The Year of the Yao is a documentary (produced in part by the NBA) which looks at Yao watch
