Operation: Yao Ming

The riveting story behind NBA giant Yao Ming, the ruthless Chinese sports machine that created him, and the East-West struggle over China's most famous son

The NBA’s 7'5'' all-star Yao Ming has changed the face of basketball, revitalizing a league desperate for a new hero while becoming a multimillionaire pitchman for Reebok and McDonald’s. But his journey to America—like that of his forgotten foil, Wang Zhizhi—began long before he set foot on the world’s brightest stage.

Operation Yao Ming opens with the story of Yao’s parents, basketball players brought together by Chinese officials intent on creating a generation of athletes who could bring glory to their resurgent motherland. By age fourteen, Yao was pulled out of school to join the Shanghai Sharks pro team, following in the footsteps of his idol Wang Zhizhi, the star of the People’s Liberation Army team. It wasn’t long before the NBA and American sports companies would set their sights on China’s two tallest players, hoping to tap a market of 1.3 billion people.

following in the footsteps of his idol Wang Zhizhi

Some idol he's turned out to be.

following in the footsteps of his idol Wang Zhizhi

Some idol he's turned out to be.

lmao, yao OWNS his idol

following in the footsteps of his idol Wang Zhizhi

Some idol he's turned out to be.

lmao, yao OWNS his idol

Same with TMac pwning his idol, Penny Hardaway.

lmao, yao OWNS his idol

Same with TMac pwning his idol, Penny Hardaway.[/quote]Right now, yes. But back then, Penny was probably as good.
Anyway T-Mac in his prime doesn't 'pwn' Penny in his prime.

Lmao..his idol was ZhiZhi

lmao, yao OWNS his idol

Same with TMac pwning his idol, Penny Hardaway.Right now, yes. But back then, Penny was probably as good.
Anyway T-Mac in his prime doesn't 'pwn' Penny in his prime.

Actually Penny was NEVER as good as T-Mac is/was/will be

Last edited by kevC on Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:37 am, edited 2 times in total.

Don't you people know how to quote?

Not my fault, I just quoted cklitsie's initial error

Actually, Penny was a 20/7/5 player by his third season, which, sadly due to injury turned out to be his "prime." Tracy McGrady's best season so far is 32/6/7, which is certainly remarkable, but that came in his seventh season. I argue that it's not out of the realm of possibility for Penny to have averaged 25/7/7 in his prime had he not gotten hurt.

Not exactly "pwnage" as you guys like to say.

Certainly, it's not as bad as Yao over Wang Zhi-Zhi.

Where do all these asian people come from? Holy hell.

Where do all these asian people come from? Holy hell.

maybe from Asia

Penny averaged really good numbers with Shaq around. When Shaq went down, not only did Penny increase his numbers, he also kept the Magic winning.

In the NBA finals he averaged 25.5ppg and 8apg. Remarkable for a point guard playing second fiddle to Shaq.

If you guys have read Yao's book, he's been very humble and always mentioning that his fame now is all because of his idol, Wang Zhi Zhi. He said that if it wasn't for him, he wouldn't work so hard blablabla, and he said forever Wang is his ido..

Wang Zhi Zhi was awesome before his NBA days....he was like a 7-foot Toni Kukoc in the making....I'm talking in international hoops....you could see his potential oozing out....shame he went to NBA as it wasn't the right developmental path for him I guess....