Creative Non-fiction Writing
Instructed by Wu Yanting
Written by Chen Lu
April 18, 2004

           Yao Ming----the Walking Great Wall

Known as the "Walking Great Wall", Yao Ming is China's national treasure basketball player.  In 2002, Yao became the first-ever No. 1 pick to have previously played professionally overseas.  At that time, for a 20-year-old that tall, Ming's mobility and hands and touch and footwork were all outstanding.  Some experts even expected that "In four years, he could be one of the best players in the world".

“It's been a dream of mine to play in the NBA ever since the first time I saw a game on TV many years ago.  To almost touch that dream today fills me with a sense of joy that words simply cannot describe.”  Above all, Yao Ming has the motivation to become better, and has expressed a strong interest in playing in the USA against the best in the world.  When Yao Ming appeared on the NBA court for the first time, his dream finally realized.  

With the height of 7 feet 5 inches, Yao Ming enjoys incomparable physical advantage.  He can knock down jumpshots all the way out to NBA 3 point range with consistency.  With very quick reflexes, he shows the ability to adapt to plays as they're happening.  Moreover, he also has both very clever offensive game and passes with creativity and good aggressiveness.  He enjoys to dunk (mostly two handed), and does so with authority.  

In 2003, Yao Ming had one of the most exciting rookie years in NBA history.  In the NBA, Yao Ming scored an average of 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.74 blocks per game, earning him unanimous NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.  Yao Ming reached three blocks 26 times, as Houston held a 22-4 record in these contests. He started at center for the Western Conference in the 2003 NBA All-Star Game after ranking fourth overall in All-Star balloting with 1,286,324 votes and was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December and February.

It is doubtless that Yao Ming has gradually entering blissful circumstances in NBA.  He even sent a message to his fans through his official personal website to express his strong confidence and persistent optimism, “I’ve been happy with how the team has been doing, and I have been feeling very confident about my playing, a lot more than at the beginning of the season.”

The huge oriental guy is not only dwarfing everybody on a basketball court.  Nothing perked up the basketball media like the phenomenon of Yao Ming.  Dozens of articles have been written about him, people crowd the lines to get tickets to his games, and his name and pictures are strewn all over the news.  Although he is only a rookie, he has become a household name.  But this year's NBA number one draft pick, soft-spoken, humorous Yao Ming is much more than a magnificent basketball player.  He is an explorer and a pioneer.  Reminiscing about his childhood dream, he says "I want to be adventurer and explore the world." He reveled in geography and history.  His stellar basketball moves have allowed him to begin accomplishing his childhood dreams.

“Now that I'm working with McDonald's, I don't have to bring money when I want to eat there.” Yao Ming showed his persistent humor when answering the question about his commercial value.  Off the court, Yao appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, ESPN the Magazine, SLAM, Inside Stuff and Basketball Digest during his rookie season.  He also received the 2003 Laureus World Newcomer of the Year award and was featured in television commercials for Visa, Apple Computer and Gatorade.  

Actually, Yao Ming also had some unpleasant experience with advertising sponsors.  Yao Ming sued Coca-Colas Chinese subsidiary, accusing it of using his picture without permission on commemorative bottles sold in his hometown of Shanghai.  But he is only asking for the 1 yuan (US12 cents) in damages.  He has no intention of charging high damages but only to ask for apologizing.

Before entering NBA, Yao Ming, has completed five years with Shanghai Sharks in CBA(China Basketball Association).  Since his rookie season in 1997, Ming has improved his scoring average in every year, and helped Shanghai Sharks to win the championship.  Chinese people, especially Shanghai people, harbor special passion for him.  When he left Shanghai Sharks, his fans held an unforgettable farewell party and the club of Shanghai Sharks reserved his player number permanently.  Yao Ming has never forgotten his people and he held that it is the support from his motherland that offer him the opportunity and push him to become a stronger player.  When condition permits, he is always ready to answer the call of his motherland.  During last summer, he came back to China to play for the China National Team and hosted a multinational telethon to raise funds to battle SARS.  

Now the Chinese big boy is stepping into the third year in NBA.  Although he still has lots more to work on, Yao Ming’s way of becoming a real super star of basketball player is no doubt expectable.