Shaquille O'Neal may be one of the most beloved figures in the NBA, but his recent verbal attacks on Chinese big man Yao Ming is starting to raise a troubling question -- is Shaq a racist? Some feel Shaq's recent comments in his escalating war of words with Yao have crossed the line from trash talk to racial slurs. AsianWeek columnist Irwin Tang recently called out O'Neal for several derogatory comments thrown in Yao's direction. "Tell Yao Ming, 'ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-soh.' " O'Neal said to a reporter recently in a mock Chinese accent. http://www.angryasianman.com/angry.html
Was there any outcry by the public when Jailblazer Bonzi Wells called a white player a "cracker"? If Dirk Nowzitzki (or however you spell his name) was to make gorilla sounds when referring to a player like Shaq...would he be called a racist?
Nah man Shaq was just joking around. My roomate used to make fun of me that way to cuz I'm Indian. all in good fun. I mean Shaq has never got in trouble that way before.
Shaq is like Charles Barkley in that they can insult white fol and just about anybosy else and get away with it because they do as a joke/satire.
My take: What Shaq said was extremely insensitive. It may have been done out of ignorance, and I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I know many people who use fake Chinese accents (including some of my white students when I taught in high school in Georgia). They were surprised when I told them as well as some of my Asian students (I am white by the way) told them that they considered it offensive. I think Yao has handled this wonderfully and he seems to be proving a wonderful ambassador for his country. However, even he is probably unaware of how prevelant this is in the United States and how it has come to be considered offensive. I do like his comment on how hard Chinese is to learn. I can tell from first hand experience, it IS hard. All in all, I think Shaq said some insensitive things. Unfortunately, his apology seemed a bit on the half-hearted side. I have always liked Shaq, but if he tries to pull off anything like this again, I may have second thoughts about him. On another note, I am happy to see Yao ahead of O'Neal in the all star balloting. Perhaps that is what got O'Neal all riled up.
This kid once said something like that to me. This was in elementary school. He wasn't exactly one of the most well-behaved kids. Maybe he really was a racist; maybe he was just being a bully. I guess I was a little offended, but more than anything I just thought he was an idiot. I got him trouble for it...mostly for the latter reason. What Shaq said was indeed insensitive. If he claims that he isn't racist, though, I'm willing to believe him. He's never come of as all that bright anyway.
I had a similar experience when I came to the US when I was in 7th grade. The irony of course is that ching-chong-yang-wah doesn't sound anything like Japanese, but I suppose that makes it even more offensive. Although it depends on context, assuming O'Neal and Yao aren't good friends, it's insensitive at the very least. And holy crap, I agree with Jim Rome!
Shaq-Fu Or Shaq-Fool? It was racist, but Shaq isn't a racist just a goofball. I do think people who got offended by the fortune cookie thing are a bit too sensitive IMO. I do however understand if the NBA was filled with all whites and then when an African player came here we had a promotion like;"Voodoo Witch Doctor Night" or"Fried Chicken & BBQ Night", that would be racist. The Miami Heat were only trying to create a Chinese flavor to the game and make the Asian community feel welcome. Their mistake was they didn't ask someone to see if it might be contrued as racist. They were trying to do their jobs as marketers, but they failed. I have a few questions for everyone. I'm going to list some things and I want you to decide if it is racist or thoughtful, that you want to please that person by sharing in their culture. Okay guys it's time to play Racist Or Thoughtful? The winners get a new box of Enlightenment® 1)You make taco salad for your son's mexican friend who is coming over for dinner. 2)You put on Ravi Shankar(famous Indian musician) for your Indian friends from church. 3)You invite your new neighbors who just moved from Montreal, Canada over to watch National Hockey Night on ESPN. 4)You're selling NASCAR watches and you don't go into a barber shop filled with African-Americans. 5)You ask over your European co-workers on the day after Christmas to watch some EPL matches. Alright that's the list, it should prove interesting to see the different levels of sensitivity people have. I would like to mention that I live in Alabama and go to a church that contains Mexicans, Hondurans, Indians(not native), Americans, English, African-Americans, Africans(Zimbabwe,Namibia), and of course rednecks, just joking to see if you were paying attention. I'm exposed to a lot of cultures and see lots of blending of these cultures, so I'm used to the special things my church does to cater to these ethic groups. I'm wondering though what other folks think is racist or thoughtful.
Re: Shaq-Fu Or Shaq-Fool? 1) Racist. Taco salad is not Mexican. Want Mexican?? Go to Mexico. 2) Thoughtful. If it's music written and preformed by Indians, then it's thoughtful. If it's written or preformed by non-indians, then watch out. 3) Thoughtful. They moved from Canada, and it is the same NHL they have up there. 4) Thoughtful. Plus, the proprietor of the barber shop could point to the sign that says "No Solicitors" and point towards the door. 5) Thoughtful. Boxing Day is known for EPL games, and if you get 'em, might as well watch 'em. If you know Europeans who support the teams that are playing, you might as well invite them. Bonus points if they're English and English teams are playing.
Meanwhile, ESPN is billing this game as "the king of the east" vs "the king of the west". The Lakers have fallen from what they used to be, Houston's just barely at .500. This game could be known as "Battle of the 500's" come tip-off.
The BETTER NBA game is actually on Wednesday, with the Mavs and Kings hooking up for a titanic battle. THOSE 2 teams are going to battle for the NBA championship, and NOT the Rockets or the Fakers. Actually, here in Columbus, they are having NBA League Pass FREE PREVIEW, so tonight I'm flipping between Magic-Pistons and TWolves-Nuggets just for sh!ts and giggles.
Thanks for the tip -- same in NY. How did you know it was happening? Hopefully Yao will play tonight.
They have been advertising it (NBA League Pass Free Preview) locally for a couple of days. ESPN reports that Yao Ming WILL play, with a brace on the knee. He also cannot wait to play against Shaq.
I think people overacted over the incident. It happened to me alot when I was a kid. I still got offended by this kind of taunting. But then, Shaq probably just did not know what the real meaning of what he did. Yao Ming is new to America. I don't think he had seen this many times in China. He probably does not understand that it is offensive. he probably thought that Shaq was trying to speak Chinese and could not do. What offended me the most is the fact that this incident was brought back after Yao Ming becomes a star. When he was the nobody who could become the biggest bust in NBA history, no one give a damn about it. I bet many people thought that Shaq was funny. Now that Yao Ming is a star.... let's punish Shaq!!!!! It's just liked elementary school. We beat up the new exchange student. Then, we realize he can kick your ass..... he becomes popular.... all of sudden, we are going after the big kids who taunts him in the first day of school.
Good read even though I don't agree with some of it. I certainly wouldn't rate Shaq at the same level on the racist-o-meter as Lott but I can see the point. We all say something insensitive at some point in our lives but it's the non-apology that leaves a bad taste. It probably wouldn't have been such a big deal had Shaq simply apologized and said "Hey, I didn't know it was offensive. Won't happen again."
Hahaha!Shaq's suck a jackass I don't know how anyone can take this guy seriously.C'mon this is the same guy who referred to himself as the Big Aristotle,and Wilt Chamberneezy????He should never be allowed to talk again.
Shaq's comments were stupid and in poor taste but whatever. I'm Korean and I've had people say the same stuff to me. Just let it roll off your back and forget it. It's pretty sad though that Shaq doesn't realize that his comments were offensive, which is the main thing that bothers me, especially in a society when race is such a sensitive issue.
Re: Re: Shaq-Fu Or Shaq-Fool? what does this mean exactly? there are many non-Indian performers of Indian music (Warren Senders, George Ruckert, Gianni Riccizi come to mind immediately) and they are well respected and liked by many Indians and other Indian artists. Or are you saying putting on something like George Harrison dinking around on "Norwegian Wood?"