Slanted View

The Adventures of Super Yao
by Nathaniel Jue

In the year 2002, in a country far, far away, a superhero was chosen to save the people, metropolis and basketball team of Houston, TX. The Rockets, with the first pick in the superhero draft, selected a Chinese superman to battle an assortment of adversaries in a world known as the NBA. Along the way he'd be asked to resurrect a basketball franchise and instill excitement into a city, all the while adapting to the surroundings of an alien nation—America. Could a foreign superhero fight the evil forces of the NBA night in and night out and bring a team to glory? Never fear, Super Yao is here!

As Yao Ming flew to the NBA caped in basketball shorts and tank top, he readied himself for this seemingly grueling fight. But in a land of giants, the 7'6" Yao towered above them all. As his adversaries would try to topple him, he'd be a fortress of protection for his teammates. His long limbs—like those of Elastic Man—would allow him to reach higher into the air. His stretched arms would swat their orange bullets away and ward off their attacks. These strengths would indeed help Yao in his daily quest to defeat the enemies. But Yao had a special power that separated him from his opponents: supervision.

Look up in the sky! At 7'6", Yao has a different line of sight—a different point of view—than the others on the court. He looks down and is able see all the players, the spaces between them and where they're moving. At his altitude he can see the ball as it floats to the basket with few obstructions. He has an overhead blueprint of the entire court, every crease and corner of the floor. With this supervision and his elongated body, Yao conquered Chinese foes with the greatest of ease. And he was a larger-than-life national superhero. But would his supervision correlate to successfully crushing NBA bad guys?

When Yao arrived to NBA world, however, he found that fending off opponents was not as easy as it was in China. Yes, he successfully defeated his rivals some of the time; but he wasn't winning as many battles as he used to. He needed time to adjust to his new environment, his new surroundings. Yet the media and citizens of Houston were worried that their foreign superhero was not living up to the superhype—that he couldn't handle the pressures of the NBA. What was wrong with Super Yao?

Nothing was amiss—things were just different. Yao was a Chinese superhero, with Chinese superpowers—those of humbleness, patriotism, respect and teamwork. These strengths seemed to have less value and affect in the NBA world. Yao's powers were often useless when battling American foes, who seemed to deflect his humility and unselfishness and counterattack with brashness and individualism kryptonite. His Chinese upbringing molded him into a quiet superstar whose passivity oftentimes overshadowed his methodical efficiency. Thus, in spite of all his basketball heroics, Yao didn't always get the recognition he deserved, as the American superheroes jostled for glory and fame. The press was on him to perform at a higher level, for America thrived on immediate results. Thus Super Yao began to doubt his superabilities. He wondered how he could succeed in the NBA, where the American power of celebrity was stronger than his traditional power of modesty.

But Yao could not give up. He would not give up. These pressures were just part of his new job. These were the demands of being the first superhero chosen—of being Number One. If you're Number One in something,—anything—it is both an honor and a burden. In China it carries a heavier weight. Yao is China's Number One Son, meaning he bears an obligation and duty to uphold a certain standard of excellence. This excellence has been the forefront of their culture and heritage for thousands of years.

Meanwhile, back in China, a billion fans follow his every move, both as a superman in the NBA, and as his alter ego off the court. Being 7'6", Yao can't exactly hide and disappear into anonymity whenever he isn't playing basketball. These legions of admirers look up to him not just because he's tall, but because he is their role model, their example, their superhero. Because he represents an entire country, an entire people, an entire race. His following also includes every person in America who shares his ethnicity. That's a lot of people on Earth who believe that Yao is their savior. American superheroes do not have these outside forces to combat.

A few months pass, and Yao was able to harness his mental toughness to adjust to the hardships of the NBA world. He studied new battle strategies, learned new languages, and endured new schedules in order to be a more effective superhero. But most importantly, Yao used his special supervision to focus on the big picture. He saw that he probably pushed himself too hard upon his arrival to NBA land, and he saw that he couldn't win every fight. No superhero could win every fight. But that wouldn't stop him from trying to, every single day, every single battle on the super court. It would just take some time for him to master his abilities in America and become a super success.

In the years since his arrival, Yao has realized that his super basketball performances are only a part of what being a superhero is all about. If he does well in America he will pave the way for more Chinese superheroes to come to the NBA, uniting worldwide superforces from around the world. By helping his team win a championship, Yao will show the world that a Chinese superhero can be a dominant force in the NBA, and thus become an adopted superhero here in America.

And that will be the true value of Yao's superpowers. His legacy won't be just about his performance on the basketball court. It will be about his influence on the game as an international superhero ambassador. After all, with great power comes great responsibility. And Yao has the challenging task of being responsible for so many citizens around the globe.

Can Yao's superpowers bring him adulation from American citizens? Can he help the Rockets win a championship? Will Yao become the most dominating superhero in the NBA? Stay tuned for more adventures of Super Yao...

Nathaniel Jue has been writing ever since he won first place in his fourth grade essay contest. However, he has been ranting for the past 26 years.