Yao’s commitment to China is unquestionable
May 20th, 2008by John
After the devastating earthquakes in China, I’ve heard that Yao has been catching some flack about the insane proposition that he hasn’t donated enough money to relief efforts.
Yao is too classy of a guy to speak out and defend himself, but I will (as have others). This is a blog where I can express my opinion every once in awhile, and I’m going to do that right now.
First, I can’t believe some people – in the aftermath of this tragedy – have nothing else better to do than criticize how much someone else donates. There are thousands of people who have died, and are dying, under rubble…and that’s the main thing they want to bring up? Ridiculous.
If these people really cared about having lots of money donated to relief efforts, they should go to their local Red Cross office and volunteer to raise money, not throw stones at donators like Yao Ming. I’m so disturbed about what has happened over there, I can’t even think about blogging about the Rockets’ off-season moves, the NBA playoffs, or the upcoming Olympics games. Those topics all seem so insignificant right now. So how can anyone with a heart even criticize someone who has offered to help, no matter how much time or money that person has committed.
Today, I personally learned through Yao’s people that he is so deeply saddened from what has happened in China, it’s the only thing he is thinking about (other than his health). But if people really want to talk about his donation, then let’s talk about that for a minute. I know for a fact he has contributed 2 million RMB, which is close to $300,000 U.S., and with more likely to come. And that’s not to mention that HE approached the NBA, not the other way around, about doing the public service announcement that’s now airing during NBA telecasts. He also reached out to other NBA players to donate. In both cases, he made these requests within hours of the tragedy. There was no indecision. I am also told it’s not the end to what he’ll contribute and do with his time to support the cause.
I just don’t get how people can question that Yao isn’t committed to the problems within his own country. How quickly they forget about his efforts to combat SARS, his dedication to being a global ambassador for the Special Olympics in China (even paying a team fine to the Rockets so that he could participate in last October’s Opening Ceremonies), his work in trying to preserve endangered species in China, trying to help children in China afflicted with the HIV virus, teaming up with Steve Nash last year to raise money for poor school children in rural China. The list is virtually endless.
It’s important to point out that if Yao were to donate all the income he’s ever earned in his life, there’s no way it could come close to replacing what has been lost through this earthquake tragedy. How much money is enough for each one of us to donate? 1% of our income, 5%, 20%? Even if we all donated all we could, there’s no way it can rebuild all the devastation and heal all the wounds, both emotional and physical. The fact is that all of us should donate something, no matter how small it is. If we were in their shoes, we would wonder how could the world just watch without offering something like Yao has done?
May 20th, 2008 at 1:18 am
Yao’s getting the heat partly because how much Jet Li and Jackie has been donating. Those critics are not Yao’s financial advisors, who are they to criticize Yao for how much he’s donating. There’s no one out there feeling worse about the disaster than Yao, I’m proud of Yao, this summer Olympics will be truely special.
May 20th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I respect Yao Ming more than Jet Li or Jackie Chan. At least Yao is real, Jet Li and Jackie Chan are just actors.
Let’s just say no matter what a person do, there will ALWAYS be haters talking smack. Those haters doesn’t have anything better to do, so what else can they do besides sitting on the couch and run their mouths? That’s basically all they can do!
This summer Olympics will be successful! GO 2008 OLYMPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO OLYMPIC! GO GO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 20th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Being criticized is part of life, let alone a public person. It’s no big deal. Just do the right thing and ignore the negatives.
Just do what you can to help the victims of China earthquakes and of the Burma cyclones. We’re all brothers and sisters.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Yao Ming’s love and devotion to China is very clear to fans, observers and even critics. His efforts to be present for Olympic-related events as well as his continuous presence and support for charitable projects in China are well worthy of all the praises he gets from his homeland. He is one person who has remained loyal to the motherland despite the fame and fortune that America has brought him; come to think of it, he has also contributed a lot to the NBA - in terms of ticket sales.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics will be special because of everthing that China has evolved into and all the events leading up to it. The Tibetan riots, threats of boycotts from some countries bitter of the East Asian success story. But most of all,this was the time when Chinese of all ethnic backgrounds - Han, Tibetan, Muslims, Turkish, whatever and even those overseas came together physically and in spirit and felt the pain of the motherland. When most of Asia - including rivals like Japan and Korea came to assist in recovery efforts. When poor countries and those who have their own challenges like Pakistan, African countries came to deliver whatever the government could to show their sympathy to the Chinese people. That is what the Beijing Olympics is all about - it’s all are one.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Just let it go, John. Those people are helpless POS and they are not even in the same class for me, or you, or Yao to get upset about.
Despite of what it seems, the majority of Chinese knows that Yao is a big giver and that he had committed a lot of time and effort, and money towards the well-being of those who are in need, especially in China. It is very low for those scums who yap all day long at who donated how much, yet not one penny from themselves. Amidst of all the sadness and depression that I’ve fell into over the past week and half, I found it very disappointing that there are still people out there using this horrible tragedy to defame Yao.
Yao is still the hero for China and he’ll always be. Not because of his popularity and international fame, but rather his large heart. The next time you get a chance, let him and his people know that the true Yao fans know how much good he has done and what type of person he is, and there is absolutely no need to get upset over a few scums of the society.
I originally “let it go,” but then I heard that what we’re hearing over here about Yao’s donation is small in comparison to what may have been said in China. I’m used to the trolls in the Yao Ming Mania forum who will say dumb things (but it’s their right to say it), but when I heard about the alleged rancor over in China, I said “enough is enough” and could not let this one go. — John
May 21st, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I might add, Jet Li’s donations are from his The One Charity Fund, which is not his own money. Jackie Chan and Empire Entertainment CEO Albert Yeung jointly donated $10 million RMB from the Jackie Chan charity fund, again, not entirely his own money. Not to take anything away from Jackie and Jet, nor am I comparing them with Yao. They are all China’s global ambassadors and they have all made me proud by helping out when disasters hit.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Yao is HERO in my view. He donate not just one time for the earth quake. He donate for ever. No matter someone care about him or not. I think Yao have his own plan to donate or do charity. His heart is true for those who need helps.
We love YAO. i AM FROM MAIN LAND China.
Can I ask a question? Why as a superpower , US donate just 0.5 million??
Don’t forget how much China donate to US in katrina cyclone? At least 5 million. and China is relatively poor country compared with US superpower?
Frankly, I am disappointed by US goverment which is elected by US people.
I think US people is OK. But the goverment is not OK..