'The Year of the Yao' - Poetry Connection

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DVD : The Year of the Yao

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starring: Steve Francis (III), Cuttino Mobley, Michael Irvin (II), Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal directed by: James D. Stern, Adam Del Deo See Larger Image List Price: $26.98 Amazon.com's Price: $24.49 You Save: $2.49 ( 9%) Prices subject to change. Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD EAN: 0794043825323 Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC Label: New Line Home Video Manufacturer: New Line Home Video Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: New Line Home Video Region Code: 1 Release Date: March 14, 2006 Running Time: 88 minutes Sales Rank: 38521 Studio: New Line Home Video Theatrical Release Date: 2004 Related Items: YAO: A Life in Two Worlds Operation Yao Ming: The Chinese Sports Empire, American Big Business, and the Making of an NBA Superstar NBA Shaquille O'Neal - Like No Other Hoop Dreams - Criterion Collection Hakeem Olajuwon - Hakeem the Dream (NBA Hardwood Classics) see more Editorial Review: Description: In this powerful and inspiring story, Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming faces incredible challenges - on the court and off - as he journeys from Shanghai to the Houston Rockets to become a true global hero. Exciting and insightful, critics are calling this winning tale a 'fascinating saga.' Amazon.com: Hoosiers and Glory Road are rousing underdog sports films based on inspiring true stories. The Year of the Yao is the real thing, a satisfying chronicle of the international superstar's tumultuous rookie year. It is doubtful that any NBA player had to withstand the type of scrutiny that the 22-year-old Ming endured. The first-overall draft pick in 2002, the NBA's first Chinese player was expected to make the Houston Rockets an instant playoff team, though he was unaccustomed to the speed and aggressiveness of American-style basketball. He was also seen as 'a walking advertisement' and ambassador for expanding China's place on the world stage. Yao carried all the pressure on his seven-foot, six-inch frame with aplomb, aided immeasurably by Colin Pine, who put off law school to become his interpreter. Yao's story plays like the stuff of Hollywood fiction, from his disastrous debut that inspired TV commentator Charles Barkley to promise to kiss his co-anchor's backside if Yao ever scored 19 points in a game to his emergence as a bona-fide superstar of Shaq proportions. Historical snapshots of China put Yao's story into cultural context, making The Year of the Yao compelling viewing even to those for whom basketball is foreign. --Donald Liebenson Customer Reviews Average Rating: Rating: - Inspiring documentary I watched this documentary in the theatres, and it was an "upper" that got your spirits up with suspenseful scenes like the footage of the Yao Ming/Shaq showdowns. The musical score made it very entertaining making this relaxing, easy viewing. It was inspiring to see such a young guy like Yao Ming to appear so mentally strong when confronted with so much media attention and other pressures coming from many directions. Rating: - Racism After reading Jeffery Mingo's review, my first impression is that the world is getting better but still exists racism. If it is really "an entirely African-American team", does that mean white people are really so weak and can't make the team? I feel it's not about race. It's about peace of love without boundaries of race, country and culture. "When you want to know your neighbors, first reach your neighbors." Rating: - Yao: Issues of Sport, Nation, and Race This was typical of a sports documentary. There are many shots of him on the court, sports talking heads analyzing him, and famous people providing comments (Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, even President Clinton!). Throughout, I wondered why this was in theaters, rather than on some ESPN channel. I think it's because of the length of the work. So long for ideas that the East and West will never meet! Still, the same archetypes appeared. Yao played with emphasis on the group, rather ... Read More

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