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Yao Ming on Meds?

 Err, not in the ominous way you’re thinking. China’s most popular export had to undergo surgery last Monday because of a stress fracture in his left foot. With months to go before the Beijing Olympics, no one in China wants to see their most famous athlete on the sidelines for the country’s biggest sporting event ever. According to his American doctors, the Houston Rockets center is good to go as long as he rests up and lets his foot recover nicely.

The Chinese government isn’t quite as relaxed, though, so what do they do? The Chinese government is using a powerful secret they’ve been harboring for years: Chinese medicine. Herbal in nature, this potent combination is currently in use to ensure that China’s most popular athlete is up and about in time for the Beijing Olympics.

Losing Yao Ming at the Olympics doesn’t just mean a potentially dismal performance of the Chinese basketball team. In fact, China has a team that could be just as strong performance-wise, even without the Yao. The problem, though, is that Yao Ming is currently the face of China in the world of sports. Together with action superstar Jackie Chan, Yao Ming starred in a series of commercials for Visa and the Beijing Olympics. Plus, China’s positive international recognition (as opposed to notoriety) stems from the “friendly giant” vibe that Yao exudes.

Without Yao for its Olympics, China stands to lose a lot of its investment, particularly in the arena of global acceptance. People in Asia and the Western countries are starting to see China as something other than a communist remnant because of its sports and film celebrities. The Beijing Olympics is China’s biggest effort to improve its image, so losing Yao is just not an option.

So, for now, Yao Ming’s staying off his feet and staying on the meds. Chinese meds, that is.
By: KD Choi
Published: 04/06/08


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