A.I & Yao Tour In China <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><div align="center"></div> Shanghai is a large city, and Allen Iverson is large among its inhabitants. One Reebok executive said today Iverson ?is like a god here.? A Chinese journalist told us Iverson is bigger here than Yao Ming, the 7-5 center for the Houston Rockets. Ironically, Yao spent many of his formative years here in Shanghai. The love became apparent today when Iverson tipped off the Chinese portion of his ?I am what I am? tour for Reebok. And it was no more palpable than during a visit to an orphanage, the Shanghai Children?s Home. For it is among children that Allen is often at his best. These kids had obviously prepared a long time for Iverson?s visit. Many of them, dressed in ceremonial clothing, sang and danced for him. They also presented him with a number of gifts exhibiting their own, artistic handiwork, a gesture that appeared to have touched Allen deeply. Later, there was Allen again, as he had in Tokyo, removing his watch and other jewelry so he could play basketball with the kids. Truly an amazing experience for many of those who were clearly Iverson fans, demonstrated by their various wrist and armbands which were very much a la Allen. Iverson took the stage at a Shanghai theatre at the day?s first event, greeted by wild applause from the crowd and a throng of well over 100 media members. Helped by a translator, Allen answered questions, then graciously participated in a number of ceremonial events. One that was particularly touching for the Chinese was seeing Allen imprint is last name in Chinese using a stamp similar to ones used by this country?s ancient emperors.</div> Source A.I bigger than Yao in his own hometown? I doubt it, but I'm sure A.I was recieved like a rock star just like any other NBA star in China. But this just goes to show you how much the people in China appreciates the NBA and it's stars. There should be an All-Star game held there one day. It would put Michael Jackson like concerts to shame.
Sigh...... reading anything about Asia makes me wanna go back to Taiwan...... And yea i really doubt Allen Iverson is more popular than Yao .... in his own country lol. I would wanna hear Yao's response to what the Chinese journalist said.
Believe it or not, a friend of mine is a buisness man and most of his buisness is between China-California-Ontario, he goes there like 3-4 times a year and he assured me that Allen Iverson is the biggest thing over there. I was obviously in disbelief because I still thought Yao Ming would be the biggest hit over there. A poll once done by his company there he said, had Allen Iverson's jersey as the most on-demand clothing item since 2000. I guess this article confirms it.
I went to China in July and yes, I can confirm that Iverson is huge there. I went into a jersey/basketball apparel store (with jerseys, and brands like Ecko, Enyce and G-Unit), and the walls in the store was covered with Iverson photos cut from the Chinese versions of SLAM magazine. I think it might have something to do with the store being run by two 20-something year old girls, and they probably thought AI was hot. Either way, Iverson has his own line of shoes and apparel, which definitely boosts his appeal, something that Yao doesn't have yet. However, as big as Iverson is there, Yao is probably everyone's favorite player there. No Chinese person hates on Yao and they all love a Rockets game. The Rockets are the most popular team there and the Kings are probably second.
Same can be said about Taiwan, before it might be Kobe and AI. After that case, a lot of people in Taiwan hate Kobe now. There are tons of yahoo groups that diss Kobe and all that. A lot of people there actually like Wade and Lebron too.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post"> However, as big as Iverson is there, Yao is probably everyone's favorite player there. No Chinese person hates on Yao and they all love a Rockets game. The Rockets are the most popular team there and the Kings are probably second.</div> Are the Kings second due to those preseason match ups last year?
No, the Kings were favorites back when Sacramento were going head-to-head with LA in the 2002 playoffs. Their style is a big attraction to fans. Every shoe company is sending its big gun to China now. Lebron James made a visit, TMac went again, and Iverson is there for Reebok right now. The prices of the shoes there are outrageous though. The Iverson 7's were still for sale there and they were going for almost $1000 in local currency, or something like $175 US. Most middle-class families there make just $3000 a year, so the shoes are affordable only by a select few.
I'd hate to see basketball products be enjoyed by very few over there when it is appreciated greatly,
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Every shoe company is sending its big gun to China now. Lebron James made a visit, TMac went again, and Iverson is there for Reebok right now. The prices of the shoes there are outrageous though. The Iverson 7's were still for sale there and they were going for almost $1000 in local currency, or something like $175 US. Most middle-class families there make just $3000 a year, so the shoes are affordable only by a select few.</div> Yeah but they have major bootleg stores over there anyway. I actually saw shoes over there that looked exactly the same as the real stuff at really cheap prices. I have a feeling that the kids over there are buying the latter.
Well, their jerseys are cheaper compared to here. Reebok Swingmans go for $400 RMB, which is about $50 US. It also seems that there are quite a few youngsters who are rocking the latest joints, but it makes you wonder how they are so rich. There are also other basketball products from other brands. There must be at least 10 different Chinese brands and their stuff is about half the price of the foreign brands. Quality and style wise, they're good too and therefore much more common. EDIT: Adding to what AznxBaller said, there are a lot of fake shoes and jerseys, just like over here. Fake jerseys (imitated Mitchell & Ness) go for $200 a pop and fake Nike shoes are like half the price of the real stuff. Nobody can tell the difference though...
I find the whole "A.I. more popular than Yao" deal is fishy, but yeah Iverson get alot of recognition. Anybody see what new Answer shoes look like yet?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, their jerseys are cheaper compared to here. Reebok Swingmans go for $400 RMB, which is about $50 US. It also seems that there are quite a few youngsters who are rocking the latest joints, but it makes you wonder how they are so rich. There are also other basketball products from other brands. There must be at least 10 different Chinese brands and their stuff is about half the price of the foreign brands. Quality and style wise, they're good too and therefore much more common. EDIT: Adding to what AznxBaller said, there are a lot of fake shoes and jerseys, just like over here. Fake jerseys (imitated Mitchell & Ness) go for $200 a pop and fake Nike shoes are like half the price of the real stuff. Nobody can tell the difference though...</div> haha sorry this is totally off topic but that's how it is with burberry purses in taiwan fake ones that cost like 100 dollars taiwanese money.....which is 3 american dollars. i wonder why iverson didn't go to taiwan?!?!? Dwight howard, luke walton, richard jefferson went to Taiwan in like June...
