<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Another Chinese big man has arrived in the United States, and naturally there's a temptation to compare him to Yao Ming. But newcomer Yi Jianlian plays a different kind of game than his countryman. While the 7-6, 310-pound Yao is a traditional post-up center, the 7-foot, 246-pound Yi is a slasher with a soft touch, a power forward with the skills of a small forward. 'This guy is something else,'' said trainer Joe Abunassar, who has been working with Yi since mid-April. ''He has speed and strength and control, and he shoots very well. He's awfully good.'' Yi, who is said to have idolized Michael Jordan as a child, is listed as 19 years old, but his actual age is in dispute, with many believing he is at least two years older and maybe three. The NBA doesn't much care -- at any age, he's pretty darn good. ''He's the real McCoy,'' veteran scout Marty Blake said. ''He's far beyond his years.'' Unlike Yao, who was overwhelmed initially by cultural differences and the media attention he received upon moving to the United States in 2003, Yi has embraced Western culture since moving to Los Angeles in April. For instance, he walked the red carpet at the premieres of the latest ''Pirates of the Caribbean,'' ''Shrek,'' and ''Spider-Man'' films. And while he is taking English classes, he already feels comfortable enough to conduct interviews without the benefit of a translator. ''One thing that has impressed me is that he's driving around L.A. on his own,'' Blake said. ''He speaks perfect English, he can shoot the hell out of the ball, he can run, and he knows the game. And another thing is that when he gets stirred up, he has a little meanness. He's nasty. ''He's going to be somebody special. He's more advanced than Yao was at this age.'' Yi must have been listening when Yao offered him a few tips to ease his adjustment. ''His No. 1 task in the U.S. is to open himself to others,'' Yao told Basketball Pioneer Newspaper in remarks reprinted by ChinaDaily.com.cn. ''You cannot ignore the cultural difference between Eastern and Western countries. A lot of people have trouble with that. Yi ... has to open his heart and communicate with the people around him on and off the court, not only teammates, but also coaches, trainers, officials and U.S. media.'' </div> Source: Chicago Sun Times
