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CNN Live At Daybreak
The Ming Dynasty
Aired February 07, 2003 - 06:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: You know bad weather isn't stopping basketball fans from flocking to Atlanta for the All-Star Game. And overseas in Beijing, they're also waiting for the big game. Yao Ming fever has spread from China to Texas where a couple of songwriters have penned a song in honor of the tall guy.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
COSTELLO: Just makes you want to dance, doesn't it?
CNN's Jaime FlorCruz is live in Beijing.
And Jaime, is Yao's song getting play over there?
JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Not quite yet, Carol, but he's getting big here, too.
I remember, Carol, that about five months ago I talked with Yao Ming just after he was drafted by the Houston Rockets and asked him if he's ready for big-time basketball, is he ready to face Shaq? And he simply said, at least I'm taller than Shaq. Well he's now much taller than his 7'6" -- 7'5" -- 7-foot-6 frame and he's now a cultural icon celebrated in America and idolized here in China -- Carol.
COSTELLO: How many people will be watching in China?
FLORCRUZ: Well, potentially around 780 million. There are about 780 million TV households in China and four Chinese stations are planning to cover this All-Star Game this weekend. So potentially, let's just say the whole of America, the equivalent of the population of America will be watching Yao Ming.
COSTELLO: You know it makes me wonder, with the success of Yao Ming here in the United States, will China allow any other of its athletes to come over here and play?
FLORCRUZ: I think they will. In fact, there are already two other Chinese players in the NBA, not as good as Yao Ming. But yes, I think the Chinese believe that Yao Ming is their best export to America, breaking barriers and also making sportsmanship the centerpiece of the game. So they are quite proud of Yao Ming and they want more Yao Mings to go to America.
COSTELLO: And I know they love him here, they just love him.
Jaime FlorCruz, many thanks to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 7, 2003 - 06:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: You know bad weather isn't stopping basketball fans from flocking to Atlanta for the All-Star Game. And overseas in Beijing, they're also waiting for the big game. Yao Ming fever has spread from China to Texas where a couple of songwriters have penned a song in honor of the tall guy.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
COSTELLO: Just makes you want to dance, doesn't it?
CNN's Jaime FlorCruz is live in Beijing.
And Jaime, is Yao's song getting play over there?
JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Not quite yet, Carol, but he's getting big here, too.
I remember, Carol, that about five months ago I talked with Yao Ming just after he was drafted by the Houston Rockets and asked him if he's ready for big-time basketball, is he ready to face Shaq? And he simply said, at least I'm taller than Shaq. Well he's now much taller than his 7'6" -- 7'5" -- 7-foot-6 frame and he's now a cultural icon celebrated in America and idolized here in China -- Carol.
COSTELLO: How many people will be watching in China?
FLORCRUZ: Well, potentially around 780 million. There are about 780 million TV households in China and four Chinese stations are planning to cover this All-Star Game this weekend. So potentially, let's just say the whole of America, the equivalent of the population of America will be watching Yao Ming.
COSTELLO: You know it makes me wonder, with the success of Yao Ming here in the United States, will China allow any other of its athletes to come over here and play?
FLORCRUZ: I think they will. In fact, there are already two other Chinese players in the NBA, not as good as Yao Ming. But yes, I think the Chinese believe that Yao Ming is their best export to America, breaking barriers and also making sportsmanship the centerpiece of the game. So they are quite proud of Yao Ming and they want more Yao Mings to go to America.
COSTELLO: And I know they love him here, they just love him.
Jaime FlorCruz, many thanks to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
