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View Full Version : Asian Athletes and the Name on the Jersey


coleslaw
02-18-2003, 04:31 PM
This has really been bugging me for quite some time now.

I have noticed that some Asian athletes in professional sports here in America wear jerseys that do not mention their surname on the back; rather, it is their first name that is displayed.

For example, Ichiro Suzuki's jersey says ICHIRO. Yao Ming's jersey says YAO. (YO! YAO! YO! YAO! :heh: sorry)

Is this something that is common among all Asian athletes in America? Is Yao really the surname? Is Ichiro really that cocky?

Please enlighten me, oh Asian-American ones! :P:
jujubees
02-18-2003, 04:39 PM
Originally posted by coleslaw
For example, Ichiro Suzuki's jersey says ICHIRO. Yao Ming's jersey says YAO. (YO! YAO! YO! YAO! :heh: sorry)

Is this something that is common among all Asian athletes in America? Is Yao really the surname? Is Ichiro really that cocky?I don't know about the Japanese naming conventions so I can't comment on Ichiro, but Yao is Yao Ming's surname. Chinese names are presented as last name, middle name (if any), THEN first name. :)
coleslaw
02-18-2003, 04:41 PM
Ahhhh, OK. Thanks juju! :)
ray
02-18-2003, 04:48 PM
ni shi Yao. ni xing Ming. :)

jujubees is absolutely correct.
xsiled2
02-18-2003, 07:24 PM
so he would go by ming?
NuTs62
02-18-2003, 10:01 PM
Originally posted by xsiled2
so he would go by ming?

yes sir. If he grew up here, people would likely refer to him as "Ming Yao" instead. As for Ichiro, I think there was a story about that... :shrug:
gear02
02-19-2003, 06:08 AM
Originally posted by NuTs62


yes sir. If he grew up here, people would likely refer to him as "Ming Yao" instead. As for Ichiro, I think there was a story about that... :shrug:

Well in Japan, his name on the jersey was Ichiro. So when they brought him here, they just kept his name there. He's the only player in MLB to have his first name on his jersey.
Merlin
02-19-2003, 07:14 AM
Originally posted by coleslaw
Is Ichiro really that cocky?

Yes, he is that cocky.
gear02
02-19-2003, 07:17 AM
Originally posted by Merlin


Yes, he is that cocky.

How can he be cocky?? He doesn't even say a word.
Merlin
02-19-2003, 07:49 AM
Originally posted by gear02


How can he be cocky?? He doesn't even say a word.

You can be cocky and have an attitude without saying anything. It has a lot to do with how you carry yourself.

Don't get me wrong, he backs up his attitude with some great game but he is pretty cocky. Well for a baseball player that is. Compared to basketball players he is downright humble but compared to baseball players he's pretty cocky.
gear02
02-19-2003, 08:19 AM
Originally posted by Merlin


You can be cocky and have an attitude without saying anything. It has a lot to do with how you carry yourself.

Don't get me wrong, he backs up his attitude with some great game but he is pretty cocky. Well for a baseball player that is. Compared to basketball players he is downright humble but compared to baseball players he's pretty cocky.

Hmm...didn't know that. How bad is he? What does he do? I mean my definition of cocky for baseball players is Bonds.
Speedfreak
02-19-2003, 09:19 AM
Explain why, then, on Baseball cards it only says Ichiro.
Jihforce
02-19-2003, 09:23 AM
Originally posted by Merlin

Don't get me wrong, he backs up his attitude with some great game but he is pretty cocky. Well for a baseball player that is. Compared to basketball players he is downright humble but compared to baseball players he's pretty cocky.

Tell that to Albert Bell. :heh:
gear02
02-19-2003, 09:55 AM
Originally posted by Speedfreak
Explain why, then, on Baseball cards it only says Ichiro.


Dunno...maybe because they think its poetic to just have his first name on this baseball card...
NuTs62
02-19-2003, 02:24 PM
Originally posted by Speedfreak
Explain why, then, on Baseball cards it only says Ichiro.

perhaps because people associate him by the name "Ichiro" instead of Ichiro Suzuki (i think thats his last name right?) ... like if you said Kent, Clemens, Bonds... we'd likely know who the person is talkin bout.
Jihforce
02-19-2003, 02:50 PM
I think its because first names are more unique than last names.
TofuNinja
02-19-2003, 02:50 PM
Perhaps a certain car company would sue him for wearing THEIR name on a baseball jersey.... who knows
Speedfreak
02-19-2003, 05:55 PM
Originally posted by TofuNinja
Perhaps a certain car company would sue him for wearing THEIR name on a baseball jersey.... who knows

I don't think they would mind a popular baseball player wearing "their" name to everything he does. ;)
coleslaw
02-19-2003, 06:24 PM
Originally posted by TofuNinja
Perhaps a certain car company would sue him for wearing THEIR name on a baseball jersey.... who knows I guess it's a good thing that Whitey Ford played for the Yankees then, since the Yankees do not have names on their jerseys. :P