 Despite facing the odds against cultural and language barriers, the pressure of representing a nation of 1.2 billion, as well as facing Shaquille O Neal, the NBA s most dominant player, 7ft 6in Chinese basketball phenom Yao Ming succeeds in his first year in the NBA by finding friendship and support in his American translator, strength in the wisdom of his traditional Chinese values, and confidence in his own abilities. Through it all, Yao Ming became the most recognizable figure from China since Mao Tse Tung and a hero to millions around the globe.