Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

Yao ranks high on minority sports power list
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-30 10:47

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is the most influential minority in basketball, according to Sports Illustrated.

Yao, the 7-foot-6 native of China, also weighs in at No 3 among the most influential minorities in all sports, according to the June 28 issue of Sports Illustrated. He trails only golfer Tiger Woods (No 2) and Arturo Moreno, owner of Major League Baseball's Anaheim Angels.

One spot behind Yao, 23, on the overall list of promotional players is fellow hoops phenom LeBron James, 19, who won the most recent NBA Rookie of the Year award fresh out of high school as a Cleveland Cavaliers guard.

Woods and James each sport impressive endorsement rosters, but Yao has been racking up his own ad work. In late February, the Rockets star hauled in another marketing McNugget when he inked a global endorsement deal with McDonald's.

Yao also has been signed as a pitchman for household names Pepsi, Apple Computer and Visa. Also in his trophy case is what Sports Illustrated calls a "Jordanesque deal" with Reebok.

The onetime king of sports sponsorship, now-retired Michael Jordan ranks No 34 on the new list of the most influential minorities.



 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

Money Game: Rotating illusion of getting wealthy

 

   
 

More HIV, AIDS cases expected in Henan

 

   
 

EU ruling on China's market status 'unfair'

 

   
 

Piracy still plagues IT industry

 

   
 

Saddam to face charges in Iraq Thursday

 

   
 

Law alters national licensing standards

 

   
  Portugal praying for end to semi-final jinx
   
  Fitting finale for great CBL season
   
  Formula One teams told to turn down the throttle
   
  McGrady sent to Houston Rockets in exchange for Francis
   
  Upstarts upstaged at Wimbledon
   
  Montgomery's lawyers demanding arbitration
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Yao Ming to represent Shanghai
   
Yao Ming stars in Shanghai promotional film
   
High school hoopsters vie for Yao Ming Cup
Advertisement