Top 10 Asian Americans Sports Figures of 2010

I actually started this list a couple of weeks ago but couldn't decide whether or not to finish it. Maybe this isn't really the place for this kind of thing but at this point, I'm just gonna post whatever.

Northwest Asian Weekly did their own Top 10 list of Asian American Sports Figures released on December 22 and that is essentially what forced me to revisit this list--that and I told my buddy Keith Chow I would do one. He did a Top 10 list for Asian Americans in Pop Culture at the PopCultureShock blog. It's a solid list but I don't know how Slim Chin doesn't break Top 3. Olivia Munn was my little contribution. You're welcome.

The NWAW list was decent but given the relatively small pool of athletes to choose from, I didn't think ours would be this different. And, no, you can't make Manny an honorary Asian American. I know he's the best Asian athlete in the world--arguably the best athlete hands down--but no, that's cheating.

List after the jump >>>.

Beijing Shougang Ducks release former Rockets guard Steve Francis

NIUBBall.com reports that just 13 days after Steve Francis joined the Beijing Shougang Ducks, they have decided to part ways.

The nine-year NBA veteran and former All-Star logged 14 total minutes in just 4 games with the Ducks. Francis reportedly arrived with poor conditioning and unable to shoulder major minutes. He was also reprimanded by the league after making an inappropriate gesture towards a referee.

According to Sina Sports, the buyout and terms of Francis’ release have already been negotiated and the move will be made shortly pending an official release by the team. Wording is everything as my boy Jared Zwerling on the Knicks blog at ESPN makes it sound like Francis broke up with the Ducks first: http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/1694/ex-knicks-guard-steve-francis-leaves-chinese-team.

So, Marbury is looking pretty good right now. A.I., what have you?

Basketball will miss Yao Ming

I was working on something to sum up my thoughts about Yao Ming's career to this unfortunate point but ESPN's Michael Wilbon put it perfectly. Yao Ming was under-appreciated in this league and sadly, will probably always will be.

Here's the link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=wilbon/101220.

If this is indeed the end of Yao's career--bearing in mind he has admitted to no such thing--it's not the disappointment people seem to make it out to be. The disappointment is that it could have been legendary. He could have been one of the great ones. But, if it is over, this passage from Wilbon sums it up fittingly:

But know that the Houston Rockets are worse off for Yao's absence, as is the NBA, as is basketball in China, as is the general product that is professional basketball. Anybody who never won a championship, never even reached a conference finals but who can nonetheless be missed that much is truly a giant figure and in his case is hugely underappreciated.

'Stevie Franchise' 17 seconds of heaven

You're just going to have to read this story for yourself. Former Rockets star Steve Francis makes an inauspicious debut, playing with an ice-pack strapped to his ankle with 17 seconds left in the game. Why that was gets even better.

http://www.niubball.com/2010/12/surprise-francis-plays-17-seconds-in-beijing-debut/

Yao goes down again

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7344596.html

It's official. Yao is out for the season yet again. This time its a stress fracture in his left ankle. The big man we've all been pulling for just can't get a break. You can't help but feel bad for him. Obviously, some big decisions lie ahead for Yao and his career. 

More on this to come...

The Bleacher Report has a tribute of sorts: "Yao Ming and 20 Athletes We Wish Had Healthier Careers."

Francis deal is done in China

Former Rockets All-Star guard Steve Francis has signed a one-year deal with the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

He will indeed be following in the footsteps of Stephon Marbury, who joined the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons last season and hopefully, Allen Iverson isn't too far behind.

Former NBA players, Javaris Crittenton, Ricky Davis, Quincy Douby and Mike James, among others, are all newly-inked members of the upcoming CBA season.

'Franchise' close to deal to play in China

Well, it looks like it's about to go down. Steve Francis is reportedly close to signing a deal to play in China, yes, in the same league as Stephon Marbury. Now, all they need is Iverson (who is also reportedly interested in making the move) to sign. Then this off-season, they can do some kind of freakish, Bizarro-world Big 3 deal with the Shanghai Sharks. Francis, Marbury and Iverson as the Chinese Lebron, Wade and Bosh. I can see Marbury's press conference now.

My brother and I were once huge fans of Francis, Marbury and Iverson. In their respective primes, we debated endlessly which was the best player individually, which was more likely to win a championship, which was the best team player. We rarely included Francis as his position as the Houston Rockets' "Franchise" would clearly taint any realistic debate.

For awhile, Stevie was untouchable. But, we grew older, wiser and this trio of uber-talented guards didn't seem to reciprocate for the sake of our arguments. Iverson will go down as one of the all-time greats but even he couldn't bow out gracefully. If by some blessed miracle they all end up in China, as this post from Ball Don't Lie suggests is a possibility, my brother and I can renew this once-great dispute.

For the record, I always had Iverson.

Weapon Yao: He's Back