Prior to Yao, players over 7'4" were usually one-dimensional freaks. Manute Bol, at 7'7", blocked shots and, during one stretch, started hoisting awkward three-pointers. Shawn Bradley, 7'6", had skills, but was far too meek to be a star. Yao, however, could do it all. At his peak, in 2006-2007, he averaged 25 points per game. His turnaround jumper was unstoppable. His post-passes were usually on the money. (It helps when you can see over everyone.) Yao, who played in just eight seasons, finished his career averaging 19.0 points, and 9.2 rebounds, per game. His Rockets never advanced further than the second round of the playoffs.

　 在姚之前，超过7尺4寸的球员往往都是“一招鲜”。7尺7寸的马努特·波尔（Manute Bol，前NBA中锋球员，曾效力于华盛顿奇才队），几乎只会盖帽，并且在一段时间里只能作为一个尴尬的三分手。七尺六寸的肖恩·布拉德利（ Shawn Bradley，前NBA中锋球员，曾效力于达拉斯小牛队），虽然具备一些技巧，但远不能使他成为一名球星。而姚明，却是无所不能的。在他2006-2007的巅峰赛季，他场均得到25分。他的转身跳投无法阻挡，他的高位传球总是非常及时到位（你会发现它能够越过任何人）。姚只打了8个赛季，职业生涯场均19.0分，9.2篮板。他的火箭队从来没有跨过季后赛第二轮。

　 Whatever on-court milestones Yao's body never allowed him to achieve, he more than made up for off the court. Yao was so much more than a basketball player. To the Chinese public who adored him, he was a symbol of his home country's possibility. Yao carried the Chinese flag at the Olympic opening ceremonies, soaking in the love of his country.

　 虽然姚的身体状况让他无法实现自己球场上的目标，他在球场外却做得更多。姚不仅仅是一名篮球运动员。对于崇拜他的中国公众来说，他是祖国潜力的一种象征。姚在奥运会开幕式上作为中国代表团的旗手，沉浸于对自己祖国的热爱中。

　The NBA, and basketball in general, has greatly benefited from Yao's emergence. Hoops is hot in China — just witness the Nike-clad kids on the Beijing blacktops, showing off their crossover dribble — largely because of him. Nike executives, and NBA commissioner David Stern, should genuflect at Yao's size-18 feet. A 1.3 billion-strong market is not a bad place to be booming.

　NBA，甚至整个篮球界都受益于姚明的出现。只需看看那些在北京室外球场上穿着耐克、玩着交叉步运球的孩子们， （就会发现）篮球在中国如此火热，而这些几乎都可以归功于姚明。耐克公司的决策者们，以及NBA的总裁大卫·斯特恩，都应该对姚明伟岸的身影顶礼膜拜。13亿人的大市场可是难以寻得的啊。

　Yao just got it. He became conversant in English, and could crack wise on Jimmy Kimmel's show or play pitchman for Visa. Teammates loved him. Sure, it's easy to dream about what might have been. Maybe a healthy Yao could battle Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki for Western Conference supremacy.

　 姚明是成功的。他精通英语，他能够在吉米秀（美国ABC公司的一栏脱口秀节目）上展示富有智慧的幽默，他还担任visa的代言人。队友们都喜欢他。也许一个健康的姚明能做与科比·布莱恩特和德克·诺维茨基争夺西部联盟霸权。

　 But you must acknowledge what Yao Ming did accomplish. The game, and its fans, think more globally, thanks to him. No broken bones sully that enormous achievement.

　 但是你必须承认姚明的成功。无论是比赛还是球迷，都是由于他，而进一步的全球化。小小的骨伤根本不能掩饰他巨大的成就。