twbradford

To express an opinion or observation about a race doesn't make someone a racist. The conclusion someone comes to may be based on very little information but it doesn't make them a racist, sexist...or whatever. No one here proclaimed the superiority of any race but rather just asking the question: Why?

As a black american I like it when people ask these questions because it means they are trying to understand others outside of their class or group. Or even within their own group.

There are several factors that influence a persons participation in a given endeavor or career. Some of which are:

Culture - Why don't we see a lot of white actors in Kubuki or asians in a synagogue?
Environment - The Jamaican bobsled team is news worthy not because they are black but because their proximity to snow is limited. You also don't find a lot of hunters in New York City and their are very few soccer moms in downtown manhattan.
Genetics - Football favors those who are genetically bigger and fast. Swimming favors those whose muscle mass, body shape and ability to stay bouyant in water. Basketball favors those who are not only tall but have good hand\eye coordination and fast reflexes.
Experience - if you never learned to play with a ball as a child don't expect to be a NBA draft pick when you first bounce a ball in high school. Tiger Woods probably would be a really bad criquet player. Annie Oakley would probably suck even in a local charity ride. You can't do what you never done or know can be done.
Social class - How many people you know who play polo? How many people do you know that compete in horse jumping competition? Conversely, how many people you know who played street ball or played on monkey bars as a kid?

I don't think race is a factor with the exception that it is more than likely to be associated with the items alread mentioned above culture, genetics, environment and experience.

Most black people live in Africa. During the 1800s and early 1900s most black Americans lived in the south and in a rural setting. In the late 1900s the reverse was true. The culture, genetics, environment and experience of black americans differ from blacks from Africa. The same applies to white Australians and white British...though they are from the same gene pool centuries ago. The Aussies hang out on the beach and are nicely tanned and the women are beautiful.....and the British....well. In China most folks get around on a single speed bike and in Chinatown, NY it is by train or foot....rarely a bike can be found.

Ever hear of Major Taylor? There may be an asian face one day on the cover of Velo News. I have seen a few on bicycling magazine. Race and ethnicity are not limts to a persons dreams or abilities they are just a book cover.

....Now if we can just get past the drug issue things will be just dandy in cycling for everyone.

LANDIS IS INNOCENT IMHO!!!!!!

Treefox

Chinese racers aren't allowed to go pro apparently.

There's a really quite good article in today's Observer (British paper) about the Eritrean pro cycling scene. I'm sure it could be dug up online.

ed073

Correct. The deal with Shimano as sponsor was contingent on them taking some Japanese riders.

slvoid

Don't sweat it.
As an asian, I've had to put up with 2 stereotypes.
a) We're all smart, rich, hard working and successful.
b) We're dumb, don't speak english, are poor and filthy.

Unfortunately since i don't belong to group A, a lot of people then automatically file me into group B, especially on the phone when they first hear my name. I guess it's a consequence of keeping my native name instead of adopting an american one.

The fact also is, in NYC at least, that blacks and latinos are the dominate majorities of the poorer neighborhoods. There are diamonds in the rough. I met one of my better friends in one of the worst highschools in NYC, he didn't even finish college and now he's a successful software engineer.

I think I'm one of the few asians I know where "good enough" is good enough. Most of my asian friends are making 6 figures fresh out of college. But that's probably cause I'm so damn lazy.

classic1

If it's any consolation slvoid I automatically put you in category b/ and had no idea you were Asian.

rapidcarbon

just wonder how many asians in this forum. I am one of them. and I think I belong to group B since my English is not that good (that's why 55/Rad can pick on my grammatical error)

kleng

Asian can't ride the TDF, because we have poor bike handling skills and were not that aerodynamic.




and we use bikes for more rudimentary purposes like transfering things to the market.

CarreraGT612hp

Hey Hey Hey, I'm Chinese. I'm 14. I have a Bianchi Veloce. I'm doing my first race in October. One day I'll be the first Asian to race in the Tour, and in that same tour, I'll be the winner. Lol, those are my hopes.

7rider

I've always loved Gong Li since she starred in Red Sorghum and Raise the Red Lantern, so it was great to see her in Miami Vice. But it was Latina Trudy and her skills with a G36C that really made my heart swoon. And Tubbs can fly an airplane in tight valleys and Crockett can take off his jacket while he's driving a fast boat at top speed - wow! Too bad my wife didn't care too much for the movie.

CarreraGT612hp

btw, i am an american citizen, born and raised in california.

i'm actually on vacation now in taiwan. a week ago i was in japan. holy smokes, everywhere there are bikes. i saw an old lady who looked like 90 years old, on a bike. i was like...whoaaaaa...

ed073

Daisuke Imanaka (JAP) rode the Tour for Polti in 1996....

0810

lucky bastard. im chinese, 16 and only a 2002 raleigh r500.

sabretech2001

Four pages and not a single snarky comment about chinese food delivery guys? You all are slipping...

slvoid

What did you think his post was about?

kleng

Slvoid, I'm an Australian born Chinese (ABC) if we can't make fun of ourselves I don't know who can.
Sport is a function of wealth and developed society, a lot of my fellow asians in the third world can never hope in their lifetime to attain a standard of living comparable to that of the western world, so particpation in sports is a luxury in time and money those close to the poverty line cannot afford.
So to answer the questions "whether an Asian can compete in the tour de france" I would say not in the near future, not until the economic position improves and most asian people can obtain improved nutrition above a subsistence level.

Mo'Phat

I literally laughed out loud. I said, "Bring me some Kung Pao, Biatch!...Not Kung Pao biatch."


/All Asians eat dogs.
//not really.
///Just Kleng.

Ant

You guys think you have it bad....I am korean but was adopted by an Italian father and English mother. My name is Anthony Arbolino. You can bet I get a couple double takes. lol

bbattle

Am I the only one that remembers this very thread from LAST year?

bbattle

No Way, R600DuraAce will be the first; he can crank it up to 400 watts.

bbattle

It's getting so the only group that can be safely attacked is us rednecks.

bellweatherman

Geez! Where did all the Chinese and Japanese posters come from all of the sudden? Don't you guys realize there are guys on this forum making all sorts of slanty-eyed racist comments about you? Just scroll back a couple pages.

smellygary

But slvoid, EVERYBODY is either clean or filthy, successful or not, dumb or smart, speak English or not!

Would you like an English name? I can give you one, if you'd like!

botto 

The chickens have come home to roost

Keith99

I don't play grammer cop often. But you pointed out you are Asian and not of the smart rich group and therefore often get kicked to the other end of the spectrum.

You said:

"blacks and latinos are the dominate majorities of the poorer neighborhoods."

The correct word is dominant. It is easy to pick up the misuse, there are disturbingly many who are native English speakers who make the same mistake. (And often come off like thay know everything).

It also is the lind of mistake that seems out of place coming from you, slvoid. At least to my 'ears' it is the mistake of your group b (or more correctly the white version thereof) and does not fit my image of you at all. Thus worth pointing out. I rarely bother pointing out little errors of fools.

smellygary

Speaking of pointing out errors of fools, what exactly is a "lind"?
If yer gonna play grammer cop, spectit ta *** back too ya!