Yao Ming

Louanne on Aug 12th 2008

So with round the clock Olympics in our house I have been thinking a lot of China and the stuff that we saw there. We saw a boatload of photos of products with Yao Ming’s face plastered all over them. And this reminded me of when I used to work at a steak house in Dallas when Yao Ming came in with his translator and a couple other basketball people. They were seated in my station because my manager was confident that I wouldn’t act like a goober because a famous person was in my section. She knew I would just do my job.

Anyway, I went up to greet them and he was so tall that even once he was sitting down he was taller than me. I kid you not the guy had to look down a bit to place his order. HA HA!! The best part was when I asked him how he wanted his steak cooked and the translator said, “well done” a split second before he said, “rare.” So I sent it rare and he gave me a big smile and ate the whole thing. I figured he was the one who was going to eat the steak, not the translator.

Who knew that 6 years later we would be in China meeting sweet Nadia and that he would be such a focus of the Olympics?

Filed in China, Home Life |

5 Responses to “Yao Ming”

  1. # Alanon 13 Aug 2008 at 8:00 am

    That’s pretty cool that you served him, way back then. And, funny that he was still taller after sitting down.

    I would have also sent the order in as rare too, but only because I can’t stand to see a good steak ruined by cooking all the flavor out of it. I cringe a little every time I hear someone say “well done” in a restaurant.

  2. # Triciaon 13 Aug 2008 at 8:58 am

    Wow! That’s an awesome story! I will write David right now and tell him to read it. It’s no secret how much he loves basketball!

  3. # catherinethegreaton 13 Aug 2008 at 11:52 am

    Great story…and well its a small world in some ways isn’t it? Take care. CTG

  4. # Stephanie Petlowon 13 Aug 2008 at 4:05 pm

    What a great experience to have met Yao Ming and then years later to go over with Nadia & Mike to see her country firsthand and to be able to share with all of us the months before the Beijing Olympics. Thank you both for giving us all “a firsthand look ” in March at the city before all the cameras! I love that I have seen the streets, buildings and the people through your camera lens and to see and share them with the world is awesome! It really is “a small world after all”.

    Thanks for sharing,

    Love , Mom xxxoo

  5. # Maddys Momon 13 Aug 2008 at 10:19 pm

    What a meat story! He seems like a decent guy, I just loved his interaction with the little boy at the opening.

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