‘Basketball Is an International Language’

At 6 feet 8, it is hard to miss basketball player ZHENG HAIXIA, who came from China in early June to play with the Los Angeles Sparks, a new basketball team that is part of the Women’s National Basketball Assn.

The four-time Chinese Olympian, who began playing basketball at age 12, when she was 5 feet 11, is used to fame in her own country. But the 30-year-old athlete was surprised when she entered a restaurant a few weeks ago in downtown L.A.’s Chinatown and received a standing ovation. Soon a crush of fans mobbed her for her autograph.

Zheng, who is the tallest player in the WNBA, made her Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 1984, when she played for the Chinese National Team.

She will return to China in September to play in the Chinese National Championship. She has not decided whether she will return to Los Angeles next year.

Through interpreter Wendy Chang, she talked with DEBORAH BELGUM about being a role model for Chinese American girls and finding fame in Los Angeles.

Everybody in China recognizes me. But since I have not been here very long, I am surprised because I didn’t think that many people recognized me in the United States. But we were in Chinatown, where there are mostly Chinese people, who recognized me.

In China, people ask for my autograph. They want to take my picture, shake my hand. They follow me and scream my name. All the things that fans do. Here, people wait for me after the games.

Basically basketball is an international language even though there might be different styles and ways of playing. A lot of times, U.S. basketball has more physical contact. There is more concentration on defense and it is more aggressive. And Chinese basketball is built more for our physical shape. Chinese basketball games go for more accuracy and quickness.

I think my playing in the league will inspire more Chinese American girls to play basketball because when they see me play, they will like basketball more and enjoy watching it more, to be a part of it.

I am very honored to serve as a role model for the Chinese American girls who want to play basketball. It gives them more hope that they can be a basketball player if they really love something.

If they are interested in playing, I tell them to just keep practicing. Not everybody on the court is as tall as me. There are really good players who are not tall because basketball is something that is a combination of different heights and techniques.

Living in the United States is similar to China in that basically you go do whatever you want to do. But for me it is different because living (in Beijing) in a sports complex, there are people who cook for me and clean for me and do chores for me. Here you have to do pretty much everything yourself.

I definitely have more friends in China and I miss them. But they are very helpful. They call me on the phone.