The president of the Organization of Chinese Americans demanded that Los Angeles Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal offer a more serious apology for derogatory remarks he made about Houston Rockets rookie Yao Ming.
Raymond Wong of Houston spoke outside Compaq Center prior to Friday night's game between the Lakers and Rockets that matched O'Neal and the 2.29m Chinese center for the first time.
O'Neal has apologized, saying his comments were a joke.
``We didn't take it as a joke,'' Wong said. ``It was more of an excuse because other people do it and it's OK. Well, it's not OK.
"He doesn't just represent himself. He represents the NBA and he represents his community.''
Several fans carried placards protesting O'Neal, but Wong said his organization only wanted to make a statement.
Wong said his group had sent a letter to NBA commissioner David Stern asking the league to encourage O'Neal to issue a sincere, unqualified apology to Yao and to all Americans for his rhetoric.
A columnist for AsianWeek complained in his newspaper that O'Neal made several derogatory comments about Yao, with the Lakers' center saying, ``Tell Yao Ming, `ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-soh.'''
Tim Andree, NBA senior vice president of communications, issued a statement late Friday regarding O'Neal's comments.
``As commissioner Stern had already stated in an interview with the Arizona Republic on Jan. 12, the NBA has reviewed Shaquille O'Neal's comments and has found them to be insensitive, although not intentionally mean spirited,'' Andree said.
``Immediately upon learning of the remarks, the NBA contacted the Lakers and O'Neal has issued an apology to Yao, which Yao has accepted.
``Sports, once again, has reminded us how remarks or ill-fated attempts at humor can be hurtful, harmful and ultimately divisive. The NBA does not condone remarks that are insensitive to any nationality, race or religion.''
The statement pointed out that there are players from 34 countries playing in the league this season.
Wong's organization also wants the NBA to issue a statement denouncing race-based taunts by all NBA personnel and to require diversity awareness seminars for all NBA personnel, including players and coaching staffs.
Yao has not joined the protest, choosing instead to accept O'Neal's comments as a joke.
``He may not be as sensitized because where he comes from, people don't make fun of Chinese or Asian people,'' Wong said. ``I grew up in the South, so I know how sensitive Asian people are.
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