[SmootSmack]

As for global impact, I'm sure Yao has something to do with basketball's boon in China. But more importantly, keep in mind that it's just easier for basketball to have an impact than golf. It's hard to turn a bunch of run down playgrounds around the world into basketball courts. Nike has done that all across China and it's signficantly increased basketball participation amoung its youth. It's not as easy to build hundreds of golf courses