Dr. Yao Ming to receive honorary degree for AIDS advocacy

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I'm late to this news, but hey, that's what happens when one starts getting artsy-fartsy with Yao Ming, tassels and good ol' Photoshop. Rome wasn't built in a day, people, and neither was that picture. In fact, that's two weeks worth of work right there. I'm slow with the magic wand.

ANYWAY, a few weeks ago, the University of Hong Kong announced on its website that it will award NBA star Yao Ming an honorary doctorate in social sciences for his long-term devotion to global AIDS prevention and cure and the great contributions he has made. HKU explains The Gentle Giant's work:

Mr. Yao has made outstanding contributions in HIV/AIDS advocacy, appearing with Magic Johnson on commercials to support the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and taking part in various activities on the Mainland, such as visiting children living with the disease. He has helped fight the social and cultural stigma associated with HIV/AIDS with his positive attitude and participation in the prevention and treatment of the disease, and continues to advocate action, care and full integration of people living with HIV/AIDS. In September 2008, Yao was presented with the "Award for Outstanding Contributions to the AIDS Response" by UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

Former US president Bill Clinton and medical professor David Ho will also receive honorary degrees. The three recipients will be awarded their honorary doctorates at a 2009 graduation ceremony in Hong Kong.

Congrats Dr. Yao!

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1. Posted by Jammer Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:47 pm EDT
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congrats to Yao, but, c'mon, Al Gore has a Nobel Peace Prize...clearly awards and degrees don't mean anything anymore
2. Posted by Viren Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT
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great work yao. im impressed.
3. Posted by Julian Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:56 pm EDT
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New rule: conservatives have to stop acting like Al Gores Nobel Prize means nothing! Not after 8 years of Bush! Not after he stole the election from Gore! Not after EVERYONE, even BUSH, admits that global warming is real! Stop making yourselves look like idiots. In about ten years, Bush's presidency and his unwillingness to act on Global Warming may have serious ramifications for us all... It's not funny.
4. Posted by Julian Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:56 pm EDT
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Not that Bush hasn't screwed up the NOW as well...
5. Posted by tree Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT
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Congrats YAO! ... by the way julian, It's not all Bush's fault. every citizen as a responsibility, we the people need to stop blaming government.
6. Posted by the swingman Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:49 pm EDT
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riiight guys...
this is a very big deal.
7. Posted by Mon Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:27 pm EDT
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Funny that the neo-cons, who have had no Nobel for anyone in their ranks would poke fun at Gore's award. Hey, losers, the Dems already got two Nobel and Oscars. Back to topic. Congrats Yao!
8. Posted by lakers3003 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 pm EDT
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This is a joke right? Come on this guy donates hundreds of thousands if not millions to AIDS and all of a sudden he gets awaded one of the highest degrees possible? Come on that's bS, i mean dont get me wrong Yao is a great man and a great player, and i applaude him for his contributions to the foundation, but seriously did they have to give him a Docorates! Please I'm going to donate money to china and ask their emperor for a damn college degree!
9. Posted by david l Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:33 pm EDT
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Wish more people have that kind of Dr. degree.
10. Posted by BIG CUZZ Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:53 pm EDT
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You the Tree need TO face facts bush is responsible for the country down fall. I guess you still believe there are weapons of mass destruction.
11. Posted by Daniel N Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:35 pm EDT
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of course only a laker fan had to make a stupid comment in this thread.
12. Posted by Jammer Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:47 pm EDT
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just because i think al gore doesn't deserve a nobel peace prize doesn't make me a conservative....last time i checked....
13. Posted by Pat Riley Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT
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That's why it's called an honorary doctorate. And China doesn't have emperors. And it isn't china that's awarding the degree it's a university in Hong Kong, which technically is part of China but is self-governing.
But David Ho? His theories, while celebrated in the mid nineties, have since been debunked.
14. Posted by Tyrone P Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:26 pm EDT
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Yea I like Yao a lot, but this award made me think first initially that Yao had done some study or something on his own with all of the million dollars he's getting and tried to invest in himself. But to just give him a degree because he appears on some commercials and go visit some places. Dikembe Mutumbo has done so much for his home in Africa, you don't see them handing out awards of this nature a Doctorate. I think it's just their proud of Yao and what he's doing in the NBA, which is great and I love Yao's game and how he plays and that he represents the country of China and their people and how great they are. They wanted to do something for him and that's understandable.
Oh well, there's a new Doctor in the house. Not Doctor J, but Doctor Yao. Has a nice ring to it.
15. Posted by Frank A Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT
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this is a dumb story and the university of hong kong is dumb. great job yao doing good deeds, but i think yao could of been given an award for his deeds as opposed an education degree. give him humanitarian of the year or something not an honorable social science degree.
16. Posted by jide Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:01 pm EDT
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Clinton is also receiving an honorary degree for his contribution to HIV/AIDS advocacy? What could have been his contributions/advice, "use condoms when practicing extramarital" lol.
I like Clinton though, smart dude.
17. Posted by Brandon R Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT
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" i'm super serial! man-bear-pig is real!!! " - al gore
18. Posted by John Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:58 pm EDT
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yea.. that's true jammer, cause people don't really appreciates it!
Congrats to Yao! Keep up the good works
19. Posted by John P Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:55 pm EDT
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An honorary doctorate really doesn't mean a whole lot. It just means that you got a degree that you didn't academically contribute to. But I find it hilarious that everyone's hating on the fact that Yao's getting this degree...especially since half of the critics can't even write a grammatically correct sentence. Maybe you should go back and wrap up your GED before you start hating on Mr. I mean Dr. Yao.
And for the record, I think Bush did screw this country.
20. Posted by craig k Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT
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We cause global warming and only more tax $ will slow it down, In the past it was climate change but now there is $ to be made so we follow like sheep. Why were there dinosaurs in N.Dakota? BAAAAAaa
21. Posted by craig k Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:31 pm EDT
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We cause global warming and only more tax $ will slow it down, In the past it was climate change but now there is $ to be made so we follow like sheep. Why were there dinosaurs in N.Dakota? BAAAAAaa
22. Posted by George77 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT
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big man ... bigger heart ...
not only a man for basketball, but for OTHERS
23. Posted by Jerome E Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT
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who's getting an honorary degree along with yao? president clinton? alright. but the president who gave so much money to AIDS victims around the globe is no less than the very unpopular bush. president bush is also the president who sent the most mosquito nets in 3rd world countries(its a luxury for them to have those nets), also bush happens to be the president who gave the most fundings for scientific cures on log-standing diseases... and he's not getting any awards. cool.
another thing, bush won the presidency fair and square. the court spoke and its the system that we have. so he won. he didnt steal it from gore or anyone else as some people always want to claim. oh, and not because conservatives tend to not agree with you or your extreme views on things such as global warming, doesnt mean we're IDIOTS. we only happen to see things differently (which also doesnt make you an idiot)
24. Posted by Mitchell Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:22 pm EDT
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Yao Ming! Why can't we argue about basketball in this section instead of politics. Didn't Barkely receive an honorary degree for something? Most Yahoo Sports Blog commentators can only dream of the day they receive an honorary degree for which they have not academically contributed. Psyche! Palin 2012...
25. Posted by fup duck Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:12 pm EDT
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There were never dinosaurs in N. Dakota, they were there prior to establishment of the United States