Former VOA Staffer Serves as Translator for

Broadcast: Apr 09,2003

"I thought, why not just try it. So, I sent a resume 3 and a cover letter. And a month later, I heard back from his [Yao's] agent, and we started the interview process," he said. "And, I was fortunate. I guess I had the right combinations 4 of abilities they were looking for."

Colin Pine was selected from about 400 applicants 5 to be Yao Ming's official translator. He told VOA Sports that he thinks being a big basketball fan was a key reason he got the job.

"I have a passion for both Chinese and basketball," he said. "So, I think, I'm really, really enjoy. I think when you have a passion for something, it comes through in your work. And, I think, that was reflected in the cover letter I wrote; and, I think, it was reflected in my conversation with his agent. So, I think, that they were able to tell I would be really dedicated 6 to this job."

Yao Ming was playing in the Asia basketball championships last year, when Colin Pine was hired. So, Yao did not get to select his own interpreter. The first time he spoke to Pine was when he arrived at Houston's airport. The two did a news conference on the spot.

"It was a little bit 2)awkward. Fortunately, Yao Ming is an exceptional 7 human being, and he made it easy. We started joking right away and we became fast friends. " Colin said.

Colin Pine says he has built a good working relationship with Yao Ming.

"He is a great person. He is a wonderful person. He has a great sense of humor," he said. "He is 22-years-old, but he is mature beyond his years. And it is funny, at 29, I think I can learn a lot from him."

And Yao is learning 8 a lot from his translator, Colin Pine, who lives with Yao and his parents in a house in 3)suburban Houston.

"His English is getting better and better. We talk in English a lot. Just to practice, we try to have conversations in English," he said. "You know, he will be independent and that is the goal. I do not know at what time [when]. But it is going to happen sooner, rather than later."

Pine says Yao is getting used to life in the United States.

"He has been here several times before, so I do not think it is as much of an adjustment as people think. He does not have a lot of time to go out and see things, so I think it is tough," Colin said. " But I think he adapts well to everything. So, I think, no matter where he is, or would be, he would be able to adapt. "

But Colin Pine says living the schedule of an NBA player, being on the road so much, city-to-city for games is very tiring. But since Yao was the league's number-one draft 9 choice prior 10 to this season, and given that he is so tall and from China, Pine said, he gets even more attention.

"Just being surrounded by media all the time. It is not just a few questions. There are always constant media demands," he said. "His agents and the team try to control that, but it is a little toiling 11 sometimes."

Colin Pine says, if Yao Ming wants him back as his translator next season, he will stay. He added, no matter what, it has been a great experience.

Parke Brewer 12 VOA sport, Washington.

1)    rookie[5rJkI]n.新手

2)    awkward[5C:kwEd]adj. 难使用的, 笨拙的

3)    suburban[sE5bE:bEn]adj. 郊外的, 偏远的