Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 at 1:55 pm  |  178 responses

Links: Who Is Mr. Ping Ping?

What does this have to do with the NBA? Read and win free stuff…

by Lang Whitaker

Yesterday I linked to this story about the world’s tallest man meeting the world’s smallest man, which I enjoyed on several levels — that odd looking giant (wearing adidas), the tiny man with the oddly fastened bow tie.

Well, the story swept through the SLAM Dome, particularly resonating with my coworkers Leah and Vanessa from XXL Magazine. And while we all liked the tall guy, I just can’t get enough of Mr. Ping Ping.

Leah and Vanessa briefly confused Mr. Ping Ping with Nelson de la Rosa, the little man who served as the Red Sox good luck charm during their championship year. I immediately went de la Rosa’s tribute website, Mahow.com, to show them the difference in the two men, and discovered de la Rosa passed away last year. Respect.

As for Mr. Ping Ping, there’s not a lot of information about him on the internet. Beside the story I linked to earlier, I found this story, which basically just repeats a lot of the same information. And there’s this video, but we don’t even get to hear from Mr. Ping Ping on the video.

Anyway, I like Mr. Ping Ping. I like what he stands for and the way he attaches his bow tie. I like the way he’s standing in this photo, hands on hips, as though he’s expecting something to happen but he’s not quite sure what. But mostly I like his name: He Ping Ping. And Mr. Ping Ping cracks me up every time I hear it.

So now we need to make sure his name stays out there, and I think the best way to do that is by appropriating his name for an NBA player. Which is where you guys come in.

Put some thought into this. It doesn’t have to be the shortest player in the NBA, doesn’t have to be the weirdest player. Just needs to be an NBA player who best embodies the spirit of Mr. Ping Ping. Whoever comes up with the best suggestion with the best argument for why your guy should be Mr. Ping Ping will win something from the pile of loot behind my desk.

You have a few days, or until I pick a winner. Get to it…

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  • http://aspov.blogspot.com Cheryl

    Okay the Gooden neck hair is funny, but please, if that’s the winner, don’t be bringing it up everytime you talk about the Cavs. I’d hate to be constantly reminded of the neck hair. it’s fairly disgusting. btw, doesn’t drew have a girlfriend/wifey? if so, how the hell can she let him keep the dam thing? I’d shave it off in his sleep. yeah, we do sh*t like that…

  • Johnny Kilroy

    Ping Ping Whitaker

    we’d never forget, we’d be honoring a man who does not get proper recognition, and we’d bestow Lang with the highest honor he can imagine

  • http://www.neworleansnation.blogspot.com Toney Blare

    Outside of NBA, I’m saying Mannie Fresh. Producer of “Everytime I come around your city…PING PING!”

  • Keith

    Is Mr Ping-Ping not just a human version of that Popeye character Sweetpea?

  • deepspace5

    Deron Williams

  • Hizzo

    Its gotta be freakin’ Muggsy “Ping Ping” Bogues!!!

  • Mr. Bob Dobolina

    Paul “Ping Ping” Pierce
    Alliteration is always funny

  • ADale

    Sam Mitchell. They both dress sharp and look at the confidence on Mr Ping Ping’s face. He’s small, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at the picture (excluding background); That confidence is similar to Sam Mitchell 2 years ago…everyone thought he was crazy with his one play and then – coach of the year!!! He had a plan all along!! Oozing with confidence! And wait until Mitchell rocks a cumberbun!

  • Gerard Himself

    Ron Artest. Like mr. Ping Ping, he might be a little (pun intended) different, but you just can’t hate him.
    And it would be fun if one of the toughest players in the L. would be called Ping Ping.

  • s dot

    for some strange reason i’m thinking matt barnes

  • Charles

    If Popeye Jones comes back to the league, then I say we name him Mr. Ping Ping.

  • http://aspov.blogspot.com Cheryl

    ADale got me thinking: has there ever been a coach to where bow ties on the sidelines? I know the Heat has Keith Askins, an assistant coach. He also says “right on” after every interview on the local game night coverage. Reminds me of my dad, who use to say the same thing everytime I lied about where I’d been the night before… I know, TMI!

  • Deuce21

    From the confident stare, receding hairline and the slight yet proud stature, put a Diet Coke in his hand and he’s sooooo Jeff Van Gundy (sorry, Ping Van Gundy) :P

  • http://aspov.blogspot.com Cheryl

    *wear* oops…

  • Joey

    Earl Boykins for the most obvious reasons ever . . cuz they both have mustaches of course. What were u thinkin of?

  • Craig

    What about Pops Mensah-Bonsu
    “Pops Ping Ping”

  • http://whipwrites.blogspot.com CoolWhip11

    DON NELSON! The way he’s standing is just like Don Nelson.
    But he’s also standing there like he runs ish…a la David “some things about the ghetto you gotsta learn” Stern (nickname courtesy of Artest)

  • Tariq

    Nellie would be perfect if he were eligible.

  • Petter

    The late Abraham Lincoln, of course. Just look at his patient and abstract face, he wouldn´t look out of place on one of your dollar bills… Just add a wicked pyramid and “in god we trust” and you´re set.

  • Ben Fisher

    Earl Boykins

    Tony Parker

  • http://yahoo.com ian

    Earl Boykins, and not just beacause he’s short. Everyone obviously loves mr. ping ping, and back when earl was in denver everyone loved him. The crowd would erupt everytime he came off the bench.

  • Derronious

    Its a shame that Ben Handlogten isn’t still around.

  • floe

    reminds me of a younger dustin hoffman.. that picture.

    also can i go with a team here instead ? with the right gear mr.ping ping could totally pull of the celtics’ leprechaun.

  • El Boydelz

    If the league goes with the new synthetic ball again perhaps we could dub it “the ping ping.” Then we’d get a piece of pinger every game every night.

  • El Boydelz

    Then when it stopped being funny the L would switch back to the old leather ball again. Perfect no?!?

  • http://www.myspace.com/mikebone Simmy Sosa

    Besides the obvious height comparison I like Nate Robinson as “Ping Ping” because they both seem to have a spunky demeanor that demands the attention of the people…

  • Ben Payne

    Joakim Noah for sure! The bow tie on him was just as tacky as mr. ping ping.

  • Mat

    Ronaldo Balkman .. dont ask

  • Vancouver Islands Finest

    Mike James! No real reason why but I think it works.

  • Tariq

    Mr. Ping Ping is Magneto because both are evil geniuses hell-bent on destroying the world. Also, both do battle against mutants.

  • Shotcaller

    Just found this video of Mr. Ping Ping;

    http://www.thatvideosite.com/video/4561

  • http://nothinpersonal8.blogspot.com/ nothin _personal

    Now I am torn? Is it Drew Goodens ductail or Andrew Boguts rat tail that we need to give the nod.

  • Dean (not the first guy)

    I know others have mentioned Yao Ming .. but the 2 names should be put together … Yao Ming ping ping. Its like calling a fat guy “slim”, or a short guy “stretch”…ya know?

  • Deuce21

    Clint Howard……………….no really, look!
    http://www.amazon.com/Ping-Judge-Reinhold/dp/B00005LOUM
    PING!

  • baker’s dozen (12-13)

    It’s one of two people:
    1) Nate Robinson
    2) JR Smith

  • slate

    Damn Russ I was hoping no one mentioned “ping,ping,ping ricochet rabbit”,and there’s only one player as fast as ricochet and thats Leandro “Ping Ping ” Barbosa (with respects to T.Parker D.Harris & King ‘Bron).Oh yeah Cheryl, as long as you shave while we sleep and not SNIP,SNIP I think all can be forgiven in the end :)

  • cody

    hakeem olajuwon because both of them has similar suit. http://www.nba.com/media/draft2006/olajuwon_84_400.jpg

  • Sam

    Im gonna go with Big Z, Ilgauskas. They both ahve that certain vibe about them both..know what i mean? its kind of a hard one to explain, but i bet they would get on well with each other? Anyone else with me on that?

  • Colie

    earl boykins, short matches short.

  • Brent

    Anyone remember that Japanese guy from a few years back,Yuta Tabuse.
    He is Mr Ping Ping.

  • Ankle Breaker

    Earl the squirrel because they both have a strange face and they are short (don’t worry, I am short too)

  • Michael

    it nates life flashing before him

  • J

    he kind of remind me of Muggsy Bogues

  • Paxson43

    That’s easy. Mr. Ping Ping is Ben Gordon. Just look at the similar hands-on-hips pose: http://www.nba.com/media/bulls/gordon_kidd_070406.jpg
    He’s also always wearing nice suits. Dunzo.

  • Spencer King

    I think Andrea Bargnani, I say that because right when I seen this photo and read the story, I thought BARGNANI, it’s almost like they’re soulmates, somehow?

  • slate

    THIS IS IT:There’s a 6’9″ juco recruit going to U of Nebraska (pending academics…..of course)named….Shang Ping! I know he’s not an NBA player,but if you can get the 6’9″ Ping next to the 3’9″(?) Ping in a photo shoot with a caption that reads “Ping Ping & Ping!!!!”

  • http://slamonline.com Khallid

    This probably won’t win but he reminds me kind of Joakim Noah on draft day when he wore that bright red bowtie.

  • max

    He reminds me of Ron Artest because although little, this guy looks like he aint gonna take s#!t from anybody. You can also see a sense of determination to make a name for himself in his look, just like you do Artest.

  • Timmy

    Nate Robinson: he’s short, but just like Mr. Ping Pong aint nobody gonna tell him what to do or push him aroun, just ask the nuggets.

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