--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My American strength coach said he liked…" description: "\"My American strength coach said he liked me better before I could speak English.\" — Yao Ming" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/yao-ming-13790_american-strength_my-american-strength-coach-said-he-liked_1363176.jpg" --- # My American strength coach said he liked me better before… ![“My American strength coach said he liked me better before I could speak English.” quote by Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/yao-ming-13790_american-strength_my-american-strength-coach-said-he-liked_1363176.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/yao-ming-13790_american-strength_my-american-strength-coach-said-he-liked_1363176.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/yao-ming-13790_american-strength_my-american-strength-coach-said-he-liked_1363176.jpg) > “My American strength coach said he liked me better before I could speak English.” [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The coach preferred a player’s raw athletic ability over language proficiency, highlighting performance over communication. **In simple terms:** Skill can outweigh language in certain roles. Key Takeaway Value core abilities while improving communication. Themes sports team dynamics coaching Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type advice observational When to use this quote - basketball training - team selection - cross‑cultural teams Key Concepts language barriers performance metrics Questions to Reflect On - Do you prioritize skill or communication? - How can language be improved without losing talent? A Different Perspective Language skills can be crucial for leadership and teamwork. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-strength/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ## Related quotes > [I speak dance better than I speak English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-debose/i-speak-dance-better-than-i-speak-english/) [Ariana DeBose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-debose/) > [Britton Kelley is the best strength coach I've had in my life - he's probably the best in the country. He has really transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-harris/britton-kelley-is-the-best-strength-coach-i-ve-had-in-my-life-he-s/) [Tobias Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-harris/) > [I got a strength coach. My wife. She gets big chains, and at night she puts them around the refrigerator. They are so strong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/i-got-a-strength-coach-my-wife-she-gets-big-chains-and-at-night-she/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [I was a strength coach for over a year where our teams used CrossFit, and our football team won their first conference championship in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-froning-jr/i-was-a-strength-coach-for-over-a-year-where-our-teams-used-crossfit/) [Rich Froning Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-froning-jr/) > [I spend around two and half hours on the track every day running and another 2 hours in the weight room lifting weights with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allyson-felix/i-spend-around-two-and-half-hours-on-the-track-every-day-running-and/) [Allyson Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allyson-felix/) > [We have the smallest navy since 1916, we have the lowest number of troops since the end of the Second World War. We've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/we-have-the-smallest-navy-since-1916-we-have-the-lowest-number-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I just have to tell you that the provocations by Russia need to be met with American strength. And if Russia chooses to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-just-have-to-tell-you-that-the-provocations-by-russia-need-to-be/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I think it's really a sign of great American strength that we do invest the money we do in technology, in these hard projects,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/i-think-it-s-really-a-sign-of-great-american-strength-that-we-do/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [When fraternities are not allowed, Communism flourishes. Young men who are inexperienced but have faith are more useful than older, experienced men without faith.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/when-fraternities-are-not-allowed-communism-flourishes-young-men-who/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [What are the symbols of American strength, wealth, power and modernity? Certainly not jazz and rock and roll, not chewing-gum or hamburgers, Broadway or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/what-are-the-symbols-of-american-strength-wealth-power-and-modernity/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [The provocations by Russia need to be met with American strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-provocations-by-russia-need-to-be-met-with-american-strength/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [The beauty of the trees, the softness of the air, the fragrance of the grass, they speak to me. The summit of the mountain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-dan-george/the-beauty-of-the-trees-the-softness-of-the-air-the-fragrance-of-the/) [Chief Dan George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-dan-george/) > [The wisest use of American strength is to advance freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-wisest-use-of-american-strength-is-to-advance-freedom/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I believe as well that - that American strength is - is essential economic strength, family and value strength, military strength is essential for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-as-well-that-that-american-strength-is-is-essential/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Our enemies will respond only to American strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/our-enemies-will-respond-only-to-american-strength/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) ## More by Yao Ming > [There is a phrase in Chinese, 'Resolve is victory.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/there-is-a-phrase-in-chinese-resolve-is-victory/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [Every sound in the gym is so fantastic. The screams of the fans, the whistle of the ref, the teammates calling to each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/every-sound-in-the-gym-is-so-fantastic-the-screams-of-the-fans-the/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [The Olympic Games is holy. Athletes from around the world, including myself, of course, dream to participate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/the-olympic-games-is-holy-athletes-from-around-the-world-including/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [Others are improving very fast, and I'm not improving as fast, and that bothers me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/others-are-improving-very-fast-and-i-m-not-improving-as-fast-and-that/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [Is there a choice in life? It's always been like this. I am jealous that you have a lot of leisure and free time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/is-there-a-choice-in-life-it-s-always-been-like-this-i-am-jealous/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [Embarrassed journalists ask me embarrassing questions, and they get embarrassing answers, and then hand out embarrassing stories to the embarrassing editors, who put them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/embarrassed-journalists-ask-me-embarrassing-questions-and-they-get/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [I don't really have anything to say. Basketball is not a game that you can play with your mouth. It needs action to prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/i-don-t-really-have-anything-to-say-basketball-is-not-a-game-that-you/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [Fortune cookies are a good idea. If the message is positive, it can make your day a little better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/fortune-cookies-are-a-good-idea-if-the-message-is-positive-it-can/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [Hometown is like my quilts. Sometimes when you are in sweet dreams, you don't feel it's comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/hometown-is-like-my-quilts-sometimes-when-you-are-in-sweet-dreams-you/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [I only want to play basketball, and play it well and be happy about it. But I realize that with being famous, comes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/i-only-want-to-play-basketball-and-play-it-well-and-be-happy-about-it/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [I am a basketball player, and I would like to focus my energy on basketball. The other things, I would rather not do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/i-am-a-basketball-player-and-i-would-like-to-focus-my-energy-on/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [First of all, I'm not buff enough. I got pushed away from the basket. And even when I didn't, I couldn't get anyone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/first-of-all-i-m-not-buff-enough-i-got-pushed-away-from-the-basket/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [I think I am upsetting the coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/i-think-i-am-upsetting-the-coach/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [No matter whether you are new or an old team member, you need time to adjust to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/no-matter-whether-you-are-new-or-an-old-team-member-you-need-time-to/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [When I was young, we were taught not to dunk. We were taght not to stand out from the rest of the team. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/when-i-was-young-we-were-taught-not-to-dunk-we-were-taght-not-to/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) [Explore all 49 Yao Ming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) ## More Accent quotes > [“It's not my accent, but my brevity makes me stylish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/it-s-not-my-accent-but-my-brevity-makes-me-stylish/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“Stop it,” Adrian ordered, his strange accent thicker with his vehemence. “I promise, I’m not going to hurt you!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/stop-it-adrian-ordered-his-strange-accent-thicker-with-his-vehemence/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [At first I thought I would have to put on an English accent and try a sort of affected Shakespeare thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/at-first-i-thought-i-would-have-to-put-on-an-english-accent-and-try-a/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [“If you are an alien, how come you sound like you're from the north?' 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But there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steph-mcgovern/i-had-people-who-said-i-was-a-brilliant-producer-but-i-wouldn-t-get/) [Steph McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steph-mcgovern/) > [I'm a big fan of the Irish accent. After a couple of drinks, I start to get a bit of an Irish lilt, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-ratajkowski/i-m-a-big-fan-of-the-irish-accent-after-a-couple-of-drinks-i-start-to/) [Emily Ratajkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-ratajkowski/) > [“The accent of one's birthplace persists in the mind and heart as much as in speech.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-rouchefoucauld/the-accent-of-one-s-birthplace-persists-in-the-mind-and-heart-as-much/) La Rouchefoucauld > [Years later, when I was working as a trolley wally in a supermarket, I tackled the boredom by talking to the customers in as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/years-later-when-i-was-working-as-a-trolley-wally-in-a-supermarket-i/) [Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/) > [Hey, I saw this old British movie, all the people spoke so different, you could hardly understand them. 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