Yao Ming News

"As China prepares to stand tall by hosting its first Olympic Games, it is only fitting that 7-6 Yao Ming will carry his nation’s flag into the Bird’s Nest stadium at Friday’s Opening Ceremonies. A person with knowledge of the decision, who is not permitted to speak officially, confirmed the Rockets’ center, after carrying the Olympic torch through the main gate of the Forbidden City on Wednesday, will be the Chinese flag bearer for his second straight Olympics. Yao would not say that he has been chosen for the honor. The Chinese delegation is expected to make its announcement on Thursday morning, Houston time. “Of course, I want to be the flag bearer again,” Yao said. “I have experience. ..."

"Rockets and Chinese national team center Yao Ming continued his whirlwind Olympic experience on Wednesday by carrying the Olympic Flame through the main gate of the Forbidden City. "It is hard for me to separate everything that is happening right now," Yao said. "To carry the flame is an honor among many that I have had at previous Olympics and at this one. But it is the kind of experience that I will appreciate most many years from now when I am older and can look back." Yao said he never expected to be the one to light the Olympic cauldron at the Opening Ceremonies. "I believe it is an honor that will probably go to one of our older Olympians or athletes," he said. "Someone who was a ..."

"Ron Artest wanted to be judged by actions, not by anything he had said or was about to say. So when asked how he felt about the trade completed just days ago that will send him to the Rockets, he immediately pointed to something he had already done. “I got my house already,” he said. “About to get settled in and start working out.” Any wariness that he had Wednesday about Yao Ming’s comments was gone, ended by a conversation with Yao that Artest said “was great.” Yao had generally praised Artest and the trade, but had said he was concerned about “chemistry” and made a joking reference to the incident when Artest went into the stands after a fan, inspiring Artest to say he would be happy to ..."

"Don't start selling those Ron Artest jerseys in the Houston red just yet. The small forward is exchanging words with his new teammates even before setting foot in his new locker room. One day after the Kings and Rockets agreed in principle on a trade that would send Artest to Houston and bring Bobby Jackson, Donte Greene and a first-round pick Sacramento's way, Artest went on the defensive by phone to The Bee in response to comments made by Yao Ming. It was a most inauspicious start to this union, one that is no more than a handshake deal at the moment. Because of the nature of Greene's contract, he cannot officially be traded until Aug. 14. In other words, there's plenty of time for the ..."

"It did not take long for the Rockets to get their first taste of the enigmatic, complicated and often contradictory nature of Ron Artest. Artest, who will be dealt to the Rockets on Aug. 14 in a trade completed Tuesday afternoon, told the Sacramento Bee he was excited about going to the Rockets but would join them only if they are committed to him. Much of Artest’s hesitance was an apparent reaction to Yao Ming’s wariness of the trade, expressed Wednesday on the Chronicle’s Web site. “We’ve still got to make sure there’s still a commitment,” Artest told the Bee. “That’s the main thing. When I speak to the powers-that-be of the Houston Rockets organization, we’re going to find out how much ..."

"Yao Ming is back, transforming China's basketball team and providing a big relief for Olympic organizers. The Rockets center marked his return from injury Thursday with 11 points in 12 minutes of play for the Chinese national team in an Olympic warmup against a Serbian squad. Entering six minutes into the first quarter to huge applause from the crowd in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, Yao appeared a little rusty, but made a solid contribution to China's kickoff 96-72 victory in the four-team Stankovic Cup tournament. The game was Yao's first since a stress fracture in his left foot ended his NBA season in February and threatened his star turn as part of China's team."

"Chinese newspapers say Yao Ming is likely to resume working out with China's national basketball team later this week. The Houston Rockets' center has a "very high" chance of playing in China's three games at the Stankovic Cup Olympic warmup tournament in the eastern city of Hangzhou, Hu Jiashi, deputy director of the Chinese Basketball Association was quoted as saying by newspapers. China's first game is against Serbia on Thursday."

"Rockets center Yao Ming moved a step closer to returning to the court with a good report from Monday's checkup, but is a long way from being cleared to play, Yao's agent John Huizinga said. Though there were reports out of China that Yao has been cleared and will play in the Stankovic Cup, Huizinga said that doctors have not cleared Yao for full practices and game action, and that it is premature to say whether he will play in that pre-Olympic event in Hangzhou, China, July 17-20. "He's doing great," Huizinga said. "The reports that he's been cleared to play are not correct. The checkups have been very good. He had one today. But it's much too early for him to be cleared."

"Yao Ming likes cars and drives a specially made SUV that lets him fit his 7-6 frame in the driver's seat. The Rockets center also knows how to change a tire — just not as fast as he saw on Sunday. "It was very cool," Yao said after assisting Kyle Petty's team in a simulated pit stop before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 in Concord, N.C. "They showed me how to change a tire and refuel a car in what, 12 seconds? That's a little different when you change your own tire. I never saw that.""

"With Rockets owner Leslie Alexander pledging support for victims of the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that hit central China on Monday, Rockets center Yao Ming on Wednesday offered his condolences. "It is very hard putting into words how difficult it is to see this kind of destruction in Sichuan," Yao said in a statement. "I am very saddened to hear of the large loss of life that has occurred. My thoughts are with everyone back in my home country of China during this very dark and emotional time."

"The Olympics are still three months away, and already Yao Ming is trying to work the officials. Recalling that he fouled out against the United States in his Olympic debut eight years ago, the Houston Rockets All-Star hopes the referees are easier on him when China faces the Americans in its opener in Beijing. "Hopefully they treat the hosts better," Yao joked Thursday. But Yao is serious when he talks about his team's chances. He wants the Chinese to advance out of pool play into the quarterfinals, even though they were drawn into a difficult group..."

"Yao had been cleared to lose his crutches and, for brief stretches, to remove his protective boot. He threw all of himself into offseason workouts, finally freed to be an elite athlete in training again, so far removed from the swizzle-stick skinny 20-year-old he saw on that DVD."

"Rockets center Yao Ming joined his teammates on the bench for the playoff game. Before the game, he was uncomfortable with being back in the Rockets' locker room but not playing."

"Having returned from China and the periphery of the anticipation about the Beijing Olympics to Houston just before the start of the NBA playoffs, Yao Ming found a more modest source of happiness. He was pleased just to be permitted to take giant steps again between the two parts of his life. Yao returned to Houston and was cleared to stop using crutches in his recovery from surgery to repair the stress fracture in his left foot."

"Seeking a break in his rehabilitation routine, Rockets center Yao Ming is visiting China this week with plans to return to Houston in time for playoffs."

"Well, the first step is out of the way. Yao Ming's surgery on Monday went well. The next step and the many million to come afterward are the ones that have so many concerned."

"Rockets center Yao Ming underwent surgery Monday morning to repair a stress fracture in the tarsal navicular bone of his left foot."

"Basketball is a big man's game, but it's possible to be too big - as Yao Ming continues to remind us. For the third season in a row, the Chinese Chamberlain has been laid low by a serious injury, this one a stress fracture in his right foot."

"Rockets center Yao Ming will have surgery on Monday to repair the stress fracture in his left foot, a decision he reached after several days of meeting with specialists to review his options."

"The Milwaukee Bucks watched with more than just a passing interest as the Yao Ming injury situation unfolded last week in Houston."

"Yao Ming never wanted to be trapped between the Rockets and a hard place, Western capitalists and his country. He chose to honor both, and the bargain that was struck when the Chinese ceded contractual rights, if not year-round control, of their most valuable sports export."

"The Rockets were incredulous that Yao Ming has been criticized for saying that missing the Olympics would be the greatest loss of his career, arguing that no one could be more committed to an NBA team, and the criticism does not appreciate the importance of the Olympics in China."

"The stunning news that Yao will miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his left foot more than crushed him and radically changed the Rockets' prospects. It made him, through no fault of his own, a barrier rather than bridge between factions and suspicions on either side of the Pacific."

"Rockets center Yao Ming could begin seeing specialists to examine the stress fracture in his left foot in the next few days and no later than early next week, his agent, John Huizinga, said."

"With the team riding its longest winning streak since winning 15 straight to start the 1993-94 season that began their championship runs, coach Rick Adelman told his players that six-time All-Star center Yao Ming would be out for the rest of the season, including the playoffs if they get there, because of a stress fracture in his left foot."

"Those things are among the many reasons Tuesday was so difficult for everyone who cares about the Rockets. Yao's season-ending injury isn't just about basketball. The Rockets will be competitive and interesting because general manager Daryl Morey has done a tremendous job of building a solid roster around the two superstars."

"Yao Ming could not imagine a more painful loss. He thought about the Olympics Aug. 8 to Aug. 24 in Beijing and how much they have meant to him."

"The Houston Rockets announced Tuesday their All-Star center would be out for the season with a stress fracture in his left foot, and the news echoed throughout Yao's home country."

"Yao Ming will be out for the rest of the NBA season with a stress fracture in his left foot, which is obviously bad for the Houston Rockets, who have won 13 straight to move into serious championship contention. Yao's injury is bad for the NBA as it loses one of its biggest and most appealing stars, and bad for China, which is counting on Yao to anchor the 2008 Olympics in Beijing."

"A stress fracture in Yao Ming's left foot requires surgery and will put him out for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs. In the ultra-competitive Western Conference, that probably means the Houston Rockets won't even make the playoffs."

"Winners of 21 of their last 24 games, the NBA's hottest team, the Houston Rockets, were just officially notified by Fate that it's still fickle. The Rockets announced Tuesday that center and centerpiece Yao Ming, averaging 22 points and 10.8 rebounds, will miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his left foot."

"A stress fracture in Yao Ming's left foot will sideline the Rockets big man for the rest of the season just as his streaking team aims to make a major push toward the playoffs. It could have been worse."

"Barely an hour earlier, Hakeem Olajuwon had been enjoying a plate of salmon sashimi at lunch and discussing the tasty prospects for the Rockets in the playoffs. Then he heard the news about Yao Ming's foot injury that was so difficult to swallow."

"All-Star Rockets center Yao Ming will miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his left foot. Rest in peace, Rockets hopes and dreams. Now. Maybe, sigh, for as long as Yao plays in the NBA."

"News of Yao Ming's season-ending injury swept through the NBA on Tuesday. How damaging it will be for the Houston Rockets remains to be seen, although it's a good bet that without Yao they will fall from the ranks of the playoff challengers."

"Attorney Rusty Hardin on Tuesday appeared much more concerned about the NBA's Rockets than his prominent client who is known as Rocket, Roger Clemens. Hardin, a longtime courtside season-ticket holder of the Rockets, was disappointed when he learned Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming had suffered a season-ending injury to his left foot."

"Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will be out the rest of the season and post-season with a stress fracture in his sore left foot. Yao was examined after Monday’s practice at Memorial Hermann Hospital and met Rockets team physician Dr. Tom Clanton to go over the test results."

"It wasn't exactly the words of encouragement rookie Joakim Noah wanted to hear on the eve of his matchup against against 7-6 and 310-pound Yao Ming."

"Q: Is this the best Houston team you've been on? A: I don't want to say that because when we started the season 6-1, people started talking about the championship and this is the best team we've had. Then, bam, we lost six games in a row."

"Never mind another virtuoso performance by MVP LeBron James or Ray Allen's handful of treys that pushed the East to a 134-128 victory. The eye-popping sight of the night was this: Yao launching two 3-pointers. They both missed."

"There was a time, and not long ago, that Yao Ming did not quite think he belonged, almost as if he had gotten in this most exclusive of clubs on a pass."

"The second meeting of Yao Ming and Bucks rookie Yi Jianlian brought huge crowds from the Wisconsin and Illinois Chinese communities, throngs of media from China and a television audience expected to challenge for the largest to see a basketball game."

"Calm on the outside, Milwaukee Bucks rookie Yi Jianlian had to feel a bit of nervousness Saturday night. After all, his Chinese countrymen were crowding around television sets at an early hour - breakfast time in Beijing - to watch their heroes Yao Ming and Yi meet on a National Basketball Association court for just the second time."

"Yi Jianlian laughed when asked if he would be nervous about facing countryman Yao Ming tonight."

"An early February game between the Houston Rockets and the Milwaukee Bucks may look like any other dull matchup between two teams that wouldn't even be in the playoffs if the season ended today. As of yesterday afternoon, the game hadn't even sold out in Milwaukee. But Xu Jicheng is anticipating an audience in China greater than the size of this Sunday's Super Bowl to watch Yao Ming vs. Yi Jianlian."

"Milwaukee will be host to a 'Meeting of Two Dragons' as it's been dubbed by Chinese basketball fans, when 7-foot-6-inch inch Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets lopes on to the court to face 7-0 Yi Jianlian, his younger, brasher counterpart on the Bucks."

"One day after Yao Ming was forced to miss a game against the Utah Jazz with an upper respiratory infection, Tracy McGrady and Bonzi Wells sat out practice with flu-like symptoms."

"Rockets center Yao Ming sat out Sunday's game because of an upper respiratory infection. It was the first game Yao has missed this season and only the second he has missed because of illness.)"

"As I walked into the visitor's lockerroom in the Rose Garden - and at about 10 minutes before the midnight deadline before the door opened I probably was not walking - Yao Ming called me over to his corner and showed what he was doing in the last 7 1/2 minutes of the game when he was not needed. He was writing headlines."

"One of the hottest topics in China these days is Yi Jianlian, the rookie power forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, and Yao, who has solidified his status as one of the top players in the National Basketball Association, is always big news."