Make sure to tune in for the resolution and closure ceremony for Yao Ming's NBA career at 2pm today on CCTV-5. The press conference is being held at an undisclosed hotel in Pudong, with 300 reporters in attendance for the event. The program has the potential to be one of those work-stopping-gather-round-the-television moments that justifies having a TV in the first place.
Yao Ming retirement press conference @ 2pm on CCTV-5
Around Town: Yao Ming in Shanghai for daughter's first visit to China
Shanghai's favorite giant basketball playing son is back in Shanghai with his American citizen daughter! Now one, Amy was born in the U.S. (to no small amount of controversy) and is visiting her parents' home country for the first time. The family of three moved into a new apartment in the Hongkou area and have been careful to avoid media, so there are currently no pictures... except for this one:
Meet Yao Ming's daughter, Amy
After that huge debate over the citizenship of NBA star Yao Ming's daughter, we've finally got some shots of the little un whose birth was a matter of national interest. These photos here show Yao's 7 month old Amy being carried by grandma while wife Ye Li looks on. The whole family had come to watch the Houston Rockets v. Toronto Raptors game.
Yao Ming's comments on Artest, and China's basketball fights
Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey probably has one thing to say to Yao Ming right now: Shut up.
Today's Links: Landscape lights, banned exhibitions and Firefox in China
"China's giant centre Yao Ming will undergo surgery Monday to fix a stress fracture in his left foot, the Houston Rockets announced on Saturday."
Yao Ming publicly shamed
Notorious NBA bad boy Yao Ming has done it again. He's late for national team training — and China's official sports association has made it clear they are sick and tired of his Rodmanesque antics:
Oh say can you Yi?
Chinese basketball fans held their collective breath this morning as the NBA draft took place a full 12 time-zones away. 22-year old 19-year old Yi Jianlian slipped past his projected spot at the number 5 pick when the Boston Celtics signed a draft-and-trade agreement with the Seattle Supersonics involving 7-time all-star Ray Allen.
Newsflash: Yao Ming to do lots of exercises while getting married
So after reports that Yao Ming would get married to his fiancée Ye Li, a player on the Chinese women's basketball team last year in Shanghai proved to be all but wrong, it appears the Houston Rockets star is finally ready to tie the knot this summer. According to the Rockets' Manager Daryl Morey, the couple will hold their wedding in August after Yao Ming is done with serial practices in July.
NBA in Shanghai: No room for the little man
The NBA is coming to Shanghai again on October 17. This time the Cleveland Cavaliers, fresh off the worst NBA Finals performance we have ever seen, take on the Orlando Magic. If meaningless preseason hoops is your thing, start booking tickets to Minhang District now. The game is being played way the hell out there at the Shanghai Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center. And for those of you who remember the 2004 Shanghai clash between the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings (tickets for which started at US$12) you might be interested to know that tickets for the 2007 version start at US$105. Now, we know the dollar has gotten weaker ... but this seems like a greedy move for a sport and league that should be trying to appeal to the common man. (UPDATE: According to the seating chart, it looks like very few nose-bleed seats were priced at RMB 200, but maybe they are sold out.)
Yaoch! Rockets center breaks foot, out for season
Houston Rockets center and Shanghai native Yao Ming saw his season come to an end this morning when he broke his left foot late in the first quarter in a game against the Utah Jazz. The break apparently happened when Yao's foot was stepped on by Utah's Andrei Kirilenko, whose hobbies include injuring himself and others.
Yowsers! Yao helps Houston outpace Indiana
With his best performance of the season, Chinese superstar Yao Ming led the injury-plagued Houston Rockets past the Indiana Pacers, 103-99 on Wednesday night. Yao had 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a gargantuan effort that rallied the Rockets from 17 points down for the victory.
Whose NBA jersey sells best in China? (Hint: It's not Yao Ming)
The Chinese may stuff the All-Star ballot box for Yao Ming, but they would rather wear his teammate's jersey. When asked about his popularity in China, Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady said he wasn't surprised at all. "I've got a lot of love over there in China," he said. More love than the most famous Chinese player ever. Yao's jersey ranks No. 3. Here is the Top Ten:
Ron Artest could have taken all of them
The China Daily called Friday's game between China and Puerto Rico in the Stankovic Continental Champions Cup the "most shameful night" in China basketball history. With 1:28 to play and China enjoying a comfortable 91-80 lead, Puerto Rico center Manuel Narvaez challenged China's Yi Jianlian with a foul to the face. Chinese players Mo Ke and Li Nan took offense to the foul, left the bench and rushed Navaraz. A "mass brawl" ensued. Soon fans at Beijing Capital Gymnasium were pelting Pueto Rican players with plastic bottle, cups and popcorn. One fan even threw his shoe. The Puerto Rican team left the court, shielding themselves with chairs. The game was called and two hours later China was declared the winner. The Chongqing Evening News has photos of the fracas.

