China's NBA Star Yao Ming Retires at 30

So sad not to see him play again. Yao Ming has announced his retirement on Wednesday after a trailblazing career that made him China's best known athlete abroad and helped spur the game's global growth.

Yao Ming made the announcement during a press conference in his hometown of Shanghai after his last two seasons with the Houston Rockets were dogged by injuries. "I would like to thank you for giving me a great nine year career," he said. "Nine years ago I came to Houston as a young, skinny player and the entire city and team changed me into a grown man, not only a basketball player."

He enjoyed a high profile, but the rigors of top flight basketball proved too much for his massive frame and his career has been marked by lengthy absences from the court due to a succession of mostly foot injuries and leg injuries.

I'm really gonna miss the 7 foot 6 inches height of his, rarely would you see such height like Yao that is a great low post presence and can shoot well outside too.

Former NBA Star Stephon Marbury leaves former team in China

I haven't heard from this guy in a long while. The last time I saw Marbury was in a Celtics uniform, and now Marbury has parted with his current team in China to sign with another Chinese team. Marbury who went to China to resurrect his career.

Marbury signed a contract with the Chinese Basketball Association's Foshan Dragon Lions. That came after the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons released him last week, citing salary reasons and the inability of Marbury to guarantee his fitness to play.

Marbury ,meanwhile accused the team of "lying to him and Shanxi's fans", giving no details.

He joined Shanxi in early 2010 to revive his career and to market his "Starbury" brand of basketball shoes.

I hope he would straightened things up there in China, just hate to see a guy who used to be an All-Star in the NBA end his career on an ugly finish.

IRAN THE NEW POWERHOUSE IN ASIA

Iran beat China 70-52. Hamed Ehadadi scored 19 points and 17 rebounds, who helped Iran won against the highly favored China team. It was the first time I saw China being manhandled in a game( well in Asia of course, China has been the powerhouse in Asia Basketball for years now) and the first time China has lost a gold medal in FIBA Asia Championship. As I watched the game, I noticed that the Iran played like a European team while China played like the style of the NBA, is it because 3 of their players are either are current and former NBA players? At the start of the period Iran raced to an early lead and never relinquished it until the end of the game, they hit from all cylinders and even their bench contributed to the massacre. And their defense was unforgiving especially against Chinas superstar Wang Zhizhi and Yi Jianlian.

Jordan won the bronze medal by beating Lebanon 80-66, and qualified along with China and Iran for the 2010 Turkey World Championships on August 28-September 12.

GREAT WALL CRUMBLING

Yao ming at 7 foot 6, is the tallest in the NBA today. Yao is reportedly suffering from a career threatening injury. Rockets center Yao Ming underwent a medical evaluation by Rockets Team Physician Dr. Tom Clanton today which revealed that the hairline fracture in Yao’s left foot has not responded to the current treatment program. A bone scan conducted Wednesday night at Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute revealed that the hairline fracture on the top of the foot has not yet healed.

The hairline fracture was discovered following the Rockets’ May 8th loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The original treatment plan called for Yao to cease all physical training and to use a walking boot in order to immobilize the foot and promote healing.

I sympathize with Yao. I think his injury was the result of not having too much rest. Forcing himself to play for the Chinese team in the 2008 Olympics in hopes for a gold medal or maybe was it China who force him to play, or the maybe the patriotism in him.

Yao will be lucky if he could play this season or maybe the next season. It would be a big blow to the rockets to loose Yao and especially for the NBA fans.