Interesting takes on Yao, Cato #13 in Mark Jax article

http://www.indystar.com/articles/0/114361-9980-039.html

Friday's game was Yao Ming's first at the fieldhouse since he made his NBA debut here in last season's opener. B]Yao played 11 scoreless minutes off the bench that night, which was hardly an indication of things to come for the center who has become one of the NBA's most potent weapons.[/B] "The time has gone so fast," Yao said before the game. "But in China there is a saying: 'Everything starts at zero.' "I did that. But I had zero for a score. I don't think anybody wants to start at zero if it means scoring zero."

PACERS NOTEBOOK
Jackson returns, this time as Rocket
Former Pacers point guard, playing for his 7th team, gets his due from fans.

By Mark Montieth
mark.montieth@indystar.com
January 24, 2004

In baseball, players entering the Hall of Fame have to declare their affiliation with one team.

So, what if Mark Jackson had to pick one? Of the seven NBA teams for which he has played, two of them twice, which would he select?

Indiana Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh, who traded for Jackson twice, would gladly make the call for him.

"No matter who he's with, Mark's a Pacer," Walsh said. "He might think he's a Knick, but he's a Pacer."

Jackson has played for the Knicks twice, as well as the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver, Toronto and Utah. He joined Houston this week, playing his first game with the Rockets on Wednesday.
His trip back to Conseco Fieldhouse for Friday's game against the Pacers was not the first time he's come back in a visiting uniform since starting at point guard for the Pacers' NBA Finals team in 2000, but it continued to regenerate good memories.

A smattering of fans wore his No. 13 Pacers jersey, and former Pacers center Rik Smits -- attending his first game this season -- tried without success to get down to the court to talk to him before the game. Jackson received an appreciative ovation when he entered the game midway through the second quarter.

So what is Jackson?

"I don't want to make anybody upset," he said. "I am a Pacer, though. When you look at the amount of success that we had and the run that we made, it was just a special time."

Jackson is wearing No. 31 for the Rockets, the same as his former Pacers backcourt partner, Reggie Miller. The two remain close, routinely exchanging phone calls and voice mail messages.
Jackson would like to wear No. 13 with the Rockets, but Kelvin Cato already has it. Jackson isn't opposed to buying the number from him, but there's a limit to its value.

"He told me we can talk about it, but I'm not Roger Clemens," Jackson said. "I'm not going to buy a Rolex just to get a number."

Bender back on list

Jonathan Bender was returned to the injured list Friday after his surgically repaired left knee was examined by Boston specialist Dan Dyrek.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Bender's return to the injured list is precautionary.

"Everything seems to be on schedule," he said. "But for Jonathan's piece of mind, it's better to back off a little bit. And we need a big body, short-term."

Primoz Brezec was activated, largely because backup center Scot Pollard had to stay home with a stomach virus and the Pacers needed another big body. Pollard also will miss tonight's game at Washington but hopes to rejoin the team in practice on Monday.
Bender must sit out at least five games on the injured list.