Yao's knee sprain minor; he says he'll play Monday By CHRIS SHERIDAN The Associated Press 1/12/03 5:03 PM HOUSTON (AP) -- Yao Ming's knee injury is not serious, and he was in a good enough mood Sunday to joke about his fledgling acting career. Yao left Houston's game against Denver on Saturday night late in the first quarter with a mild ligament sprain on the outside of his left knee. He said he will play Monday night against Boston, and will wear a brace to protect the knee. "It's a little sore," the 7-foot-6 center said. The injury threw a brief scare into the Rockets as they opened a four-game homestand that concludes Friday night with the first meeting between Yao and Shaquille O'Neal. "The day is finally coming," Yao said. O'Neal was injured and did not play when Yao shot 9-for-9 and scored 20 points in a victory over the Lakers in Los Angeles on Nov. 17. Yao was asked about the growing popularity of his new commercial for Apple Computers, which also stars Verne Troyer, the actor who plays Mini-Me in the "Austin Powers" movies. Yao also was spotted in New York on Thursday, where he was filming another commercial. Any chance that Yao will have an acting career after he's finished playing basketball? "I don't think they can find a stunt double for me," he quipped. The 22-year-old rookie has exhibited a lively sense of humor during his first three months in the NBA, often answering questions with one-liners. He couldn't resist an opportunity to ham it up Sunday when he spotted a trio of television cameramen, grimacing and limping in mock pain as he walked out of the weight room before breaking into a smile. Asked Saturday how surprised he was to be leading O'Neal in All-Star balloting, he gave an answer that confounded his translator, Colin Pine, to such a degree that Pine sought out an explanation later. "My eyes seem to be bigger than my mouth, and my mouth seems to be bigger than a bicycle tire," Yao said. Pine explained that Yao was referring to the wide-eyed, open-mouthed look a person makes upon hearing astonishing news. Yao was off to a good start against the Nuggets, collecting six points and six rebounds before leaving the game. He injured his knee early in the quarter while fighting for position with Nuggets rookie Nene Hilario. "I remember when I was in the low post, Nene Hilario went for position. It's lucky I haven't broken it," Yao said in English, a language with which he is steadily becoming more comfortable. Sunday was supposed to be an off day for the Rockets, but coach Rudy Tomjanovich changed his mind and told the team to report to the gym. He wasn't pleased that Houston played poorly down the stretch and missed eight of 22 free throws. Yao met with the team doctor, and the Rockets officially listed him as probable. Forward Maurice Taylor (sore Achilles' tendon) also is probable, while Glen Rice's status won't be determined until he has tests on his strained left shoulder. "I can play," Yao said.
Man, I hope Rice is out for a long time....I think it is time he goes to the bench. That guy just is terrible out there. We need more Tmo and Posey, and less Rice. DD
I wouldn't hope for anyone to be injure on this team even if for playing time. I'm not to sure if Boki will get playing time anyways because usually T-mo gets the time. But we will have to wait and see
OK, did someone on this board pay off the Nuggets to do Rice? How many more years does Rice have left on his contract? I hope he is out of here soon.
I think they'll do that a lot with Yao Ming. As soon as he shows the slightest sign of an injury, he'll get subbed out of the game. We can't afford not to have him out there now.
Well, I hope Yao's agent can well balance the amount of non-bball job, so that Yao got some decent rest. KH
Actually, I like Rice as a team member. He is one of those who really wants to win games, at least from what he is saying. But not sure whether he should be starting.
I agree. He's really the only true veteran with any substantial playoff experience...they need every bit of what knowledge he has.
Yao laughs off injury, should play By JANNY HU Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Yao Ming left Compaq Center early Saturday evening, shortly after he sprained his left knee and well before the media could quiz him about his injured joint. Without his usual double dose of pre- and postgame interviews, Yao was more than prepared to face the press Sunday morning. As he walked out of the exercise room at Westside Tennis Club for treatment on his knee, the Rockets center looked toward the media awaiting him and suddenly began dragging his foot, feigning a bad limp and a pained facial expression. It lasted all of five seconds before a smile could be noticed at the corners of his lips. Yes, Yao's sense of humor is fine. So is his knee. "Pretty good," Yao said in English. "I think I can play." With that declaration, Yao likely eased many of the murmurs heard Saturday when the Rockets announced to the crowd of 11,972 that their 7-5 rookie would not return to face the Denver Nuggets. Yao injured himself on a rebound attempt against Nuggets center Nene Hilario midway through the first quarter and remained in the game until he felt the knee tighten up with just under a minute left in the period. "I remember when I stayed in the low post, and Nene Hilario, he wanted position, and (then this happened)," Yao said as he slapped his knee. "It's lucky I didn't break it," he added, this time only half-joking. Yao was examined by Dr. Walter Lowe, one of the Rockets' team physicians, before he went through a light practice Sunday while wearing a support sleeve around his left knee. Yao believed he would be fine for tonight's game against the Boston Celtics, but the Rockets will re-evaluate him after today's shootaround. His status will officially be a game-day decision. Of greater worry for the Rockets is forward Glen Rice, who was also injured in Saturday's 87-85 victory. Rice sat out the second quarter after straining his left shoulder in the first quarter while driving toward the basket. He started the second half and tried to loosen the jammed shoulder, but he left for good four minutes later. Rice said his shoulder felt no different on Sunday, which meant it was still fairly sore. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich was "very concerned" about the health of his 35-year-old veteran, who underwent knee surgery last January to repair a torn right patellar tendon. Rice is expected to undergo an MRI today and is questionable for tonight's game. With the team's sudden swarm of injuries, the mood was atypically subdued before Sunday's practice. Tomjanovich ran his players through a 40-minute workout, keeping it short and simple for the Rockets, who played their fourth game in five days against the Nuggets. But Yao and forward Maurice Taylor -- the first Rocket to go down Saturday, with a tender Achilles' tendon -- did their best to lighten spirits. "I thought I started it," Taylor joked about the Rockets' injury bug. "But you have days like that when people have smaller injuries. It just happened that everything happened on the same day. I can't explain it. "I was trying to stay off the foot I had surgery on, and by doing that, I made the foot I didn't have surgery on sore," added Taylor, who missed the entire 2001-02 season after tearing his right Achilles' during a pick-up game in the summer of 2001. "When it's sore, I have a tendency to not say anything and just limp on it. I didn't want to be out more than one game ... and I didn't want two hurt feet. It worries me. I know what happened last time." Guard Steve Francis, Rice and Taylor all missed significant time last season, and Tomjanovich knows that with these smaller injuries, the toughest thing can be playing the waiting game. Not knowing the exact extent of a sprain or strain, or how long the soreness will linger, can often test a player's nerves. "It's very frustrating," Tomjanovich said. "I did that at the end of my career. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. You want to be out there, and it's tough, especially with a young team. "We went through this so many times last year. These guys, it's a very similar situation. (If) we get word before a game that a guy is out, I pull a guy (aside) and say, `You're going today,' just to get them mentally prepared. You just take it one game at a time. I know it's a cliché, but that's the way you've got to do it."
I can't believe they aren't getting an MRI on Ming just to be safe with this kind of investment. Use Glen's appointment time, he's not worth it.
