Hooped Up

What started out as an “easy win” game against the struggling Thunder, turned out the be a possible nightmare.

“Tracy McGrady tweaked his left knee - the one that had off-season surgery - early in the third quarter and dragged his leg over to the bench, where he sat for the rest of the night. Yao hurt his left foot - the one that had the broken bone last season - in the fourth quarter and took a seat with T-Mac. Artest went crashing into the row of cameras beyond the baseline and rolled his right ankle in the final minute. It turned what should have been a walkover win against the lowly Thunder into a harrowing experience.”

Houston Chronicle

Today the NBA handed down suspensions for the Rockets versus Suns brawl that happened a few nights ago and the punishment list reads as such according to the San Francisco Gate. Alston and Barnes two games without pay and one for Nash. The league also fined Shaquille O’Neal $35,000 and Tracy McGrady $25,000.

If you have a look at the video, Nash was about as violent as Mohandas K. Gandhi. Guess who wishes they got their money’s worth on this one?

Tip of the hat to Ben, on this one.

Ron-Ron can’t catch a break!  A few days ago in the game between the Rockets and Mavericks. Artest picked up a suspect technical foul when he ran to the aid of teammate Yao Ming as a peacemaker after a hard Josh Howard foul . Immediately after the game, the Rockets appealed the call but according to the Houston Chronicle the NBA has decided to upheld the technical foul ruling.

I call shenanigans on this one! Josh Howard hit Yao Ming like he asked him to sing the Star Spangled Banner and the ref was more concerned about Ron-Ron. 

Shenanigans!

Jambalaya,Vodka, Cranberry juice and not having your nightly drink manifest handy has never been so much trouble. Rafer Alston was cleared of his DWI Friday but, was Rafer really in the bag?

Despite reports of Yao Ming retiring from International play next year, Yao has set the record straight about the reports.

“NBA Houston Rockets center Yao Ming has denied reports that he will quit the Chinese national team. In an interview after a Rockets’ training course early Wednesday, Yao said he did not know the source of the release, the sohu.com reports. He said that he and China’s top basketball administration are the only reliable sources of the news about his future with the national team.”

CRI.cn

The man that put Chinese basketball on the map and was the focus of the Beijing Olympics, may be calling it quits from international play according to the China Daily.  At the young age of 28, Yao Ming has reportedly aimed for next year to be his last as a member of the Chinese national basketball team.  

The report quoted an unidentified source closely associated with the NBA all-star center as saying: “Yao has expressed his idea of retiring from international competitions.”"Yao is 28 and has played for the national team in three Olympic Games. He said this team (which competed in the Beijing Games) is the strongest in history and he feels he is unable to play for it any more”

I’m sure that the Chinese government will have the last say about Yao Ming’s retirement and if you ask me, I’m sure we’ll see him in the 2012 Olympic games in the UK.

That’s just communism baby.

According to the 2008 Hurun China Rich Report, (a.k.a China’s Rick James Report) Yao Ming is now ranked 987th on the list with a personal worth of  $103 million USD (700 million yuan) making him the richest sports figure in China.  If I was rich, Chinese and Magic Johnson trivia knowledge was recognized as a worldwide currency; I’d so make the crap out of this list! 

In short, Yao Ming is ballin’!

The King Of Queens hooked up with DJ Drama for a new mixtape with some of the acts he has signed to his label Tru Warier.  If given the choice I’ll listen to Ron-Ron  album over a Shaq album any day…just don’t ask me to make the choice or present me with either album.

Via You Been Blinded