Yao Ming makes retirement official
Yao Ming yesterday made it official, announcing that he was retiring after an 8-year career with the Houston Rockets because of injuries.
Yao Ming
yesterday made it official, announcing that he was retiring after an 8-year career with the Houston Rockets because of injuries.
"My past 6 months were an agonizing wait. I had been thinking [about my future] over and over," the 30-year-old Yao said from Shanghai in comments translated into English. "Today I am announcing a personal decision: ending my career as a basketball player and officially retire. But one door is closing and another one is opening."
Yao said he would return to work with his former Chinese team, the Shanghai Sharks, with the possibility of becoming general manager. He already owns the club and wants to contribute more.
"My playing career started with the club. I hope I can do something for it," Yao said.
The 7-6 Yao ranks second in Rockets history in blocks (920), sixth in total points (9,247) and sixth in total rebounds (4,494).
He was an eight-time NBA All-Star.
In other NBA news:
* Former Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning is being sued over a weekend traffic crash near Miami Beach that has raised questions about whether he improperly left the scene. The lawsuit seeking unspecified damages was filed on behalf of 21-year-old William Candelario, who suffered head injuries in the rollover crash early Sunday. Mourning acknowledges he left the crash scene but then returned. He says a crash involving Candelario's vehicle and another had already occurred when he first arrived on the scene. Police say his Porsche Panamera also struck the 21-year-old's car.
Boxing
* Celebrity boxing promoter Damon Feldman, of Broomall, won a default judgment against Jose Canseco for breach of contract after the former major league slugger failed to show for his district court appearance. Jose Canseco sent his twin brother, Ozzie, to take his place for a bout in Hollywood, Fla., in March. Feldman's attorney, Bob Bush, said the award was for a little more than $7,600.
* Antonio Tarver stopped defending champion Danny Green in the ninth round to earn the IBO cruiserweight world boxing title in Sydney.
Cycling
* Edvald Boasson Hagen, of Norway, won the 17th stage of the Tour de France, the first of 3 days in the Alps, while Thomas Voeckler retained the yellow jersey but lost time after riding off course on the final descent. Voeckler lost 27 seconds and is 1 minute, 18 seconds ahead of Cadel Evans.
Sport Stops
* The seventh race on opening day at Saratoga Race Course tomorrow will be named in honor of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is recovering after being shot at a constituent event Jan. 8. Giffords' chief of staff, Pia Carusone, is a Saratoga native.
* Veteran goaltender Patrick Lalime, 37, retired after playing for five teams in 12 seasons.