Writing the Pine

Terrible news coming out of Houston today that Yao Ming may have possibly played his last game.  It’s almost a foregone conclusion that the big man will miss all of next season because of the foot he broke against the Lakers, but will it end his career?  Only time will tell but if we’ve seen the last of Yao, it’d be a damn shame.  Not only is he one of the most talented big men in recent history, but he seems like one of the nicest guys in the NBA.  He plays so proudly and so hard that I guess it took a toll on his health.  I’m sure you guys remember him rushing back to play in the Olympics in front of his country, knowing how big of an occassion it was for China and all of its people.  And the way he refused to go to the training room after banging knees with Kobe Bryant in the Playoffs.  And how he desperately wanted to play even after breaking his foot (which is causing all this) later in the same series.  If even half the guys in the League could play with as much passion as Yao, the game would be so much better.  Let’s hope that he’ll be able to come back from this injury.  It’ll be better for everybody.