Yao Ming revealed Thursday night before the Rockets’ annual “Tux & Tennies” charity gala some hopes that might surprise a few folks, but not YaoMingMania.

Yao said that he would like to try to make a comeback from his ankle stress fracture and surgery, and that he would like to come back to the Rockets. It also didn’t surprise us that the Rockets would like for him to come back and play for them, too.

But for an organization that doesn’t make strong statements about keeping any player, especially one that has an expiring contract, I think the strong words they used about wanting to keep him are still noteworthy and significant. Very few players could command that kind of respect from an “all business” organization like the Rockets.

Here are excerpts from this Houston Chronicle article.

“I’ll try continuing [to come back],” Yao said Thursday. “A lot will depend on this foot.”

Asked if he believes he will play again, he said, “That’s the direction.”

In the final season of his contract, Yao added he hopes to be back with the Rockets.

“I like it here. I’m used to playing here,” he said. “I’m comfortable, really, really comfortable to play here, and I have my family here. I’m not really planning to leave.”

Told of Yao’s comments, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey would not discuss the team’s plans, but he was as clear about his preference.

“I hope Yao Ming comes back to play again,” Morey said, “and I hope that it’s here.”

“If he’s healthy and the doctors say he can play,” Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, “of course we want him back again.”

Click here for the entire Houston Chronicle article.

Here’s a photo of Yao and his wife Ye Li at the gala Thursday night.

Click here for more photos of Yao and Ye Li at the event.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 11th, 2011 at 3:41 am and is filed under *Interviews with Yao. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.