On Friday, Yao hosted in Shanghai a VIP banquet for celebrities and wine enthusiasts, which also served as a welcome dinner and reception for Adam Strum, the co-founder and publisher of Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Strum flew to Shanghai to launch the Mandarin edition of Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Pictured below is the inaugural cover (June 2012) with Yao on the front, and a photo of Yao with Strum pictured behind him.

You might notice the headline on the magazine cover that mentions the “97 points” for Yao’s wine. Yao Ming’s 2009 Family Reserve received an exceptional score of 97 points from Wine Enthusiast magazine, while his 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon received a score of 95 points. The wines were rated by well-known California editor, Steve Heimoff, in the June issue of the magazine.

Click here to learn more about the ratings the wines received.

Check out this video with Yao posted yesterday where he talks about his busy life in retirement, including his involvement with conservation efforts…

For more information on the Yao Foundation and its new conservation initiatives, click here.

You may be familiar with those exclusive, big coffee table books that feature celebrities like Michael Jackson, etc., teams like Manchester United and the Ferrari Formula One team, and sports like Major League Baseball.

Yesterday it was announced there will be a similar book about Yao, called Yao Ming Opus, published by Opus Media Group UK, the publishers that have produced the aforementioned books, and Time Media Publishing and Media, a Chinese company based in Anhui province.

According to China Daily, the book will boast a large range of photos taken during Yao’s teenage years, his professional career and life after basketball, with both English and Chinese text.

The photos were provided by Yao or purchased from news agencies, and also include new pictures taken by the photographers of the two companies. The text will be completed by a team of five writers. The book is expected to weigh 16 kg (35 pounds), and is scheduled to be published next year.

Opus’ CEO, Karl Fowler, said, “We could not think of a more sincere, unique and exciting story to tell, using great photographs and great writing to reveal his story not just in China, but internationally.”

Yao said that when he first saw an Opus publication he thought it was like a comic book. But as he turned the pages he realized the book was something people should take seriously.

“Although we live in a digital age, a photo can capture and keep every precious moment forever and will not fade as time goes by,” he said.

Yao also stated, “I spent many hours looking through my Manchester United Opus and what I found fascinating was the way in which photography presented in this way illustrated the history so well. I am so very humbled that Opus and Time are looking to share my own special moments and thoughts in a similar unique manner.”

On Wednesday in Shanghai, Yao signed a signature page that will be placed in copy number one of Yao Ming Opus. Opus will auction that copy next year and donate the proceeds to the Yao Foundation.

For more photos from the signing ceremony and more news about the project, click here.

Fans can register here their interest in Yao Ming Opus.

Even after a year in retirement, Yao is still ranking high on Forbes’ (China) annual Top 100 celebrity list.

The list is compiled by looking at several variables, like earnings and buzz (in newspapers, Internet, TV and magazines). Yao ranked #8 overall, and #9 in earnings.

Li Na is ranked as the top athlete, helped by her winning the 2011 French Open.

Jay Chou ranked as the #1 celebrity overall.

Click here for a list and photos of the Top 10.

Last week photos started surfacing of Jeremy Lin‘s new Nike Air Force 1 shoe, scheduled to hit the market in June.

Note the New York Knicks colors used throughout the shoe. Hopefully for Nike (and the Knicks), Lin won’t sign with another team this off-season since he’ll be a free agent.

Also, notice the “LIN” logo on the tongue.