Yesterday I was able to take in a few hours in New Orleans before the All-Star game, which I didn’t attend. I understand tickets in the lower level had a $400 face value, and were $300 in the upper level! A ticket “reseller” later told me on the plane back home that the demand for after-market tickets to this All-Star game was probably the lowest he’s ever seen, due to the fact there just aren’t that many people in New Orleans who have that kind of cash to throw around.

I suspect another reason had to be the limited number of flights that fly into New Orleans compared to larger cities. Still, even if I could get a ticket at face value (or even lower than face value based on low demand), I was content to watch the game on TV.

One of the main reasons why I went to New Orleans for the day was because Yao Ming’s agent invites folks associated with their athletes to attend an annual brunch they have the morning of each All-Star game. Since working on the site is more a labor of love for me than a financial windfall, it’s always nice to get a little perk like that from Bill Duffy & Associates (BDA).

When I walked into the House of Blues where the brunch was held, the first person I saw was Colin Pine, former translator for Yao Ming, who I hadn’t seen in a couple of years. Colin was in town for the game since he is working in China for the NBA.

Also with him was Christopher Chen and Adam Del Deo, producers of the “The Year of the Yao” film. It was great to get caught up with the guys who followed Yao so closely those first couple of years of Yao’s NBA career. It seems so much more calm now compared to the crazy days of 2002 and 2003.

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Because he had been playing alot of minutes before the break, Yao requested that Western Conference coach Byron Scott play him limited minutes in the All-Star game Sunday night. Scott obliged by letting Yao just play 13 minutes. Yao scored 6 points on 2-of-5 shooting from the field, including 0-for-2 from three-point land.

Here he launches one of those 3-pointers with a smile on his face (he’s obviously having a good time):

I ended up going to New Orleans for the afternoon (didn’t attend the game) and have some interesting non-Yao stories to share. I got in so late, though, I’m pretty beat to write about it now. But I’ll post some of those stories on Monday.

Meanwhile, Raymond and other YaoManiacs has done a great job posting tons of cool photos in the YaoMania! forum from the weekend.

Click here to see the page (#2 in the thread) with photos of Yi Jianlian, as well as Yao watching the Rookie-Sophomore game Friday night.

Click here to see the page (#3 in the thread) with photos of Yao at the All-Star practice on Saturday, and cool photos of Dwight Howard during the slam dunk competition (as well as other participants from All-Star competitions on Saturday night).

Click here to see the page (#4 in the thread) of photos from the NBA All-Stars China Night attended by Yao, Dikembe Mutombo and Yi Jianlian (among others). Scroll down this page to see Yao in the locker room on Sunday before the game.

Click here for the page (#5 in the thread) of photos of Yao playing in the All-Star game Sunday night.

Thanks for the pics Raymond and folks!

Below is one of my favorite pictures of Yao from Friday’s All-Star events in New Orleans. Not him being interviewed by the press (although he had to do that earlier in the day) which we have seen time and time again. Not reading a children’s book with just as many photographers as kids around.

No, it’s of Yao outside in cold rainy weather getting his hands dirty lifting and planting sod with actor Jet Li. It’s so representative of Yao’s hard work ethic to take on this assignment. Bravo, Yao.

Click here for more photos of Yao with Jet Li volunteering. Scroll up on the following page to see Yao and other NBA players getting interviewed.

Thanks go to Raymond for the pics!

After getting 1.7 million votes, it’s no surprise that Yao was named tonight as the Western Conference starting center for the All-Star game in New Orleans on February 17th. Here Yao is shown in his All-Star uniform.

What IS a surprise is the funky design of the uniform on the back. Click here for more photos. The backside reminds me of a Diet Coke can.

Although Yao didn’t play on Sunday during the All-Star game, he was fairly visible during the weekend. Click here for more photos of Yao in Vegas.

In addition to clicking on the photo link as mentioned above, you’ve got to watch this video of Yao working out while in Vegas. This is probably one of the best training videos I have seen of Yao, especially the part where he’s pumping lots of iron!

Here’s a different publication for you: the New Zealand edition of MSN has an article (via Reuters) recapping some of Yao’s statements in Vegas at a press conference. Not much is a surprise here, other than it’s pretty clear that Yao isn’t all that thrilled to be in Vegas since he is having to do intense rehab work there just like he would if he were in Houston, and feels an obligation toward the fans to at least be in Vegas because they voted him into the game.

Not reported is that Yao also said that he regrets he cannot spend the Chinese New Year with his parents in Houston. You have to give credit for Yao having balance in his life, and at the age of 26 he still likes hanging out with Mom and Dad.

It’s not that big of a deal, but T-Mac gives a very short interview with Yao at his side after an NBA All-Star practice. Click here to check it out.

Yao and T-Mac take one of their first photos in Las Vegas for All-Star weekend. Click here to see more photos of how Vegas and the NBA have rolled out the red carpet for players and fans.

Man, check out the photos from Vegas that Raymond has posted in the forum. I’m impressed how much money has been put into making Vegas look like it does right now, including the Thomas & Mack Center, a very boring arena in my opinion.

Even though he won’t be able to play in the game because of his leg injury, Yao was voted once again as a starter in the NBA All-Star game for the Western Conference. He led the Western Conference in votes, and was edged by Lebron James for most votes overall. Click here for more photos of Yao in his All-Star uniform.

Here’s the official NBA announcement on Yao making the All-Star game for the fifth straight year. And as you’ll read in this Houston Chronicle article, it looks like Yao is going to continue his rehab work in Vegas. I think that’s a good move. Yao has been incognito a little too long.