The Rockets are about to tip-off against the Lakers in Game #1 of the season. I’m stoked it’s finally here. There is so much promise for the season and Big Yao.

Unlike the first few years I ran this site, I haven’t tried to create alot of hype before this season begins. No predictions. No report cards from the preseason. Just hoping the Rockets can make a run for the ring and let their play speak for themselves. It will be tough, but they’ve got a shot. It’s time.

Our Raymond did an awesome job in the YaoMania! forum capturing all the activities from Yao’s participation in the Special Olympics. Here Yao Ming enters the stadium during the Opening Ceremonies in Shanghai…

Yao was joined in the ceremony by California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose mother-in-law Eunice helped start the Special Olympics movement.

There are just too many photos to show on this page, so I’ll refer you to the following links.

Link 1 – Check out the gradiose stadium and pageantry of the ceremony — I can only imagine what the real Olympic Opening Ceremonies are going to be like next year in Beijing.

Link 2 – Includes an article about the ceremonies, more pics, and quotes from Yao on how important the Special Olympics is to him after he received a high award.

Link 3 – Yao at the airport headed to Texas, and saying goodbye to Jackie Chan in some very funny poses.

With that, Yao is now finished with his Chinese commitments for awhile, and is headed to Austin to join his Rocket teammates for training camp.

Just like last year, there’s a good chance I’ll get to spend some time with Yao later this week when he arrives in Austin for training camp. You never know…plans could change, but I’m confident it will happen.

I’ve got several questions I’m going to ask him, but I thought I’d get your input on the type of questions YOU would like for me to ask. I’ll report here later in the week what he says.

Feel free to post your questions by using the comments link directly below. I’ll approve them throughout the day on Monday, and sporadically through Tuesday and Wednesday. I’m thinking I’ll get to talk to him on Thursday or Friday sometime.

I found an interesting mp3 and video on the Net today from Rockets Media Day.

First, here’s an mp3 of an interview with Bonzi Wells. From the sounds of the interviewer’s shocked response, it looks like Bonzi has ripped himself into shape. Here’s a photo of how he looks…

Impressive. Looks like a totally different guy. I can’t wait to see him play being so much lighter.

Through this interview, I also sensed a much better attitude in his voice compared to how gruff he was last year. I speculate his agent must have given him lots of advice to go out of his way to be nice with the media this year since it can only help in a contract year. We’ll see how long it lasts.

Second, here’s a video from the local Houston news station about Media Day, with special attention paid to Rafer Alston:

Today Dikembe Mutombo signed a one-year contract with the Rockets, which will be his last season in the NBA. After former Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy inexplicably only played Dikembe 40 minutes in that 7-game playoff series against the Jazz last season, Dikembe’s return was in serious doubt.

But thanks to Rocket legend Hakeem Olajuwon, he was able to convince Dikembe to come back after a 3-hour conversation.

We all know how well Dikembe filled in for Yao when Yao hurt his leg and missed 33 games last season.

You can read all the details in this ESPN piece, as well as read about how Rafer Alston may not be as guilty as we first thought.

After two great games in a row where he had scored 30+ points, Yao Ming had a relatively bad game Monday night against Moscow CSKA, making only 5-of-14 shots on his way to 27 points (he made only 17-of-23 free throws). Yao also only grabbed 4 rebounds, committed 4 turnovers, and had 4 personal fouls. Not the kind of “4-4-4” you want that Moses Malone talked about almost 25 years ago. Without Yao having his A-game, the Chinese lost 83-77.

For more photos from the game, click here.

According to our Raymond, immediately after the game against Moscow CSKA, Yao bolted quickly from the venue, even skipping his shower, so he could go back to Shanghai for the rehearsal of the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics. He will then skip the last summer game for the Chinese and head back to Texas on Wednesday for Rockets training camp.

I’m sure no one at training camp will be concerned about Yao’s performance against Moscow. However, if I get the chance, I’ll bring it up to him to see what happened in that game. 😉

Yao dominated for the second game in a row, this time with 32 points in leading China to a 78-75 victory over Italy’s Benetton Treviso. Yao made 11-of-15 field goals and 10-of-11 free throws (the last FT he missed intentionally). He also grabbed 10 bards. So it looks like Yao is getting into good shape with two games in a row now where he scored more than 30 points. He did have 5 turnovers, though.

For photos from the game, click here.

For pre-game warmup pics, go here. For photos from the team practice, you can check ’em out right here.

I saw this piece written by a member of the Brisbane Bullets, a team that took 1-of-3 games from the Chinese National Team last week. It was interesting to get his account of how crazy he saw fans in China go for Yao…

The big man must love it during the NBA season because he has the chance to lead a relatively normal life in America compared with dealing with the billions of eyes that follow his every step in China.

Brisbane Bullets have just seen it first hand and it’s nothing short of an amazing experience.

If John Howard (Australian Prime Minister) or Nicole Kidman walked down the street, they probably wouldn’t get half the attention Yao gets

He also says the Chinese need lots of improvement to do well in the Olympics, based on this statement…

The Bullets took a game off them and China is going to confront much bigger teams than us.

I’d rate Australia a huge chance of beating China, particularly with the likes of Andrew Bogut and Matt Nielsen in our team.

For the entire article, click here.

Despite having the flu and going to the hospital the night before to get an antibiotic, Yao Ming dominated in a game against the Sydney Kings on Friday. In 36 minutes of play, Yao scored 37 points on 12-of-17 shooting, and 13-of-16 free throws, to lead China past Sydney 75-66. He also grabbed 12 boards.

Here he confronts one of his opponents on the court…

Click here and here for more photos from the game. Click here for photos from the Chinese team’s scrimmage the night before, and from Yao’s pre-game warmup on Friday.

Yao’s comments about the Chinese training too much seems to be spot on. Two scrimmage sessions in one day? I bet Yao is looking forward to coming back to the Rockets where it’s more about quality of practice, not quantity.

Thanks to Raymond for the scoop and the pics.

Check out how BusinessWeek ranks Yao as one of the most powerful sports figures, right behind Kobe Bryant.