Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (R) stops Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol from scoring in the fourth quarter during Game 1 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball playoff game in Los Angeles May 4, 2009. Reuters Pictures 6 months ago

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (R) stops Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol from scoring in the fourth quarter during Game 1 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final basketball playoff game in Los Angeles May 4, 2009.

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  1. Houston Rockets' Yao Ming, of China, sits on the Rockets bench during a NBA basketball game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 in Houston. Yao Ming is out for the season after having surgery on his left foot.
  2. A woman walks past an advertisement of China Life Insurance featuring Chinese basketball star Yao Ming and his wife Ye Li in Hong Kong August 25, 2009. China Life Insurance, the world's largest life insurer by market value, announces its 2009 interim results on Tuesday.
  3. Houston Rockets newly-signed center David Andersen of Australia, is interviewed by reporters during a news conference, Friday, Aug. 14, 2009, in Houston. The Rockets signed Andersen to a multiyear contract to help make up for the loss of Yao Ming, who is out indefinitely with a hairline fracture in his left foot.
  4. Houston Rockets newly-signed center David Andersen, of Australia, is photographed with his new jersey during a news conference, Friday, Aug. 14, 2009, in Houston. The Rockets signed Andersen to a multiyear contract to help make up for the loss of Yao Ming, who is out indefinitely with a hairline fracture in his left foot.
  5. FILE -- This is a May 1, 2009, file photo showing Barcelona's David Andersen, rear, going for the shot against Moscow's Matjaz Smodis, during a Euroleague basketball game in Berlin, Germany. The Houston Rockets have signed center David Andersen to a multiyear contract to help make up for the loss of Yao Ming.
  6. San Antonio Spurs' George Hill (3) is defended by Houston Rockets' David Anderson, of Australia, during the fourth quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009.
  7. Houston Rockets' Garrett Temple (2) is defended by San Antonio Spurs' Ian Mahinmi (28) during the fourth quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009.
  8. Houston Rockets' Trevor Ariza (1) is defended by San Antonio Spurs' Richard Jefferson (24) during the first quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. Houston won 99-85. Ariza scored 9 points.
  9. San Antonio Spurs' Ian Mahinmi (28) is defended by Houston Rockets' Chuck Hayes (44) during the second quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009.
  10. Houston Rockets' Chuck Hayes (44) and San Antonio Spurs' Ian Mahinmi compete for a rebound during the first quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009.
  11. Bria Bennett, 5, watches the Houston Rocket's "Launch Crew" perform during a pep rally at Bruce Elementary School, Monday, Sept. 21, 2009, in Houston, where Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey, CEO Tad Brown, several Rockets players and staff transformed the school into a "Rockets Red Academy" for the day. ** MANDATORY CREDIT.
  12. Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant goes up for a dunk during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 118-110.
  13. Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest dunks the ball during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 118-110.
  14. Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, below, goes up for a shot as Atlanta Hawks center Zaza Pachulia of Georgia defends during the second half of their NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 118-110.
  15. Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant passes around Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman to teammate Andrew Bynum who scores in the second half of a NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 99-92.
  16. Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest (37) displays his new haircut in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 99-92.

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  1. ZZ Top members Dusty Hill, left, Frank Beard on drums, and Billy Gibbons perform before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas.
  2. BERLIN - NOVEMBER 08: Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbatchev (C) signs autographs as he stand next to his daughter Irina Virganskaya (R) and the Russian ambassador in Germany Vladimir Kotenev prior to the Cinema for Peace gala dinner on November 8, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
  3. Charles Hamelin of Canada (C) competes in the Men's 1000m Quarter-finals at the ISU World Cup short track speed skating event round on November 8, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
  4. HAMBURG, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 08: German TV-host and singer Barbara Schoeneberger performs live during her concert at the CCH on November 08, 2009 in Hamburg, Germany. The concert is part of the 'Nochmal, Nur Anders' tour 2009.
  5. Yang Zhou of China competes in the Women's 1000m Quarter-finals at the ISU World Cup short track speed skating event round on November 8, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
  6. Colombia's (L to R) Stiveen Mendoza, Fabian Castilo, Alvaro Hungria,an unidentified Colombia reserve player and Jorge Ramos celebrate after beating Turkey on penalties in the quarter-finals of the Under-17 World Cup at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi November 8, 2009.
  7. CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 8: Andre Caldwell #87 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after a first half touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium on November 8, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
  8. CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 8: A group of Cincinnati Bengals defenders tackle Le'Ron McClain #33 of the Baltimore Ravens in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium on November 8, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
  9. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco drops back to pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter of their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Ohio, November 8, 2009.
  10. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Laveranues Coles (L) tries to grab a pass as Baltimore Ravens defender Chris Carr defends during the second quarter of their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Ohio, November 8, 2009.
  11. Arizona Cardinals Kurt Warner (13) throws the ball while playing the Chicago Bears during the first half of their NFL football game in Chicago, November 8, 2009.
  12. FC Porto's Hulk, left, fights for the ball with Maritimo's Marcinho, also from Brazil, during their Portuguese league soccer match Sunday, Nov. 8 2009, at the Barreiros stadium in Funchal.
  13. Slovakia's Rastislav Spirko, left, and US Andy Hedlund, right, challenge for the puck during the ice hockey Germany Cup match between USA and Slovakia in the Olympic hall in Munich, southern Germany, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. USA lost after penalty. ** Eds note: German spelling of Munich is Muenchen.
  14. Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez reacts after catching a touchdown pass during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Atlanta.
  15. US coach Peter Laviolette follows the Germany Cup match between USA and Slovakia in the Olympic hall in Munich, southern Germany, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. USA lost the match after penalty. ** Eds note: German spelling of Munich is Muenchen.
  16. Iraqi Shiite Turkmen lawmaker Abbas Hasan al-Bayati , left, speaks as Iraqi Shiite Turkmen lawmaker Fawzi Akram looks on during a press conference after an Iraqi Parliament session about election law on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Iraq's parliament Sunday night passed a long-delayed election law needed to carry out nationwide elections, a debate that has been intensely watched over fears the holdup could delay the January elections and possibly delay the planned U.S. plans to withdraw their forces.