Unrivalled Yao proves to be the real deal - on and off the court

Sad, but true, that it has come to this, my friends. If I wish to write a column about Yao Ming, it seems I have to offer some sort of caveat like I was out of ideas and I was out of time as well, deadlines raining down on my head.

So excuse me if I write about Yao Ming. Again. Only it's not again. I have purposely stayed away from writing about Yao for over a year because so many other people have.

There have been two major books released on him recently, one an authorised biography by American writer Rick Bucher and one a very unauthorised and provocative book penned by Asian-based writer Brook Larmer, which contends that Yao was the product of a grand and nefarious scheme of Shanghai sports authorities.

There are at least two documentaries on him as well as cover stories in Time, Newsweek, Business Week and virtually every other publication, as well as billboards and advertisements further than the eye can see. So with the man so obviously overexposed, why the need to revisit Yao now?

Because right now Yao is not only the best centre in the National Basketball Association, he is the most valuable property in the NBA. There is not a player in the league right now who a right-minded general manager would not trade for Yao. That was not the case one year ago.

Over the past year, Yao has become the dominant force some predicted he would be four years ago when the Houston Rockets drafted him number one overall. But a broken foot late in this past season derailed Yao and put his participation in the world championships in Japan this past summer in serious doubt.