http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4127762.html<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>No time to spareRecovering from a broken foot, Yao Ming is eager to test himself, satisfy his Chinese fans and make the Rockets contendersBy FRAN BLINEBURYCopyright 2006 Houston Chronicle SAPPORO, JAPAN He steps off the bus and through the back entrance to the posh hotel lobby, wired to the iPod tucked into his pocket, looking like any other 20-something as his head bounces slightly to the music.Except he's 7-6. He's Yao Ming. And he's leaking.The trickle of water on the stairs and floor comes from the ice packs that are held with tape around both knees and on his surgically repaired left foot, making him look like a refugee from the Sapporo Snow Festival."It hurts to get back into shape," Yao said with a chuckle.Not nearly as much as the past four months have pained the Rockets and the world's most populous nation as anxious, eager eyes have awaited his return to the basketball court.From the moment the fifth metatarsal in his left foot was kicked and broken by Mehmet Okur on April 10 in Salt Lake City, China worried whether Yao would be available for the World Basketball Championship; the Rockets fretted more about the long-term health and development of their franchise center.Starting today, as China opens the tournament against Italy, many questions begin to be answered with Yao, as usual, the tall beacon in the middle who draws so much attention.If China is to have a chance of advancing out of round-robin play and into the elimination round, Yao probably must play like the NBA force who averaged more than 22 points and 13 rebounds per game over a two-month stretch after last season's All-Star Game.But if Yao pushes himself hard on behalf of the Chinese national team and his 1.2 billion countrymen, perhaps he runs the risk of reinjuring his foot and jeopardizing his future and fortunes of the Rockets."I just feel bored without the game and want to get back to playing basketball," Yao said. "I think I have been away too long."Struggle to find rhythmHe has been back with the national team for just over two weeks and played in three exhibition games leading up to the World Championship. He has looked rusty and out of sync. But he managed 16 points and six rebounds in a loss to Brazil this week, then outdueled Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut in a 63-61 victory over Australia, scoring 21 points. "A little over two weeks ago, we sent X-ray pictures to Houston to Dr. (James) Muntz, who did my surgery, and he said I'm totally healed," Yao, 25, said. "Now I'm back with the team. I've practiced. I've played. But I can't say I'm in the best shape now. I'm working well, so I hope it's only a matter of time."The first couple of days I almost quit, because I felt like I was back in high school, learning to play. But every day there's been a big jump. I was really, really poor the first day. The second day I felt much better. Then the third day was another step. I just have to tell myself that it's going to take a long time."For the first month after the surgery, I could not do anything, especially before I took off the cast. After two or three weeks, I got the cast off and moved into the custom-made boot and did some (stationary) bicycling for cardio, some lifting of weights for my upper body."His trainer, Anthony Falsone, has been the one with the stick, prodding Yao along in the rehabilitation process."I've spent every day of the summer with Anthony, letting him work me out, keeping me in shape, pushing me to recover from the surgery," Yao said. "I was with him every day of the week except Sunday. I told him I didn't want to see him on Sundays. Just to give me a break."He passed time watching game video of the Rockets and the Chinese national team. He did mental homework, trying to push the Rockets' playbook into a corner of his mind while learning his role with China.All the while, speculation swirled about whether he would play here. The prognosis for such a break says it takes a full six months for the bone to return to its natural density. He is two months ahead of that."If I say there's no pressure, I'm lying," Yao said with a shrug. "Of course, there's pressure. But not from where you expect. There was no pressure from the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association). The pressure was from some of my fans and mostly from myself."I was surprised. The CBA did not push me any way or try to make me do anything. They said, 'We have a bigger goal in 2008 (at the Beijing Olympics). So just know yourself and do the best that you can do. It's not necessary.' "Eye on the OlympicsAs the host, China gets an automatic bid to the Olympics. "So that left just the pressure from my fans and from myself," Yao said. "The fans are the fans. They are always asking, 'Why? Why? Why?'"The pressure from myself is that I don't like to be away from the game. I feel lost when I'm not playing basketball."His frustration came from having gotten a glimpse of the player he can become during that run in the second half of the NBA season."I made it to a level that I liked, that I enjoyed. I knew that I could do it and I didn't want to step back. Of course, everybody wants to improve over the summer to the next season. But I felt like I had made such progress for those months, and I didn't enjoy losing it."I feel like I maybe wasted some time last season with the surgery for the infection at the start of the year and then, after the injury, having to do the rehab. So I'm working to do a rush job to get back for the start of next season."Yao is rushing because he knows the clock is ticking on an NBA career that will enter its fifth year when training camp opens in October. He doesn't want to waste another season like the last one, when he and Tracy McGrady were rarely on the floor together and the roster was beset with injuries."You have injuries all of the time, and it's part of the game," Yao said. "You play with some injuries. That is part, I think, of our Chinese culture, to ignore injuries and keep working. But I think it is also the culture of the athlete who wants to compete."I'm used to injuries. I don't want to use such an excuse. They happen to players, to teams, to all teams. Frustrating? Yes. So what? Everybody must deal with it. I just tell myself that maybe I have had all of my lost games in this last season and now I won't miss any more the rest of my career."I heard that Tracy is doing good, recovering from his back injury and that he's been working out hard. And I heard about Chuck Hayes and what happened to him at Tracy's (softball) game. I mean, he is playing a game and is almost electrocuted. I think, 'Oh my God. The next season hasn't even started yet and we are having crazy injuries again.' I'm hoping that counts with last year and we start new."He gave his blessing to the trade for Shane Battier."When he played for Memphis and he was on the court, we had to watch him and learn every time," Yao said. "He is the kind of player who can fix a small hole on his teams. And those small holes are many times the difference between winning and losing."I really don't know anything about Rudy Gay. But Tracy and I are trying to win now. If you say a young player is someone who can improve and really help in three or four years, that is a long time. We don't want to wait three or four years. We don't have three or four years. We can't waste that time."Force in the NBAYao believes that if he and McGrady can stay healthy, if Battier does what's expected, the Rockets can contend in the Western Conference. "No doubt. No question," he said.The argument could be made that over the second half of last season, Yao was the most dependable center in the NBA.A blush fast-breaks across his face, followed by a nod."That's regular season," he said. "But if you watched the Finals, Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal) was there with his team and he could be dominant. I still have a long way to go to get there."And, first, a long way back from the broken foot. It's as if he has been in cold storage for the past four months as the Rockets and China waited and worried.But the ice is melting."I'm warming up," Yao said, "hopefully for bigger things."</div>
