LUCIE, Fla. Justin Verlander was likely not too happy a

HOUSTON -- Thaddeus Brown, the Houston Rockets CEO, described Yao Ming best on Sunday: A native Texan and a Houston Rocket for life.Drafted No. 1 overall in 2002, Yao played an integral role in helping the NBA become a global enterprise in China. Now, following a nine-year career that was cut short by foot injuries, Yao will have his No. 11 jersey retired Feb. 2, when the Rockets host the Atlanta Hawks.Jersey retired? Yao said at a news conference officially announcing the event. It just happened too soon. Its something I couldnt have dreamed of. I appreciate everything Houston did for me, the opportunity to come over here and play.This has been a special year for the center, given that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame last month.?Yao will join fellow Rockets Hall of Famers Calvin Murphy, Moses Malone, Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon as players to have their jerseys hung from the rafters. Beloved former coach and player Rudy Tomjanovich also has his number in lights.I said it before, but so many nights when I walked through that court or played on that court, I looked up to those jerseys and thought, Those jerseys are the spirit of the team of Houston, Yao said. Those jerseys are honored, and those jerseys are motivation ... I would be honored to continue.The Rockets opened the preseason with a 131-94 victory over the Shanghai Sharks, a team Yao owns. It was the first NBA preseason game involving a team from China. Thus, Yao will serve as more than an ambassador for the game when the Rockets visit China next week as part of a two-game exhibition.Every player in the NBA owes a bit of gratitude for Yao Ming, Brown said.Added Yao: I hope my career here is something that meets the expectation of basketball fans. Custom Suns Jersey China . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. Wholesale Custom Suns Shirts . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. http://www.customsunsjersey.com/ . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Penny Hardaway Jersey Large . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. Custom Penny Hardaway Jersey . LUCIE, Fla. Justin Verlander was likely not too happy after the Detroit Tigers blew a lead in the ninth inning on Saturday, losing 7-4 to the?Kansas City Royals.?But he was all smiles before the game as he reunited with former teammate Magglio Ordonez, who was in Detroit on Saturday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 2006 American League championship team.?Verlander caught Ordonezs ceremonial first pitch?before?Saturdays game.?In an Instagram post, Verlannder paid homage to two things Tigers fans would remember most about Ordonez: his long, flowing locks (which are gone now) and his?three-run, walk-off home run against the Oakland Athletics in Game 4 of the 2006 AL Championship Series, which sent the Tigers to their first World Series since 1984.dddddddddddd?--Alex Tekip ' ' '