yao ming still not cleared to play

That sound you hear is the collective disappointed sigh of a billion people. Looks like there's the possibility that Yao Ming might not be able to play in this summer's Olympics. According to his agent, the prognosis for his left foot is apparently "very good," but it remains uncertain whether he'll be cleared to play in time for a pre-Olympics tournament: Yao not yet cleared to play despite 'very good' checkup on left foot.

Yao averaged 22 points and nearly 11 rebounds for the Houston Rockets this season. But a stress fracture in his left foot sidelined him on February 27, and he hasn't played since. He's scheduled to meet with team doctors at the end of the month, he'll see if the Rockets clear him to practice. If he's cleared, he's going to China... where people wait in anticipation.

Meanwhile, in other injured athlete news... Yankee pitcher Chien-Ming Wang has two separate injuries in his right foot and could miss as much as two to three months of the season: Chien-Ming Wang doesn't need surgery, but could miss 2-to-3 months.

Wang was hurt running the bases Sunday in Houston when he scored from second on a hit by Derek Jeter. He rounded third base and hurt his foot in the grass near the bag. He limped to the plate and immediately doubled over in pain. Bummer. As the Yankees' ace, his absence is going to leave a big hole in the team's rotation.