DownSwinging.com

As you are sure to have read over the past 12 hours, the hairline fracture in Yao Ming’s troubled left foot, has still not healed despite more than 6 weeks of immobilization. In fact, the fracture has actually extended across the bone. This is by no means good news for the Rockets, who were hoping that their 7-6 big man would start rehab this week. This case, however, is not as black and white as it seems. Yao, as it stands, is completely asymptomatic. His foot feels fine. He was certain that after his X-Ray, he would be cleared to start his workouts. This is where the situation becomes dicey for Houston. As team doctor, Tom Clanton, stated in his press conference, “We don’t treat the CT Scan, we treat the patient.” The problem the Rockets find themselves in though, is while Yao is feeling no pain, swelling or tenderness, if he so much as missteps on the basketball court, his foot could shatter, and he would never play again. Yao and the Rockets will spend the next several days getting second opinions on whether to give it more time to heal on its own, put a pin in his foot (which Yao has done before on this same foot), or get more extensive surgery to eradicate the problem. The first option is high risk, high reward. If the foot mends on its own, Yao could be ready opening night, however if it still doesn’t heal, a later surgery date would mean more basketball missed. If they choose to install a pin, seen as a temporary solution that could hold for several years, it would be guaranteed that Yao would start the season on injured reserve, something Yao himself, does NOT want to do. Lastly, completely grafting the foot, would be a permanent solution, albeit with an estimated recovery time of 12-18 months, or perhaps even longer. This is seen as a worst case scenario. These are the facts. The question isn’t whether the injury is season threatening or, God forbid, even career threatening. It certainly is. The question is, what are the odds…

The thing that annoys me about this whole thing, is how the media have handled it. ESPN, SI, everyone loves using those headlines “Will Yao Ever Play Again?” It’s disgustingly bush league and I’ll tell you why. The press conference revealing all of Yao’s injury news was held several days ago. It was not last night, which was implied by the urgency used in every article I read. As much as I hate to say it, the media LOVES career-threatening injuries. ESPN loves bringing on their “medical experts” to discuss the likelihood of a player returning. It brings them an even bigger audience. Furthermore, it gives every Joe in America, that knows how to flip the TV to SportsCenter the feeling that they just completed their Masters in Medicine. Talking about tarsal navicular bones as if they just got out of triage.

Could Yao miss the rest of his career? Yes, but Clanton said the possibility of that is hugely unlikely. Why is that not in anyone’s article? It just frustrates me when the media chooses to take an avenue based on which title will get the most hits. The medical staff in Houston is shocked that the media took this spin on the story, as they had presented the facts, while defining the possibility of career-threatening information. Once the reporters present hear those two magic words, they smell blood in the water. One question was, “Is Yao’s foot healing on its own similar to the odds of me winning the lottery?”. That reporter wasn’t even allowed to finish his question as Clanton cut him off, saying, “No, no, no. We’re not even considering it a longshot.”

The story is an intriguing one. Will Yao play next season? Will he be himself if he does? I’ll be watching this story as close as possible as I am a Rockets fan, as well as a Yao Ming fan, as I don’t think there is anyone in the NBA who works harder. He doesn’t deserve what the media have done to this story, and neither do you.