Special deal for Yao's 'retirement' conference

SHANGHAI - The Houston Rockets' general manager, Daryl Morey, will attend hoop icon Yao Ming's "future planning" conference here on Wednesday, with special permission from the NBA which will allow him to meet the player during the current lockout.

According to NBA regulations, all club staff members are prohibited from contact with players during a league lockout.

However, the possibility of Yao's retirement has seen the league grant Morey a special pass to appear with Yao at the press conference, which has drawn more than 100 media outlets worldwide, according to the all-star center's management team.