Big men moving on

It must be the week for big men to announce they are moving on.

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is preparing to officially announce his retirement from professional basketball in Shanghai, China, which will leave a large void in the NBA's international fanfare.

The 7'6" Ming began his NBA career as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 Draft, sparking a huge boost in the league's viewership. It also helped that he went to Houston, which has a large Asian population.

I never got the chance to attend a Rockets game Ming played in while I lived in Texas, but I did go to the sports bar/restaurant his parents owned.

Turned out March 11, 2005, was a great night to go to the Yao Restaurant and Bar.

That night, the Rockets were in Phoenix playing the Suns and Yao had a big game with 27 points and a career-high 22 rebounds in a 127-107 Houston victory.

The place was crazy with Rockets fans and got louder as the game went on with Yao grabbing more and more rebounds.

At the game's conclusion, it was announced that everyone in the bar section would receive a free drink and appetizer, which made the people even more frenzied.

However, the part I remember most about that night was being able to actually meet and speak with Yao's parents, Yao Zhiyuan (father) and Fang Fengdi.

I was aware both of Yao's parents had also been professional basketball players, so I anticipated to at least look up at his father, who is 6'7". What surprised me was how tall his mother is.

Supposedly she is 6'3" tall, which is the same as I am. However, she is actually an inch or two taller than that, which surprised me, along with most of the people she walked by.

They both are nice people, and they went around that night shaking hands with everybody and asking is they enjoyed the game and what made them decide to come there that night since the place had only been open a few weeks and with Houston already having so many hotspots.

It was definitely a night to remember for me and all my friends, and seeing Yao now on the brink of retirement, I couldn't help but recall the evening.

Yao will be missed on and off the court for his enjoyment and dedication to game, along with his humor.

At the same time, I (who can also be considered a big man in my own right) am also moving on to another venture in my life.

After nearly five years here at The Brazil Times, I recently accepted another job within the community, which I will start Monday.

While I will no longer be a part of the newspaper staff, I will always have fond memories of my time here.

But on the bright side, this Texas boy has set up roots in Clay County which I don't intend to pull up anytime soon, and I will still remain visible in the immediate area.

For all those who I have worked with, met or interview, I have truly appreciated the time spent with each of you and am proud to now call Brazil and Clay County my home.

One of my college professors had an odd saying which I think applies to this moment.

He used to say "Life is like riding horses. You don't always hop on the same one on the same farm all the time, but at the same time you just have to enjoy where you go and where the ride takes you because the next ride may be your last."

I admit it is a bit off the wall, but in a weird way, I think its on point because you don't know where you will go or the people you meet, but if you are kind and relaxed, things go a lot smoother as you go along.