Congratulations, Yao!

Congratulations to Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, who married his long-time sweetheart on Monday in Shanghai at the Pudong Shangri-La Hotel. His new bride, Ye Li, is a former Chinese National Basketball Team player who stands 6-2. The two met in 1999 when Yao was a member of the Shanghai Sharks. Though Yao has talked little of Ye publicly, the red wristbands he's worn during his stint in the NBA were made by Ye.

Because of the desire for privacy, the security guards (~100) outnumbered the guests (~70). In fact, at an impromptu news conference outside the hotel ballroom where the couple was married, reporters were given teddy bears with candy and CD's with wedding portraits taken last week. The AP reported the wedding cost $130,000 (they did it on the cheap, I guess... unlike Tony Parker and Eva Longoria). If you want to read more, go to the Houston Chronicle.

Can't wait 'til their kid is a 5-10 spaz who can't make a layup.