Centers From Far Away Getting Relatively Close

Yao Ming sent a Christmas card to Shaquille O’Neal in December, and the Laker center was invited to his Rocket counterpart’s home Friday, though he declined because of other plans.

By all appearances, O’Neal’s relationship with Yao is growing, despite O’Neal’s ill-fated attempt at humor at Yao’s expense.

“Let me tell you something,” O’Neal said before Friday’s game. “Yao is my brother. And I am his brother. Period.”

O’Neal’s stepfather, Phil Harrison, drove all night from Florida to attend Friday night’s game. He arrived in Houston at 4 a.m. At the Rockets’ practice later in the morning, Harrison presented the Christmas card to Yao, who autographed it.

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On Thursday, Phil Jackson had a team official announce practice was canceled, then calling a voluntary meeting at a gym near the team hotel.

All but one player attended, as did all of the coaches, including Jackson. Robert Horry, who flew to Houston ahead of the team, could not be reached. The session, which included on-court play and weightlifting, lasted two hours for some players.

The league is investigating Jackson’s sleight of hand, and it is possible the team will be fined.

“The NBA has a policy that if you practice, your players must be available,” said Brian McIntyre, an NBA senior vice president. “We’ll be looking into it.”

After the Lakers’ shoot-around Friday morning at Compaq Center, the customary time for media access, O’Neal refused comment, even as dozens of reporters chased him from the arena and to the bus. As they did, several Lakers celebrated the stampede by making barnyard noises in the manner of cows and sheep, and one yelled, “Cockroaches!”

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About 15 members of the Organization of Chinese Americans held a news conference about four hours before Friday’s game, scolding O’Neal for his offensive comments regarding Yao.

There was one protester. He held a sign that read, “Senator Shaquille Lott.”

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The Philadelphia 76ers have 30 days to sign Stanley Roberts, a period that begins when Roberts notifies the organization of his desire to return.

The Lakers don’t appear to be interested in O’Neal’s Louisiana State teammate. The 76ers could renounce intentions to sign Roberts, making him an unrestricted free agent. He was reinstated by the league this week.