Yao Ming (Chinese: 姚明; Pinyin: Yáo Míng) (born September 12, 1980, in Shanghai, China) is a Chinese professional basketball player and is considered one of the best centers in the National Basketball Association (NBA) today. He is also among the tallest of players in the NBA standing at a height of 7'6". He is the only son of his father Yao Zhiyuan and Fang Fengdi. He played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for five years, and now plays center for the Houston Rockets in the NBA. He was selected by Houston as the 1st overall pick of the 2002 NBA Draft and signed with them on October 21, 2002.

　　５月２５日是美国亡灵纪念日（Ｍｅｍｏｒｉａｌ　Ｄａｙ），在姚明提议下，１８万纳斯卡赛车现场观众为“５·１２”中国四川大地震的死难同胞，进行了２０秒的集体默哀，这在美国历史上是一次罕见的国际性哀悼。美国媒体对纳斯卡这次体现国际人道关怀的默哀行动给予高度评价。

　　按照美国的传统，纳斯卡赛事是美国亡灵纪念日的主要活动之一。姚明应邀出席此次活动，赛前主办方这样介绍姚明：“姚明今天很高兴能和大家一起观看比赛，上周他的祖国四川遭受了严重的地震灾害，造成了重大的人员伤亡和财产损失，还有无数人无家可归。因此他希望全场观众和他一起，为在中国四川地震中失去生命的人们默哀。”

　　所有观看这一场比赛的美国人和海外华人，通过这场预料之外的特殊默哀，感受到了国际社会在灾难中表现出的关注和团结。

　　姚明表示，他个人会有对灾区重建的后续捐助计划，目前正在和国内外有关救助组织、专家进行磋商，重点会放在帮助少年儿童上，在细节基本敲定之后就马上实施。　（：：美国中文网）