Yao Could Be In Hall Of Fame By Next Year

 When Yao Ming announced his retirement from the NBA last month, the debate among NBA fans as to whether or not he should be a Hall of Famer began. The discussion could end as soon as 2012, as Yao is already eligible for enshrinement as a "contributor to the game."

Perhaps Yao won't be inducted as a player, but nobody in their right mind could argue that Yao hasn't been an unprecedented contributor to the game.

Here is more from espn.com on Yao's possible enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.