The Houston skyline will soon look a little different than it has over the past 12 months. The towering structure of Chinese architecture known as Yao Ming will soon make his return to the Houston Rockets lineup, with the entire city eagerly waiting on edge. The Houston Rockets are expected to make somewhat of a resurgence in the 2010-2011 season, after missing their franchise center for more than a year with a fractured foot. Standing 7’6” Yao is quite simply like no other Houston resident, calling the city his overseas home since the Rockets made him the first selection of the 2002 NBA Draft. Yao, his wife and daughter make a home in the Houston area, even though most NBA pundits would call the paint Yao’s true home.Of course as a global celebrity and proud Chinese citizen, his presence is still felt in China and internationally as well, where he does quite a bid of charity work, both on behalf of himself and basketball in general. He even owns the Shanghai Sharks, his former club team who would have otherwise been unable to play without his purchase of the team due to financial troubles.With their familiar skyscraper anchoring the center position this season, the Rockets are optimistic about their chances in the Western Conference. The team brought in free agent center Brad Miller as a backup as Yao eases his way back into full rotation. Of course a little Yao is still more than most, as the rockets expect to field a traditionally competitive lineup. The season will open against the defending champion LA Lakers on Tuesday, October 26th, though the home opener at the Toyota Center is scheduled for October 30th against the Denver Nuggets. Be sure to check out a game this season, great fun for tourists and locals alike.