Despite not expected to play a single minute of NBA action this season, Yao Ming could have the busiest year of his life in 2010. He is currently the ambassador of the 2010 Shanghai Expo, the leading figure in the revival of the Shanghai Sharks, the anchor at the heart of China’s 2010 FIBA World Basketball Championship hopes in Turkey this summer, but all those will have to cease way to something much more important come July: the arrival of Yao Ming’s first child.

The news broke out through Guangzhou Daily when Ye Li’s friend and Chinese Basketball Team teammate Miao Lijie let out the following answer when asked why Ye hadn’t attended a 2010 expo show with her:

“Pregnant woman deserves less public activities”

Ye Li (Yao Ming’s wife) and Yao Ming tied the knot back in August 2007 with a spectacular wedding in Shanghai. Almost three years later, they are expecting their first child - who’s gender most likely won’t be revealed until birth due to China’s laws on the matter.

Whatever the gender, Ye Li at 6′2 (1.90 meters) and Yao Ming at 7′6 (2.26 meters) are expected to produce a baby of epic proportions. In fact, it has become a popular topic of discussion amongst the highly speculative Chinese netizens. In a poll conducted by Chinese news portal Sina, 39 percent of participants predicted that Lil Yao will be taller than 2 meters but not pass his/her father’s height, 23 percent predicted that Little Yao has a good chance to surpass the 7′6 mark set by Yao while 9.4 percent believe that 2 meters is the limit for the child. Medical experts on the other hand calculate that if male the height is likely to be from 2 – 2.1 meters, while if female from 1.94-2.08 meters.

Yao Ming and wife Ye Li are currently both residing in Shanghai, and Yao Ming’s season ending injury now might come as a blessing in disguise. Altough on second thought, a July 2010 conception and a little backwards math indicates that this was not a coincidence after all. Being one of the most hardworking individuals on the planet and with probably more expectations than anyone not named Barack Obama, we can only wish Yao Ming the best as he takes a well deserved rest from Basketball and focuses on his family.

Oh and little Miss Lijie let out another bomb to the media:

“Ye looks well now and sleeps early every day for the wellbeing of the fetus. The couple hopes to have a boy,” said Miao Lijie.

For the sake of Chinese Basketball, I have similar hopes for Little Yao.