体坛英语新闻：Seven-time all-star Yao out of 2010 version ballot

NEW YORK, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Seven-time NBA all-star player Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets center, was dropped off the candidate list as the 2010 All-Star Game ballot was unveiled in Dallas on Tuesday.

    The Ballot was unveiled during a special tip off event in Dallas, the host city of NBA All-Star 2010.

    NBA all-star balloting presented by T-Mobile will begin Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. (GMT1730). The 2010 NBA All-Star Game, which will air live on TNT and ESPN radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and regions in more than 40 languages, will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before an expected crowd of more than 80,000 spectators.

    120 players selected out of East and West Conferences were listed for the ballot. Chinese star Yao was sidelined for the whole season after undergoing surgery to cure the hairline fracture in his left foot.

    Yao's compatriot Yi Jianliang, the forward of New Jersey Nets, also disappeared from the list after a debut last year.

    Yi was subject to injury and out of action last week, who sprained right knee ligament in a game against Bobcats last Monday and is expected recover within a month.

    Except for Yao, those familiar names still prevail in the listing from last year's all-star line-up, like Shaquille O'Neal, Ray Allen, Jameer Nelson, Dwyane Wade, Mo Williams, LeBron James, Josh Smith, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant.

    There are several ways fans can cast their votes, including vote on website and through mobile phone. Starters will be announced live on TNT on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010.

    The NBA All-Star ballot lists 120 players -- 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences -- with 24 guards, 24 forwards, and 12 centers from each conference comprising the list.

    Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference. The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA.