Is it really a far-fetched story to say that Shaquille O'Neal will never start another All-Star game as long has he and Yao Ming both remain in the West?

Ming's popularity has taken the world by storm, the 7-5 center from China now taking over the lead as the starting center in this February's All-Star game from Shaq.  Ming thus far has collected a staggering 814,393 votes, 158,649 more than O'Neal, and appears set to start along side teammate Steve Francis in Atlanta.

"I'm happy, and I'm very honored," Yao said. "If I do play in the All-Star Game, I hope it won't be like my first NBA game was."

An even bigger suprise came with Shaq actually supporting Ming's All-Star bid, the NBA's most dominating monster seemingly backing away from his original promise to greet Yao with an elbow to the nose. According to Jonathan Feigan of the Houston Chronicle, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said that if they played Nov. 17, when O'Neal was still coming back, O'Neal would have broken Yao in two.

"It happens to the best of us," O'Neal said in response to Ming's probable All-Star berth. "When I came in, I beat out Patrick Ewing."

"He (Yao) is making history for his people. His people are proud of him. They should be. One billion people -- that's tough to beat."

"I doubt if Shaq really cares," added Rocket Mo Taylor. "He's Shaq. Why should he care about Yao? His talk (about Yao) is just in fun. He doesn't really care. When he opens his mouth, he's having fun. I don't think he's worried. He's secure in himself. I don't think he has animosity toward Yao. He has fun with it. He's won MVP, All-Star Games, (championship) rings. He should be happy for a young guy to be doing something like this."

Ming is set to become the first rookie since Grant Hill in 1995 to start an All-Star game, and will become only the with rookie center to achieve such a feat (joining Ray Felix, Wilt Chamberlain, Walt Bellamy and O'Neal).