HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets star Yao Ming is now a father. Green Bay Packers Jersey . The seven-foot-six Yao and his wife, Ye Li, had a baby girl on Friday at a Houston hospital, team spokesman Nelson Luis said. The couple, who married in August 2007, did not announce the babys name. She weighed seven pounds, six ounces. "I am very excited about the arrival of our daughter," Yao said in a statement. "This is a very special moment in our lives and we thank everyone for their kindness and support." Chinese basketball fans were eager to learn if Yao would have the baby in America or China. Yao said in March that the birth was a "private" matter. The baby will be an American citizen since she was born in the U.S. There was no immediate comment from the Chinese Basketball Association, where Yao started his career. Yaos baby could claim Chinese citizenship as the child of Chinese nationals. However, Chinese law does not recognize dual citizenship. A number of Chinese celebrities have been criticized for becoming naturalized citizens of other countries. Chinese are subject to stringent visa requirements, and some of the celebrities argued it was easier to travel internationally with passports from countries such as Singapore or the U.S. Baby Yao has captured the imagination of fans in China, and most say they dont care which country claims the baby. They wonder about her potential basketball skills with a seven-foot-six father and 6-2 mother, who was a centre for China. Cincinnati Bengals Cedric Benson Jersey . Also discussed were the effect a returning Jordan Staal would have on game preparations and the significance of the Winter Classic relative to its place in the standings. Q.  Can you tell us who is starting for you tonight in goal? COACH BOUDREAU:  Varly. Q.  Are you looking at this stage of the season for someone to emerge and say I want this job, and they both played well and they both maybe had some bumps? COACH BOUDREAU:  Well, I think they both want this job. Chicago Bears Jersey . Kershaw (3-2) allowed three hits and a run, walked two and had seven strikeouts. It was the second straight strong start for Kershaw. In his last outing, the left-hander fanned nine and yielded just two hits in eight shutout innings against the Rockies. Replicas Philadelphia Eagles Jerseys . Mike Davis added 13 points and nine rebounds for Illinois (19-12, 9-9 Big Ten), which need the victory to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive. Verdell Jones III was the lone player to reach double figures for Indiana (12-19, 3-15), finishing with 12 points. Brian Urlacher Jersey . Mike Hoffman had a goal and two assists as the Sea Dogs downed the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 4-2 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Thursday. Replicas Stewart Bradley Jersey . The same group, the Islamic State of Iraq, has claimed responsibility for three previous waves of coordinated bombings in Baghdad going back to August. The attacks have hit government offices or high-profile sites in the Iraqi capital. In a statement posted Wednesday on a militant Web site, the al-Qaida group claimed responsibility for the triple suicide blasts on Monday that targeted three hotels favored by Western journalists and security contractors. (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Hawks will try to put the brakes on a four-game road losing streak tonight against the New Orleans Hornets in the Big Easy. Atlanta is 8-7 on the road this season and will also make a stop in Milwaukee on its two-game trek. It has won two straight overall and three of the last four games, including Wednesdays 98-84 victory at home versus Cleveland. Joe Johnson scored 23 points, Al Horford had 18 points with eight rebounds and Josh Smith recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 boards for the Hawks, who are unbeaten in their last eight games at Philips Arena. Here at home weve pretty much got it figured out, said Johnson, who was playing his fourth game since returning several weeks early from right elbow surgery. Now we just have to figure it out on the road. Hawks guard and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford missed his fifth straight game with a sore back and is questionable for tonight. Premier DeSean Jackson Jerseys. New Orleans has won its last three games at home and is coming off Wednesdays 105-91 victory versus the New Jersey Nets. Emeka Okafor posted his third straight double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Hornets, who got 18 points from David West. For him to be playing at that level really helps our team, New Orleans head coach Monty Williams said of Okafor. Weve said this before, on most nights Emeka (Okafor) is an X-factor for us. Chris Paul netted 12 points and handed out 14 assists to help the Hornets end a two-game slide and win for the third time in five tries. The Hornets are 12-3 in the Big Easy this season. The Hawks and Hornets split a home-and-home series a season ago, with each team holding serve as the host. New Orleans has won five of the last eight meetings with Atlanta, which is 3-13 in the past 16 games on the bayou. ' ' '