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Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by TB3, Aug 17, 2000.

  1. TB3

    TB3 Member

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    Problems, snags and details mire arena negotiations
    AUGUST 17, 2000 Print it

    Rome wasn't built in a day, but you have to believe that if the Rockets and the Houston Sports Authority were doing the negotiating, the world would be minus a few architectural wonders.

    They'd still be haggling over "details."

    Yep, just when you think you've had enough, along comes even more arena-related, uh, problems, snags, or details.

    With hopes of pushing ahead on the arena deal, the Rockets gave in Tuesday to changes local judge Robert Eckels wanted in a downtown arena agreement, which he had outlined in a previous letter. Eckels and all others concerned discussed the matters during a conference call.

    The concerns Eckels cited were questions about renovations, taxes, a non-compete clause and issues surrounding the efforts to land an NHL team. The latter two obviously reflect Eckels' interest in keeping alive the possibility of building a hockey arena at the Astrodomain complex in the future.

    As far as renovations are concerned, the sports authority promised to use any "excess funds" to renovate the arena after its 15th year. Eckels voiced concerns as to whether this meant that the sports authority was bound to spend all extra money it collected -- beyond paying off baseball, football and arena bonds -- toward the renovations. Eckels was also concerned that such payments might extend the arena bonds beyond their 30-year term.

    This was clarified so that the sports authority had discretion on identifying excess funds so that the bonds would not be extended beyond 30 years.

    On the issue of taxes, Eckels was concerned that any unforeseen taxes that were placed on the arena would automatically be rebated to Rockets' owner Leslie Alexander, which is designed to dissuade a tax being placed on the arena. Eckels wanted the amount of any such tax rebate to be capped at the Rockets' rent payment, or $8.5 million a year. The Rockets agreed.

    The agreement included a broad non-compete clause that pretty much precluded the sports authority and city from financing or assisting a competing venue with 5,000 or more seats, which meant that the Rockets would have an exclusive playground in which to play.

    Eckels detailed his ideas: to exempt the county-owned Astrodomain complex, shorten the exemption from 30 years to 10, and for the Astrodomain to only extend 10 miles from the arena itself. Again, the Rockets agreed to all conditions.

    Which leads us to the NHL.

    Eckels wanted to protect the Astrodome complex in the event the county wanted to build a hockey rink and attract a team.

    Top negotiators from the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority, along with two downtown business leaders who support the arena, held a conference call with Eckels on Monday. This came after Eckels sent an inflammatory letter saying the team asked for too much in its negotiations for the publicly subsidized arena.

    Team officials said that meeting Eckels' demands was the only way to move forward with a plan to bring the $175 million arena measure before Houston voters.

    "It was a tough decision to make," said George Postolos, the Rockets' chief operating officer. "We did it for the simple reason that we want to stay in Houston."

    But Eckels, who was on vacation in Florida, did not immediately endorse the deal. Eckels' aides said he was unlikely to give his endorsement without seeing more documentation than the two-sentence letter faxed to his office that stated the Rockets were prepared to address his concerns "in the manner proposed by the sports authority."

    And, typical of the way things have been going in this arena issue, Rockets officials said there would be no more documentation on the issue until the definitive agreement was drafted, which would only happen if voters approved the deal.

    That concern is a "detail" that could be worked out, a team source said.

    "Since we solved his issues, we expect Judge Eckels to endorse the deal," said Ric Campo, chairman of the sports authority's finance committee and chief architect of the deal.

    Eckels is one of four key opinion leaders -- along with county Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt, NFL expansion team owner Bob McNair and Aeros (IHL) owner Chuck Watson -- whom the Rockets have said must support the agreement before they agree to call a referendum for the Nov. 7 election.

    All have had a copy of the 30-plus page letter of agreement since late July. Bettencourt has asked for more information on some points, but no one other than Eckels has publicly asked for specific changes.

    Campo seemed to draw a line Tuesday, saying there would be no more renegotiating the agreement with the Rockets, who sports authority members said "bent over backwards" to accommodate Eckels.

    "My view is that we're done making changes to the deal," Campo said. "It's time to bring it before voters."

    No, let's drag this thing out to even more ridiculous lengths.

    PLAYER ANALYSIS

    Hakeem Olajuwon, who is preparing for one last trip through the league, is vacationing in Jordan.

    Is he ready to play? And how will it pan out?

    Those types of questions are still to be determined.

    The Rockets are hoping to catch at least a few glimpses of the old Olajuwon -- some of the scoring, a bit of the rebounding and they hope much of the shotblocking that made him the NBA's all-time leader in that department.

    In short, the Rockets are hoping that Olajuwon can make the same transition that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did during his latter days with the Lakers. Jabbar was the always the focal point early (and late) in his career, a low-post scorer whose effectiveness was matched only by Wilt Chamberlain.

    But when the Lakers drafted Magic Johnson, things were destined to change. And Jabbar changed, too. Rather than being the hub of the offense, Jabbar became a secondary option, a trailer on the Lakers' vaunted fast break. But when they needed a basket, Jabbar still had the sky hook in his arsenal, which could deliver when necessary.

    The same could be true of Olajuwon.

    While they are busy handing the ball -- and the torch -- to Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, the Rockets are hoping that they can judiciously use Olajuwon's baseline spin moves ("The Dream Shake") to their advantage when they absolutely need a basket. That way, Olajuwon will be able to hold up throughout the season and perhaps compete against all the frontcourt-heavy teams in the Western Conference.

    WHAT'S NEXT

    After watching him do little more than yak all season long, the Rockets are still waiting to hear from free-agent power forward Maurice Taylor (6-9, 260), who is supposedly mulling offers to play in Houston or Seattle.

    Washington is the latest player in the Taylor sweepstakes (or meekstakes, considering the falling asking price), but their future cap problems are such that perhaps Taylor's children will be able to someday break the bank -- but he certainly won't.

    The Rockets are willing to offer Taylor the $2.25 million exception, even though he once entertained fantasies of a max-out windfall. But it seems as if the only wind was that being expelled from Taylor's lungs as he ranted almost daily about finally being freed from Clipper bondage.

    The Rockets will be under the cap next year, which means they would be able to fatten up Taylor's contract (should they choose to do so, that is).

    Should he want to commit himself to playing all aspects of the game, then Taylor would be a great addition, especially at that bargain price. He can score and he certainly has an NBA body.

    Despite his size, rebounding has been a question mark, and the Rockets are going to need him to crash the boards. And play defense. And pass the ball a little.

    One question is whether Taylor, who reportedly wants only a one-year deal, will be willing to play within the Rockets' team context rather than forcing things in an effort to fatten up his stats for a big score in next year's free-agent shopping spree, which won't be quite as top-heavy with stars.

    Like everything else with the Rockets these days, we'll have to kick back and wait and see how this plays out.


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