A Trip Down Memory Lane

Yes, we have 100s of Dream threads.

But now it's time to go back and look at loyalty. Back when the Raptors came knocking with #5, #12, an awesome defender, and a serviceable center for Hakeem. Loyalty prevailed.

<a href=http://www.chron.com/content/archive/qsearch.hts?operation=getdoc&database=2001%3B2000%3B1999%3B1998%3B1997%3B1996%3B1995%3B1994%3B1993%3B1992%3B1991%3B1990%3B1989%3B1988%3B19 87%3B1986%3B1985%3B&databases=2001%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1998%3B1998%3B1996%3B1996%3B&docid=66759&docids=3618%3B66759%3B472 30%3B44517%3B43964%3B34120%3B33827%3B33568%3B33566%3B33558%3B33557%3B15518%3B33704%3B24004%3B9460%3B9455%3B&query=Toronto+'Hakeem+Olajuwon'+'Doug+Christie'+NOT+3:RSEC&pos=5&numhits =25&start=&type=&user=houston&sview=1&hview=2&dview=1>Exhibit A</a>

1. "Naturally, I'd like to finish my career in Houston,"

2. "My responsibility is to do the best that I can and be very supportive of the Rockets, and regardless of what happens, I will always come back to Houston and be part of the city."

3. "I think the organization was looking at it from a business point of view, which is only a very small picture. If you look at the big picture, it wouldn't make any sense."


<a href=http://www.chron.com/content/archive/qsearch.hts?operation=getdoc&database=2001%3B2000%3B1999%3B1998%3B1997%3B1996%3B1995%3B1994%3B1993%3B1992%3B1991%3B1990%3B1989%3B1988%3B19 87%3B1986%3B1985%3B&databases=2001%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1998%3B1998%3B1996%3B1996%3B&docid=66759&docids=3618%3B66759%3B472 30%3B44517%3B43964%3B34120%3B33827%3B33568%3B33566%3B33558%3B33557%3B15518%3B33704%3B24004%3B9460%3B9455%3B&query=Toronto+'Hakeem+Olajuwon'+'Doug+Christie'+NOT+3:RSEC&pos=&numhits= 25&start=&type=&user=houston&sview=1&hview=2&dview=1>Exhibit B</a>

1. "I just don't like the idea of trading him," CD said Tuesday night.

<a href=http://www.chron.com/content/archive/qsearch.hts?operation=getdoc&database=2001%3B2000%3B1999%3B1998%3B1997%3B1996%3B1995%3B1994%3B1993%3B1992%3B1991%3B1990%3B1989%3B1988%3B19 87%3B1986%3B1985%3B&databases=2001%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1998%3B1998%3B1996%3B1996%3B&docid=66759&docids=3618%3B66759%3B472 30%3B44517%3B43964%3B34120%3B33827%3B33568%3B33566%3B33558%3B33557%3B15518%3B33704%3B24004%3B9460%3B9455%3B&query=Toronto+'Hakeem+Olajuwon'+'Doug+Christie'+NOT+3:RSEC&pos=6&numhits =25&start=&type=&user=houston&sview=1&hview=2&dview=1>Exhibit C</a>

1. "Any deal involving Hakeem Olajuwon would be very difficult for me to make, because I have an emotional tie to him," said Tomjanovich, who confirmed there had been trade talks. "That's just the way it is. That's just the way I am. I believe in (loyalty). . . . We've been through a lot together. I would hope that situation doesn't come along."

Olajuwon said he would have opposed a trade and was relieved it did not go through.

"It means a great deal to me to finish my career in Houston," he said. "It has been the whole story, from college to now, and it seems this is a right way for it to end."

<a href=http://www.chron.com/content/archive/qsearch.hts?operation=getdoc&database=2001%3B2000%3B1999%3B1998%3B1997%3B1996%3B1995%3B1994%3B1993%3B1992%3B1991%3B1990%3B1989%3B1988%3B19 87%3B1986%3B1985%3B&databases=2001%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1999%3B1998%3B1998%3B1996%3B1996%3B&docid=66759&docids=3618%3B66759%3B472 30%3B44517%3B43964%3B34120%3B33827%3B33568%3B33566%3B33558%3B33557%3B15518%3B33704%3B24004%3B9460%3B9455%3B&query=Toronto+'Hakeem+Olajuwon'+'Doug+Christie'+NOT+3:RSEC&pos=7&numhits =25&start=&type=&user=houston&sview=1&hview=2&dview=1>Exhibit D</a>

1. "There is an attachment," Olajuwon said. "I think it's an ideal situation. How many players get to go to college in one city, get drafted in that city, play 15 years of his career in that city, then be part of the group to bring the first championship to the city? When you look at all the things that have happened, it's all in the same city."

2. "When you have him as your mainstay, a guy of character like that, it makes things easier. For me, it's made my job so much easier to have a star like him. We came from a franchise that was just an also-ran, fair team to one of the models in this league, a place where people want to be. He's a very, very big reason that's happened."


Where have the years gone?

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"Larry Johnson, who spent the last 48 hours railing against the world, what a pathetic performance by this sad human being." -The one and only Bill Walton