What side would you have been on when Management accused Hakeem of Faking Injury

where's the poll pga?

 

Yes that was correct, I was at the Clippers game when Dream was in street clothes, got his autograph! woo!

Larry Smith was a hero, basically for today's fans, a Chuck Hayes like hero.

Damn the YOFs for hating on Larry Smith when he was an assistant. The irony is that Larry Smith limited Yao's minutes, later on the YOFs are complaining that Yao was playing too many minutes!

Can't have it both ways.

 

It would have all depended on how Hakeem's attitude went over with the fans at the time. If he was whining about his contract, pissing off management, and hadn't led the team to a championship yet... I'd wager there would have been a pretty big contingent of the Rockets faithful that wouldn't have looked the other way about it.

 

I trust the front office and the trainers because they know his injury and how fast it heals

 

this was in back in the day dude, if you could walk , you could play.

 

One of the best players in the world and Houston kind of a guy on one side and bad, mediocre team with management (that was responsible for mediocracy) on the other hand. How could you support management, actually? Management that wasn't able to trade Ralph before he finally ruined his career with injuries and management that was shouting about dynasty but... come on, how could you support Kevin MacHale and not Kevin Garnett in Minny's situation?

 

It was still relatively fresh in my mind when J R Richard was suspected of faking or exaggerating his injury (prior to his stroke), so I would have been (was) on Hakeem's side.

 

do you even know the real story behind this?

get your facts straight

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Sampson

Injured halfway into the 1986-87 season, Sampson fell out of favor with Rockets Coach Bill Fitch and was traded, along with guard Steve Harris, to the Golden State Warriors for Eric "Sleepy" Floyd and Joe Barry Carroll. But Sampson’s knee and back troubles worsened, and he never played a full slate in the next four seasons. He averaged 6.4 points and 5.0 rebounds with Golden State in 1988-89 and was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Jim Petersen.


http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1044550

Hakeem, Rockets trade threats
EDDIE SEFKO Staff
SUN 03/22/1992 HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Section Sports, Page 1, 3 STAR

Rockets general manager Steve Patterson and owner Charlie Thomas on Saturday accused Hakeem Olajuwon of feigning a hamstring injury to force the club to renegotiate his contract.

Patterson said the Rockets are considering suspending Olajuwon without pay for his actions and that the situation is serious enough to jeopardize Olajuwon's future with the Rockets.

Olajuwon was outraged that the Rockets "questioned my integrity." He said he would not play in his condition just to help Patterson save his job, adding he has no respect for Patterson and that the general manager is "stupid."

Olajuwon, a seven-time All-Star center, has missed two games -- losses at The Summit to Seattle and Sacramento -- because of what he says is a pulled left hamstring. Friday, the Rockets put Olajuwon through a magnetic resonance imaging test that revealed no tear, bleeding or swelling of the hamstring.

 

I would be on management's side, why? Because I know of a recording of the conversation, that led to Hakeem's suspension.

I am hazy, it was more than 20 years ago, but IIRC, Hakeem wanted a new deal, the Rox said no, and Hakeem said "Fine, then my leg hurts".....and sat out.

The Rox then had doctors look him over, and found him fit to play and suspended Hakeem for faking it.

Then the players union got in on it, heard the evidence and backed up managment, or rather didn't back Dream.

I have always believed Hakeem was faking it for a new contract.....it didn't work, and the team and he made up on that long plane trip to Japan, and the rest is history.

Sometimes players make mistakes, big deal.

DD

 

1. it's spelled mediocrity

2. Steve Patterson was the GM.

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=189862


Patterson chronology

1976-1983 -- Begins Rockets career as part-time worker in ticket sales and other areas.

1984 -- After earning a law degree from the University of Texas, joins his father, Rockets president and general manager Ray Patterson, in the front office as counsel to the president and marketing director.

1986 -- Takes control of the team's business operations, installing a computer system to handle ticketing, accounting and player personnel operations.

Feb. 12, 1989 -- After accepting Houston's bid coordinated by Patterson, NBA holds its All-Star Game at The Summit.

Sept. 11, 1989 -- Named at age 32 as the Rockets' general manager, succeeding his father in that role and becoming the youngest GM in the NBA.

Sept. 27, 1990 -- Acquires point guard Kenny Smith from Atlanta along with Roy Marble for Tim McCormick and John Lucas.

Feb. 21, 1990 -- Acquires starting guard Vernon Maxwell from San Antonio Spurs for an undisclosed amount of cash.

June 27, 1990 -- Trades the rights to Alec Kessler to Miami for the rights to Dave Jamerson and Carl Herrera.

July 2, 1990 -- Signs guard Sleepy Floyd to four-year contract; Floyd is released after the 1992-93 season.

Sept. 3, 1991 -- Negotiates three-year contract with top draft choice John Turner, who fails to stick with the Rockets.

Oct. 23, 1991 -- Signs Kenny Smith to five-year contract.

Feb. 18, 1992 -- Fires Rockets coach Don Chaney and names Rudy Tomjanovich as interim head coach.

March 23, 1992 -- Suspends center Hakeem Olajuwon without pay, claiming he has failed to play when physically able to do so. Olajuwon claims he is suffering from a hamstring injury and is unable to play, and suggests he is unsure if he wants to play for the Rockets if Patterson remains as general manager.

May 20, 1992 -- Names Tomjanovich as head coach.

June 24, 1992 -- Despite a chorus of boos from The Summit fans, makes the decision to draft forward Robert Horry, who goes on to become a productive forward in his rookie season.

March 15, 1993 -- Olajuwon signs a four-year extension with the Rockets worth $25.4 million that places him under contract with the team through 1999.

July 30, 1993 -- Rockets owner Charlie Thomas completes the sale of the team to businessman Les Alexander.

Aug. 30, 1993 -- Alexander fires Patterson as Rockets general manager.

 

I know the story, douchebag, but Rockets actually were mediocre team during the period from our trip to the finals and first Rudy's year

Hakeem was forced to play despite that McCray over Drexler decision, passing on ability to trade Sampson when he started to ruin etc. He was averaging what? smth around 40 pts per game in Dallas series and Rockets were still eliminated?

Both Pattersons ruined his career. He was on the Kareem and Wilt level, but this years in nowhere put him in the position when he can't be considered as the best center of all-time because of what he won before Les came as an owner. He was playing at that level but he wasn't able to achieve as much as he deserved because of management. He was the second best player in the game behind Michael that time and he was able to do whatever he wants. And all this managers should be proud or working near player of that caliber and they shouldn't start any complains about the situation. Jerry Crause was able to built a team for Michael, those guys weren't. So they should just stfo, because they should do their work better.

Kevin McHale and Kevin Garnett = Ray/Steve Patterson and Hakeem Olajuwon

 

Sorry pal,

I lived that era in Houston and went to the Summit to watch the games.

Hakeem was a different person back then before he rededicated himself to his religion and the grudge was solved by money.

Oh, he got resigned under Patterson's watch and the championship pieces were acquired by him.

You can call me whatever you want, but I'm posting real facts with links . You are posting what's coming out your pie hole.

 

Haha, you just need to stop b****ing

If your team has such talent and if it is mediocre for this number of years - it's all on management, anyway. Cause management always creates an opportunities, players and coaches should be able to convert them into the result. If they can't - you should change smth

 

that's how this world works. If you don't like it, you should go and screw yourself.

If you had a player of that talent, you should do whatever you can to contend. If you are unable to contend you are not doing your work well. It was different league, different times, but the goal was the same

 

The Rockets made the Finals in 86.

-Mitchell Wiggins and Lewis Lloyd were banned from the NBA for cocaine.
-Ralph Sampson who was an all star, got traded in 88 , less than 2 years from the the Finals

That's what happened. Management was dealt that card.

Besides, you didn't notice that Patterson RESIGNED HAKEEM. it was about money. He also acquired the talent that lead to the championship.

 

Not sure where I would stand, but I do know the bbs community would side with management.

 

PGA,

I'm going to give the articles so people don't get their facts mixed up.. feel free to add them to your original post.

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1992_1050549
Sports Spotlight:The Rockets/IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON/Offseason toil begins
ALAN TRUEX Staff

Spoiler

TUE 04/21/1992 HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Section Sports, Page 1, 2 STAR

Besides a lottery pick, there is at least one other advantage to the Rockets missing out on the NBA playoffs.

Steve Patterson, their 34-year-old general manager, gets a head start on what is expected to be one of the busiest offseasons in the club's history.

Sitting in his office at The Summit and hosting waves of media representatives, Patterson appeared congenial and confident Monday, even as he assessed a team that, by his admission, lacks leadership, character and a work ethic.

"I think the most-talented and veteran members of the team have an obligation to provide leadership," he said. "If they don't, you won't have a championship."

It is no secret Patterson was not pleased by the leadership of Hakeem Olajuwon, the team's superstar and co-captain. Patterson's celebrated rift with Olajuwon during the final month of the season set the stage for what promises to be a frenetic shopping spree this summer.

Olajuwon has asked to be traded, and Patterson said he has been approached by teams coveting the 7-0 center. But he said there have been no specific offers.

Aside from the Olajuwon matter, Patterson and Rockets owner Charlie Thomas must settle questions about the coaching staff and the composition of at least half the roster.

Rudy Tomjanovich, hired in February as interim head coach, would like to keep the job next season, but no decision on his retention has been reached.

Meanwhile, Buck Johnson, Matt Bullard, Carl Herrera, Avery Johnson, Tree Rollins and Larry Smith are free agents, with Smith unrestricted.

Smith's age, 34, and his lack of mobility after knee surgery last November are factors that might discourage the Rockets from trying to re-sign the hard-working rebounder.

Rollins, 36, a backup center, is almost certain to depart.

As for Olajuwon, Patterson has made no attempt to mend fences with the player he suspended March 23 for allegedly faking an injury.

"We haven't had any really substantive conversation in a month," Patterson said. "But that doesn't bother me. A general manager and a particular player do not have to have a warm, loving, familial relationship.

"I can remember when Michael Cooper called Jerry West every name in the book, and the Lakers still won three world championships."

Patterson also cited feuds between Detroit's Bill Laimbeer and Jack McCloskey and between Chicago's Michael Jordan and Jerry Krause as examples of organizations that won NBA championships despite battles between stars and management.

Asked if Olajuwon might play for the Rockets next season, Patterson said: "He has a contract with the Houston Rockets. I'm not going to speculate on what may happen."

But it seems safe to speculate Patterson will do all he can to trade Olajuwon, who Patterson thinks is far more interested in collecting paychecks than championship rings.

It has been Patterson's assertion that Olajuwon's claim of a hamstring injury last month was a ploy to force the renegotiation of a contract that has three more years to run, at an average salary of $3.4 million.

"Why didn't he go out and at least try to play?" Patterson said. "Shoot around, and if you can't play, then sit down."

By slapping Olajuwon with a five-game suspension (later reduced to three games), Patterson laid groundwork for suing the player for violating his contract. The team contends the contract provides for a $6 million penalty if Olajuwon tries to renegotiate it.

Patterson said his public disagreements with Olajuwon created a distraction for the team. But he said, "I think there's been a misconception . . . that if we had laid low and not made an issue of it, then somehow miraculously we would have made the playoffs."

Patterson believes Olajuwon would not have played the final few weeks of the season had the general manager not taken drastic action.

Asked if he had any regrets about his handling of the Olajuwon problem, Patterson answered with a firm, "No."

But he is looking more to the future than the past. He knows what he wants in a basketball club.

"You have to have character, you have to have intelligence, you have to have a work ethic, and you have to have skills," Patterson said. "We want to bring in those things."

Patterson suggested the Rockets this season fell short in character, intelligence and work ethic. He thinks they also could use better fundamental skills, which depend in part on his other three essential attributes for NBA success.

He agrees with most other observers that the Rockets are not the usual 42-40 team.

"This is a much more athletically gifted and talented group than the record would indicate," Patterson said.

Why the underachieving?

"I think there was an element that they won 52 games last year and they might not have to work," he said. "Sometimes, people start believing their press clippings."

Even after Tomjanovich replaced Don Chaney as coach, several Rockets were known for frequent late arrivals at practices and games. The team also was noted for softness on the court -- an unwillingness to battle for rebounds or to take a charge.

Is Tomjanovich -- like his predecessor Chaney -- too nice a guy to coach this team?

Or is this team, as presently constituted, uncoachable?

Patterson was guarded Monday in his praise of Tomjanovich, not wanting to make a commitment without the approval of Thomas, who has been trying for almost two years to sell the franchise.

"I think he did a good job in an awfully difficult situation," Patterson said of Tomjanovich.

The Rockets' coach said Monday: "I'm going to go on what Charlie decides. We expected to be preparing for a playoff game, and now this is happening. Right now, we'll just start working on the draft.

"I'm really not in the mood to talk about changes. But it will be a real working summer."

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1117400
Thomas makes Hakeem a Rocket until '99/Four-year, $25.4 million extension puts lid on turbulent era
EDDIE SEFKO Staff
TUE 03/16/1993 HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Section Sports, Page 3, 3 STAR Edition

Spoiler

Less than six months after Hakeem Olajuwon hurled insults like "coward" and "fool" at Charlie Thomas, the Rockets' owner finally threw something back at Olajuwon that speaks louder than words.

Money.

On a day that proved even the most strained relationships can be salvaged, Olajuwon on Monday signed a four-year contract extension worth $25.4 million. He is under contract with the Rockets until 1999.

Moments after the announcement, Olajuwon and Thomas wore smiles and shared a hug.

Who woulda thunk it? In October, nobody expected this union to make it through the winter. Olajuwon had demanded a trade, in addition to his other remarks. The Rockets had impugned Olajuwon's integrity by implying the All-Star center faked an injury.

Then, Monday, Thomas said it really wasn't all that bad.

"Kittsie (Thomas) has said a lot worse things than Hakeem did," Thomas said. "And we're still married."

So are Olajuwon and the Rockets. Everybody was joyous at the announcement of an agreement that had been reached about a month ago and had become public in the past week.

With Olajuwon scheduled to make almost $6 million in the next two seasons, his compensation for the next six years totals more than $31 million. The contract brings Olajuwon's salary in line with that of the other top NBA centers.

The extension includes a clause that allows Olajuwon to buy out of the contract after the 1996-97 season and become an unrestricted free agent. The extension escalates in value yearly, and sources said it would take a contract in excess of $8 million per season to coax Olajuwon to buy out the final two years of his deal with the Rockets.

"I've made my commitment," Thomas said. "But if the market changes drastically, that takes care of the situation. It gives Hakeem flexibility, which he hasn't had in previous deals.

"It's a good deal for both of us. I think it shows we're all committed to seeing this thing through."

It was indeed a day of commitment. Olajuwon is under contract until 1999; Thomas said the Rockets are for sale, but he is in no hurry to part with the franchise.

"When you're a car dealer, you never eliminate the possibility somebody might make you an offer you can't refuse," Thomas said. "But if I ever do sell the team, somebody will have to come to me with a cashier's check. They're going to lose something, too, if I'm going to lose something."

So, with Olajuwon content and the Rockets' 13-game winning streak, the future starts now.

"I'm just glad it's over," Olajuwon said. "Now, we can shoot for the championship."

That word was something that was tossed around freely Monday.

"We've got 4 1/2 years to win a championship," Thomas said. "I think we can win a championship. I'm not here to promise we will. But we're a contender. We've never been as deep as we are this year.

"Anything can happen. Injuries can happen. But I think we've proven that we can play with the best of them. We've got a legitimate shot to do something."

"It's a gigantic day in Rockets history," said coach Rudy Tomjanovich. "I'm happy for Hakeem. I'm happy for Charlie. But I'm really happy for me, because it makes my job a lot easier."

Olajuwon's agent, Leonard Armato, had a big hand in working out the details that will keep Olajuwon with the Rockets. He said the groundwork is in place to produce potentially huge dividends.

"Hakeem is very happy to be in Houston forever," Armato said. "Everybody feels like a family now, and good things happen in a family atmosphere."

Could that championship happen in this atmosphere? Only time will tell, but Monday's events were a step in the right direction. Almost as impressive as the contract was how much ground Olajuwon and the Rockets have covered in a year.

Last March, Olajuwon was embroiled in a dispute with Thomas and general manager Steve Patterson. Olajuwon said he had a hamstring injury. The Rockets' doctors cleared him to play, but an independent doctor detected Olajuwon was injured and advised him not to play.

The Rockets claimed Olajuwon was feigning the injury to expedite a contract extension. When the cloud lifted, Olajuwon had demanded a trade. On the Rockets' media day in October, Olajuwon unloaded. He called Thomas a coward for hiding behind Patterson and said the franchise was run by fools.

So how did the gap between Olajuwon's October surprise and Monday's extension get bridged?

"When you have two people as smart and business-minded as Charlie and Hakeem, you can find a way to make something work," Patterson said. "I don't ever say never. You go through different phases of relationships. It's like being married. Sometimes, families have squabbles."

Armato and Thomas were essential.

"The key to success was opening the lines of communication," Armato said. "Once we did that, things worked out pretty quickly."

The lines of communication were opened on the 13-hour flight to Japan for the season-opening games against Seattle. Olajuwon and Thomas sat together for several hours.

"The numbers on this contract are basically the same as we talked about on the plane flight to Japan," Thomas said.

He said dealing with Armato was a pleasant negotiating experience.

"He's the kind of fellow I'd like to buy a car from," Thomas said of Armato. "He sells quality merchandise. He does not deal in the bargain basement. We talked several times, and the deal came out exactly like we had talked about. I've made a friend in Leonard."

That the extension had been agreed upon a month ago would explain why Olajuwon hasn't seemed to be under pressure lately. He showed no signs of wear and tear. He has been phenomenal from the start of the season, averaging 25.2 points, 12.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocked shots and shooting 53 percent. But he has amassed those numbers without forcing his game on the club. He has been the consummate team player, averaging a career-high 3.3 assists .

"I thought about the extension three years ago," he said. "But this won't change me. It never distracted my play. I don't think I was broke before."

Olajuwon, 30, said he had not considered whether he will play beyond the life of this contract, which will end when he is 36.

"I'll worry about that then," he said.