My first clear Rockets memory is getting excited about an athletic rookie named Robert Horry mid-way through the 92-93 season. Everyone was trying to convince him to enter the slam dunk contest, especially after he had this "second chance slam" where he missed the dunk and then caught the rebound with one hand and put it back in. I was mostly a Jordan and Chicago Bulls fan before that, but the Rockets were starting to get really good in 1992 also, so it was hard not to pay attention.
The Hakeem and Shaq Taco Bell commercial introducing the brand new double decker!! and i still get that taco to this day!!!
The Punch.. I was just out of high school, I was gonna get Kermit back. I had been a big Oiler fan. We all know how that turned out. I was hooked on the Rockets after that.
I remember watching Stevie Franchise in awe as he balled in his hideous blue pinstripe pajama uniform. As far as my first SPECIFIC memory it was when we played the Lakers in the 2004 playoffs. I remember Boki Nachbar and Karl Malone getting into it. That got me so pumped. <iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fsaqR6EO-lI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> BALLIN Even though we lost in five games, I really enjoyed the series and went insane when we won game three. It was my first real taste of what it felt like to live and die with a team. I was born in 1993.
Watching a rookie Ralph Sampson on my Sony Betamax with a 3 functioned wired remote. I worked at nights and went to school during the day so that was the only way I could catch most of the Rocket games. Loved Lew's "Dipsy Doodle". Allen Leavell played out of control all the time - drive into the lane with no shot or anyone to pass to as the D collapsed on him and then throw up junk hoping/praying it would go in as he fell out of bounds. {sigh...face palm} That was the last year of the: "We'll this year is gone. Let's lose all the games we can so that we can pick #1 next year." We had more determination to lose more games than anyone else - well besides Portland. Portland matched our Ls but the coin flip fell our way. Welcome Akeem - after a heatbreaking loss to NC State. Worst. Loss. Ever. Blame Guy Lewis for that one.
I was at some church event in 1981 (8 years old), and I thought it was weird that all the men had gathered off in one room to watch a TV. My dad explained to me that the Rockets were playing in the finals against the Celtics and how amazing it was that they had made it that far.
Rudy T I went to Little Red School House with Tre Tomjanovic from 1st- 3rd grade. I had many opportunities to meet Rudy. I think that around 1st grade was when he just started coaching.
going to rockets games back in the compaq center and going around after the games and getting autographs.
LOL. It's a small world. I was in middle school at Redbridge School (1989-1991) when Trey Tomjanovich was at LRSH. I think that was just before Rudy became the Rockets head coach, so I didn't even know who he was until later. I think Purvis Short's son went to Little Red Schoolhouse also.
I didn't grow up in a sports household so my first memory was watching the finals vs. the Celtics at a friend's house, it was the game Ralph got ejected from and ended up dropping all the expletives on national tv, after that my memories are mostly of the playoffs with Dream leading the way. The inability to get over the Sonics hump followed by the great start to the first championship season 15-0 (I think little fuzzy on whther this was actually the right year or number of wins to start the season, could be wrong) And then of course the championship years. Hakeem and a bunch of role players the first year and the improbable run through everyone with Clyde. It's memories like these that will probably always make me a Rocket fan first, well that and having my heart ripped out when the Oilers left town.
I think early '91 when the Rockets were on a hot streak with Dream out with that broken eye socket. Dream came back and we went to win 13 in a row. I especially remember a lot of hype when the Rockets played at Chicago since people were wondering how Dream would react to the Cartwright elbow. Rockets had also won 12 in a row and the Bulls had a 26(?) game undefeated streak at home. Suffice to say, the Rockets just dismantled the Bulls that night.
oh yah.. and i didn't hate anything as a child.. until i saw Seattle play...gosh i still hate Kemp and GP.... and that "Shrimp" fellow LOL...... oh and the Utah j*zz