It feels like the Rockets sold their souls for those those two rings. If we were to get past the first round next year, it would be the second time in EIGHTEEN YEARS.
Lol. In every sport, every year 30+ teams fail to make the finals/win a championship. Get over it. Besides N.Y./L.A./Boston you can say every single city is "cursed" by some definition. And even those above cities have had their fair share of "cursed" teams. Talk to Knicks fans. Ask them how they feel about losing. Or perhaps Red Sox fans before the mid 2000's.
We were cursed with Adams in that he eventually spent somewhat freely on talent, but could never attract the best coaches after firing Phillips and promoting Ladd Herzeg, or maybe just didn't put much effort into it getting a CFL coordinator and some local college coach. I think Paul Hackett even gave some press quotes after interviewing there in the mid '80s complaining about their management style, same as Landry when he talked to Adams in '59. All the internal micromanagement and quick decisions that built his oil companies and kept the Oilers solvent early on (unlike the Jets and others) doesn't allow for the autonomy or goodwill that builds a system and acquires or retains good talent over the years it takes to build a winner. Don't know much about the Astros but it seems like the owners have never identified as a big market team, and the press has maybe telegraphs and rationalizes a lot of their failed re-signings beforehand, so they feel no pressure to change. One thing I do remember is Hunsicker's press conference at the league meetings after Clemens' agent asked for eight-figures on his second and third years, I don't think he enjoyed having to take that kind of fire OBO his boss and probably just had enough after losing Dotel and Beltran in '04. I guess having the best pitcher in team history ask for a top market raise at 40 years old, then watching him continue to play good ball for five more years, is a curse of sorts.
having a compliant local media with one major newspaper has to also play a role. in other towns sports franchises are under are lot more pressure and scrutiny to produce a winner
It's a two part equation. It's not how bad you are, but it's how you also lose when you get good. Cleveland has been kicked in the balls plenty. The browns in the 80s come to mind. The 97 Indians. Cavs in the 80s, early 90s and 2000s. Buffalo was good and went to four straight championship games. Their nhl team made it to the cup finals but lost it in a controversial goal. Seattle didn't win a championship since 79. They had some good mariners team in the mid 90s. Sonics were good. Seahawks were decent if I recall. But they're off the list now. Yeah, I'm going with Cleveland and buffalo. Only counting cities with at least two of the four major sports.
There aren't many bigger flops than Oilers-BUF and NC State. Let's not forget the obvious, the Rockets championships have an asterisk. Sure we earned and deserve them and they're great, but Jordan's retirement comes along with it. Rockets may very well have beaten CHI, but we'll never know and general consensus is we would've lost. Don't blame the messenger.
Sooooo do they not count? That is the argument I've never understood. Did the league just stop after MJ retired? MJ played in the '95 postseason (and played very well), did that mean nothing? That is 2 years of NBA history you are talking about. Dream was as dominant as you will ever see anyone. Nobody on Chicago would stand a chance against him.
The Stars won the Stanley Cup shortly after arriving to Dallas in 1999. The Mavericks won a fairly recent NBA ring. The Cowboys have multiple championships with the last one coming at the same time Houston had one. Also, Dallas was on the winning side of one of the most controversial NBA series ever, knocking out Houston and forever changing the McGrady/Yao legacy in Houston. If that's cursed, I think most towns would like to be cursed. There are 30 teams in every league. Winning is going to be very rare. But the way Houston sports flame out in the early rounds every year is appalling.
We're not cursed; we just don't really care if we win or lose. Houston has a very laid-back, friendly vibe. Money is easy to come by compared to other cities and it is extremely cheap to live here. That all adds up to a very 'full' mindset. And you can't be hungry if you're already full.
You're the messenger of a false idea that's been perpetuated for 20 years. Of course I am going to blame you. "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance." -MLK
We aren't cursed. We just convince ourselves that our professional sports team are better than they actually are. Which they are not.
Don't get me wrong. Of course they count.. and I'm very, very, very glad we won. Just saying it means less due to MJ's retirement. Rockets could very well have beaten them. We whopped CHI's butt during their 1st 3-peat. I really argue this 2 ways... With a Houston fan and With a non-Houston fan With a Houston fan... I'm harder on the team. Can't expect MJ to be true form after not playing for almost 2 years. To non-Houston fans... MJ played the 2nd year and had every opportunity to win. Lol
We all know why MJ retired, he knew he'd have nothing for Hakeem. Very convenient of him, dodging fights like Mayweather.
Not to be THAT GUY, but no one cares about any of this except the NBA chips. Hell, most of the teams mentioned don't even exist anymore. That being said, every city thinks it's cursed. We have definitely had some HISTORIC fails in our history, though (NC State, Buffalo, etc.). Not to be overly dramatic, but I really do think you can add that Lillard shot to this list. That was devastating. Heard on the radio this morning that there have only been 5 series-winning shots in NBA history....and 2 of the 5 have been against the Rockets.
