Just wondering if anyone has heard on whether or not the Rockets are going to retire Sir Charles' #4? True he didnt win us a championship, but he was still a great player with the Rockets and we almost made it to play the Bulls in the 97 Finals (if it wasnt for one of the most annoying players in the league, John Stockton). ------------------ "Hakeem Olajuwon dusted my butt", Shaq regarding Hakeem's play in the 95 Finals
HHmm... Interesting. I would If I were one to decide, but there's a large possibility that his Number wont be retired as a Rocket. He spent 4 seasons with us, He had significant injuries in all of them. His game was a mere fraction of what it used to be. ------------------ Never Underestimate the Heart of a Champion
Retiring Barkley's jersey would be an insult to the players whose jerseys hang from the rafters. There is no way that Barkley belongs in the same group with Calvin Murphy and Rudy T in reference to his accomplishments as a Rocket. Also, throwing a man through a plate glass window, cussing at fans without regard for children in the audience (example that I heard from Barkley- "suck my c---"), and refusing to work out in the offseason don't make Barkley's case very strong at all. ------------------ I hate rice and beans!
I don't think Barkley's jersey should be retired by the Rockets because he just didn't get enough games in. Now if he hadn't been hurt in 98 and had helped us beat Utah in the first round... ------------------
barkley's jersey should not be retired because then webber will have to change his number next season ------------------
Until Elvin Hayes jersey is retired, no player not named Hakeem should be considered. ------------------
I guess it depends how you look at it. He is one of the greatest players of all time so I would say retire it. True he didn't do that much here but he still is one of the greatest of all times. If anything to thank him for taking 1 mil that year.. But i dunno.. I'm just kinda in favor of retiring it ------------------ Shane "Save Our Rockets" "Life without basketball in Houston........without an arena that is what it will be"
I think at some point it will be retired, like when he goes into the HOF. He played great here and although he wasn't here for a long time he did leave on good terms.
Nest should be Mike Newlin. Eight years of dog-like work. May not have made any all-star teams, but dude was the definition of a Rocket in the 1970s. Disrepspected, tough, hustle-player, smart, good guy. CBFC ------------------ Join the Chucky Brown Fan Club
What a man does off the court shouldn't have any bearing on what he does on the court. And just because he didn't "work out" in the off season, you want to ignore his Hall-of-Fame numbers!? And Jordan got into fist fights in practice all the time, and got caught up in a gambling scandal, and went out to Vegas right before big games, I guess Chicago should tear down his banner. As for retiring Charles number, I can see both sides to it. ------------------ "I'm not here to protect my reputation, I'm here to make my reputation! Mama Barkley didn't raise no chumps!" - Charles Barkley [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited June 06, 2001).]
RoxMillenium, CB4 didn't really put up those Hall-of-Fame numbers in Houston. He was a very good, if injured, forward. But did he really contribute much more than, say, Kevin Willis while he was here? Ralph Sampson had some very good years here, too, and his number isn't hanging from the rafters. CBFC, you think Newlin next over Robert Reid? OT? ------------------ Bingbong was set up, led to an untimely death in the prime of his life for no other reason than pure malice. Things like that do not go unavenged. Sometimes it spills out onto the field of play. [This message has been edited by SamCassell (edited June 06, 2001).]
You cant look just at the fact that no championships were won here by Charles. The fact is he is a future hall of famer, and one of the 50 greatest of all time. He wore the Rockets pajamas for 4 years and was consistently a good scorer and a great rebounder. I agree with Rocket Fan, if nothing else, for the unselfishness of taking the one million contract so that the Rockets could get Pippen (even though that was a miserable failure). How many NBA players do that for their team? ------------------ "Hakeem Olajuwon dusted my butt", Shaq regarding Hakeem's play in the 95 Finals
Players who should have their jerseys retired by the Rockets before Barkley- 1. John Egan (player and head coach) 2. Mike Newlin 3. Robert Reid 4. Ralph Sampson (went to finals, all-star MVP) 5. Kenny Smith- 2 rings with Rockets 6. Sam Cassell- See above 7. Robert Horry- See above 8. Mario Elie- See above ------------------ I hate rice and beans!
Other than Egan, I totally agree with the Beto_Lluvioso post, especially in spirit -- throwing a guy's number on the wall after a handful of mediocre years in our franchise is truly disrespectful to the people who gutted it out before him; guys like Kenny and Horry and Ralph and Newlin and even Vernon Maxwell made this franchise one worth playing for playing their doo-dads off for a handful of disinterested fans. Nowadays, they get little to no respect for helping cultivate Houston into a basketball town where someone like Barkley -- a deserved Hall of Famer, I admit -- could coast into retirement. Food World was essentially drinking Pina Coladas on the sideline, coming out to do a few windsprits, yell at refs and get revenge against his old teams. Should we retire Rick Barry's number also? The only one I think we should retire is Newlins, but if you are making a list of Rockets whose numbers deserve it before Barkley, I put most of those first. I bet Barkley would agree, he's an old schooler. He knows he was not great when he was here. He was good, but not "retire-his-number" great. He got his propers when he was here, more than he deserved, in fact. regards, CBFC PS. By the way, Barkley was way out of line in the last game of the Utah 1997 series. I don't know if anyone remembers it, but Food World was screaming at his teammates, especially old buddy Sedeale Threatt from the bench, "that was YOUR FAULT Sedeale, YOUR FAULT" when the Rockets went into total collapse. Bickering, finger pointing ... I was not into it. The personality of the 1997 Rockets was dependent on Barkley, and he folded as much as anyone in that Game 6. God Bless Him, but someone need to wear that number 4 for the Rockets again ASAP. ------------------ Join the Chucky Brown Fan Club
At least Barkley put in more years here than Clyde and he has his jersey retired. Sure, you can point out the championship Clyde helped win but does that mean Eric Riley is gonna have his retired, too?? Retire #4 now. Buck ------------------ I voted YES!
Beto: Obviously you have a problem with his character. he played longer than Clyde, and he is Charles, A SUPERSTAR. He had done alot of good, don't forget that. In his first year he brought us to our second highest winning percentage. He grabbed 33 boards in his first game. Old School: I agree with ya ------------------ A Chuck paraphrase: It was surreal! And I don't even know what that means! Charles after Eddie hit THE SHOT
How exactly did Chuck play here longer than Clyde? I mean, make your argument, but don't misstate the facts to do it. Chuck played 183 games in the Rockets' uni (plus 51 postseason), Clyde 201 (plus 25 postseason). They both put in 3 1/2 seasons (Clyde being traded to the team at midseason, and Charles effectively retiring 19 games into his final season). I suppose you could argue that he "played" that final season because he was on the disabled list and came back for the cameo appearance, but he really had little to do with the squad after his injury and didn't travel with them. Plus, Drexler is a hometown guy and Chuck is an Alabama product who still considers himself a Sixer at heart. ------------------ Bingbong was set up, led to an untimely death in the prime of his life for no other reason than pure malice. Things like that do not go unavenged. Sometimes it spills out onto the field of play.
The fact that Clyde Drexler played college in Houston and played a major role in winning the championship out of the 6th seed more than justifies his jersey being retired. I personally would like to have Barkley's jersey hanging, he gave us great memories and showed the organization nothing but respect, he took a pay cut to bring in Pippen and make the team better. I do however realize that Barry played a similar role (being a superstar player that was past prime), and he will not have a jersey hanging here. How would you want to remember Barkley? As the guy who gave his all to the Rockets even though he was slowing down or the guy who rammed Drexler's knee, threw people through windows (which I like, that sucker had it coming), and talked trash in the playoffs only to be beaten by Houston. Personally I say hang it up there. I wonder if Washington will retire it... ------------------ You've got your problems I've got my hash pipe...
I think there is no way you retire Sam, Elie, Smith.. I mean those aren't HOF players. Just because they won a championship doesn't matter that much. I'd rather go on talent. Lets give zan tabak retirement before charles?? Sam only played here 3 years.. Punish Charles because he didn't have a prime hakeem to carry him like cassell did? I see your point but sam cassell.. why would we retire a guy who didn't even start here.. but that is just my opinion ------------------ Shane "Save Our Rockets" "Life without basketball in Houston........without an arena that is what it will be" [This message has been edited by Rocket Fan (edited June 06, 2001).]
By the way the sixer at heart thing may be true.. but after he retired I saw barkley on rome etc say that he really wishes he would have played in houston his whole career.. because of waht the suns did to him.. and he feels the philly fans didn't see him as the player that he really was.. he has showed nothign but respect for our organization.. at least he didn' go running around to utah for money that year .. instead he accepted 1 million.. unlike mr hakeem who is chasing the cash ------------------ Shane "Save Our Rockets" "Life without basketball in Houston........without an arena that is what it will be"
