HAKEEM'S MID-LIFE CRISIS

Remember Hakeem is a good business man.
And he knows how NBA business operations run. He is doing what is good for the Houston Rockets first, while maybe getting something for himself later.
He is not going to screw us. He is just increasing his exposure to other teams that may be ready to win now badly, and may make a bad decision instead of being patient.

He is just testing the market. Hakeem knows that big men have a voice in the NBA right now. He is just taking advantage of it even this late in his career!!!Ewing did it and now Hakeem would like to do it, but even better than Ewing.
Advantage: Houston loved Akeem at The University of Houston and they still and always will love Hakeem in the City of Houston!!

Hakeem and Ewing may not produce to many numbers, but they do change many shots!!Payton is finding this out as we speak with the addition of Ewing.

Things defensively are just a little easier, drives in the lane by the opposition don't always have to turn out to be a foul or easy layup.
With a defensive big man, they more often just miss the shot. The big men are very very valuable.

A part of me just likes the increased publicity that Houston is getting again.(It has been a while now, probably since the Mo T signing). Most of the time the news has been bad news, like injuries or Cato crying again and again about bumps and scratches.

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"Instinctly u recognize things,now take advantage of what u just recognized!".. Hakeem..

[This message has been edited by carlit0 (edited January 22, 2001).]

 

If he is having a midlife crisis, have him buy a damn sports car, get him a mistress, and that should cure everything.



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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

 

If Hakeem needs a mistress then he has more problems than we realized!

Is his wife even 25 yet?!



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I've never seen Hakeem's wife.

Anyone got a picture?

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My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.

 

Everyone now seems to be wanting to question Hakeem's loyalty and his devotion to the city of Houston and his fans. Why? You guys have to put yourselves in Hakeem's shoes for a moment to understand what it is he's going through.
Hakeem Olajuwon. The mention of his name used to strike fear in the hearts of opponents. Guards did not dare drive the lane, the ball was rarely kicked in to the man Hakeem was guarding, and NOBODY could stop "The Dream Shake." Dream scored at will, blocked anything that came from within the paint, and put gray hairs on the heads of opposing coaches. Few players have dominated both ends of the floor the way Hakeem Olajuwon has done over the course of his illustrious career. BUT . . .

Sooner or later, age and injuries stop the greatest of the great athletes. Retirement will, sooner or later, rear it's ugly head and consume all. Hakeem has found that he is no exception, as his knees and back have given him plenty of time off over the past three or four years. They have not only kept him out of the game, though, they have taken away the quickness and speed that made Hakeem the player he once was.

Hakeem Olajuwon is now a relic; a tribute to the good old days of Rockets basketball. His place on the team is an honorary one more than a pivotal key to the Rockets' success. As fans, we breathe a collective sigh of relief every time he makes it through a game without getting injured again. But - we also feel sorry and embarrassed for the gentle giant who was once the holy terror of the NBA.

When Hakeem announced in pre-season that he felt he could play a couple of more years, I was shocked. I felt he was deluding himself. When he came back from the IR last season he looked like death warmed over; like he might not make it to the end of the season. I thought Rudy should take him aside and tell him in a nice way: "It's over, old friend." The thought of him trying to limp through 2 more years was nauseating at best. Then the season started.

Hakeem was taking new medication and it was keeping his asthma under control. He was actually running the floor, blocking shots, and had his jumper going. He still couldn't jump over a credit card (he missed some embarrassing wide open dunks), but at least he was productive and getting us the rebounds that were so desperately needed. He even had a big game against Shaq. But old man injury was not gone, just taking a breather. Soon Hakeem developed swelling in his knee and found himself on the IR again.

While all of these injuries were pre-occupying Hakeem, a new kid came to town. The Rockets, no longer a dominant front court team, were forced to adjust the offense to a guard-oriented game with Steve Francis as the focus. Steve thrived in his role as the leader of the team and got the attention of the whole league. Hakeem's absence made it easy for Steve to develop his own game and absolutely necessary for Rudy to change the whole focus of the team to utilize Stevie's skills. Steve Francis became "The Franchise," and Hakeem was all but forgotten.

Now, when Hakeem makes his brief appearances from the IR, he thinks he is still The Man. He still looks and feels the same, but his body has suffered greatly and his abilities have eroded away. Hakeem is almost in the way on this new Rockets team and it is hard for him to accept. As a result, The Dream wants to be traded. He wants to go somewhere where he has a chance to win and a chance to play. He doesn't realize that if he were healthy he would have a role right here in Houston and could play all he wants. His role, however, would be considerably changed from his classic role - BECAUSE HE CAN'T DO IT ANY MORE!!!!

Hakeem's mid-life crisis may or may not land him on another team. Carroll Dawson has said repeatedly that he is not willing to trade him. It is a bad move for PR and it is a bad move from a business standpoint, as well. To trade away Hakeem's salary slot (even if a team were wiling to give up enough to get him) would sabotage the plans the Rockets have for free agency this summer. They would be lucky to even keep Shandon, much less keep Mo Taylor or bring in a center who can actually play 35 minutes a game. Right now the only thing the Rockets need is a defensive center who can rebound and block shots. Trading Hakeem would ruin any chance to getting a player like that this summer, and it will not happen.

It's sad that it has come down to this. Hakeem has always been my favorite player and my role model because of the things he has stood for and the way he has conducted himself. This denial he is going through is sad and it is changing my own view of who he is. Try to remember, though, he is having to accept that he is no longer the best center in the NBA. He is a skeleton trying desperately to re-grow his skin. We should be patient as he deals with this in the best way he can.

http://www.bskball.com/houspge.htm

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"Instinctly u recognize things,now take advantage of what u just recognized!".. Hakeem..