for just a moment, I'd like to detach from thinking about what is best for the rockets' on-court chances the next few years. is anyone else as bummed as I am to see the way hakeem's reputation has fallen? during the championship years, the guy was as noble and honorable and heroic as any athlete I can remember. now, we all take [deserved] shots at him for his fickleness and chumpish handling of his exit from basketball. I think I'm in the minority with this opinion, but I want the rockets to do whatever they have to do to allow hakeem to retire as a rocket. I know it hurts the rockets on the court, but to me, this goes beyond the court. we all know what it is like to experience winning a championship. it's the greatest feeling in the world, but I don't think that, if and when we win another one, that it will even feel as good. maybe I'm wrong about that, who knows. . . on the other hand, we only have one opportunity to see hakeem retire as a rocket. if he goes and plays for any other team for any amount of time, that chance is gone forever. we would lose that just like we lost it with earl and nolan. anyway, that's a bit of a tangent. the truly sucky part is that, even if the rockets do bend over backwards to re-sign hakeem, he has still been kind of the bad guy in this situation. he's being selfish, and I hate seeing it. he hardly seems like the same person from the good years. why do the great ones outstay their welcome? my 2 cents. ------------------ houston rockets = 2 utah jazz = 0
I am very dissapointed with Hakeem at the moment I must admit it. People say they don't want Webber because he doesn't seem interested in coming here and we should concentrate our efforts on Hakeem, but I don't think he sounds more interested than Webber. His whole attiude in interwievs an during last was childish in my mind. Hakkem could actually be a menace to the locker room nvironment if he doesn't change his ways. ------------------
Hakeem's reputation is only tarnished in places like the BBS where people often mistake rumors for facts. To the average fan, Hakeem is still Hakeem. To the average fan, basketball season is over and focus has shifted to some other sport or activity. Turn on talk radio for a second -- do you ever hear one word about all this crap? ------------------ "I guess that's YOUR theory"
Also, outside of the BBS, Dream is NOT seen as a deity or royalty, that can somehow "tarnish" his holy & golden image. ------------------ www.expage.com/saveourunis
The average fan doesn't have access to the information posted on this BBS. They have no idea who is playing in the summer leagues or even who Dan Langhi is. There is no doubt that Hakeem is playing games with the Rockets in order to get what he wants (money, PT, multiyear deal, etc). ------------------
My problem with Hakeem isn't that he is considering leaving, or that he feels he is worth more than $4-5 mil. I just wish he had been honest with the Rockets last February and let them know that he wanted $10 mil or he was going to leave. At least then we might have had a chance to trade him to a contender (Phoenix?) and get something in return. If New York can get Glen Rice for Ewing, we could have got something useful for Hakeem. But now, here we are, unable to resign our other free agents, waiting for Hakeem and his agent to play their little negotiating games while Moochie is getting wooed by Cuban, Mo-T is starting to long for Detroit, and Marc Jackson cannot even be offered a contract. If Hakeem knew he wasn't going to sign for what the Rockets had to offer, he should have been upfront about it rather than hold the entire organization hostage by tying thier hands during such a crucial stage of the offseason. Who would have ever thought he and David Robinson actually had so much in common? ------------------
If we didn't promote the NBA as "just business" maybe it wouldn't be treated that way from the players. Its not about winning anymore, it's about making the most cash. Much like most of our jobs. I try to get the best deal for me, not whats best for my company. Hakeem is a business man. He is making millions on the side. It's all about greed! And thats what disgust me the most. That extra 5 million could bring in another player, but instead, he wants it for himself! Not like he would miss it. This is why I am for a hard cap. Bring back the team play. ------------------ "Bada Bing!"
ZRB you rock. "Oh sure, I'll give up an extra few million so you can give it to some other player! Oh no problem! Yeah Cato is at $7 mil, so I should be worth at least $4.5! Hey, I feel so well respected. I love you!' - Rockatubby ------------------
"The average fan doesn't have access to this information." Well no s***! That's kinda the point I'm making. The thread was about Hakeem's "reputation", right? Your reputation is determined by what people think of you, right? If people don't have access to certain information, wouldn't that affect how they think of you? And what "information" have we been given access to on the Hakeem front that the general public has not? I'm waiting. ------------------ "I guess that's YOUR theory"
I'm with you. The last time I checked Computers and Internet access was available in the most rural of areas in these the Undited States. The only diference between this BBS and the avg set of fans is the interest level. I love Basketball as do the rest of the posters on this board. It is that love that has turned us into basketball geeks and maybe more to the point Rockets Geeks. The avg fan has no real interest in the happenings of all this Hakeem crap until the media puts it on the front page. We know about it usually before the media. To me thats kind of cool. But the avg fan certainly has the same access as me. ------------------
We (BBSers) however check in on a regular basis to find out what is happening in the world of basketball, especially Rockets basketball. This BBS has submissions from basketball fans all over the world. We have reports about the summer league within hours of the game, reports of people talking to players, fans submitting links to new stories about trades/changes/etc, and people who have sources from who knows where on this BBS. Therefore since we are frequent visitors of this site we have access to more information than most average fans. Its public information to anyone who makes the effort to get it, but most average fans as you said have moved their focus to other sports during the offseason. ------------------
Well, maybe I have a little more "distance" than you... I can´t understand Dream. It´s ridiculous. I think of him as a team player...how can he hurt HIS team only because of $10 million. He has lost quite a lot of his exellent reputation. ------------------ What do you expect from someone who beats up his fiancee?
Yeah. I'm sure all of you would just "take one for the team". You guys are all so perfect, and Hakeem is "letting you down". Give me a break. There is a big difference between 8 million and 4 million. No matter how much money you had, I bet every single one of you would try your hardest to get the 8 million. What you are doing is putting yourselves on a higher plane than Hakeem. Well, who the hell are you to judge his business decisions? ------------------ Protrolls.com! "I want to be like Olajon." -Sagana Diop has the right idea... Keep the ???? alive!
If I were in his shoes I would retire. With all his other investments money isn't an issue and he has already established a legendary career. Another year or two will do nothing but diminish what he has accomplished. His salary demands also hurts the organization that he has played for his entire career. ------------------
Man you foo' stop talkin that jibba jabba -- the average fan may not care about Hakeem now -- but if he does not re-sign - the whole thing will come out and it will be a helluva mess ------------------ "I find that the harder I work... the more luck I have" -- Thomas Jefferson "Weezie !!" -- George Jefferson [This message has been edited by Mr. T (edited July 17, 2001).]
Well Freak, people don't have access to the information we have. Just because the BBS has access to the information that the common fan doesn't have, it means it didn't happen!? That's why the BBS is all over Dream, they have heard more about what is going on then the average fan. ------------------ "Instruments are like women: After a while, you want to make love to another." - Nicolas Godin of the musical duo Air
Actually what people are upset about is the fact that Dream says he wants the Rockets to re-sign all of their free agents, and then is asking for money that could severely hamper that. I'm not asking him to "take one for the team", or that "I'm perfect", I'm saying the Rockets should move on and get younger if they can't afford Hakeem Olajuwon. This is about building for the future and trying to win, not making Hakeem happy. ------------------ "Instruments are like women: After a while, you want to make love to another." - Nicolas Godin of the musical duo Air
