Don't know where this thread belongs. Mods, please move if necessary. Its odd. I'm happy with my job. Just had 2nd child. Life is pretty good. Yet news and commentary about the Rockets is irreplaceable and oddly makes me happy in a unique way. I think its the fact that basketball captures my imagination. I can't believe the trade for Kirk Snyder has occupied this much of my attention and actually puts a smile on my face. Tonight, at dinner, my wife asked me why I had a smile on my face. When I said it was because the Rockets made a good trade, she thought it was ridiculous but was happy for me. I think this phenomenon is exacerbated by the fact that the Astros are sucking it, the Texans are hopeless and college football is months away. Anybody out there know what I'm talking about? I think I'm going to go put in the Cluch City DVD's.
I think on some deep level, we all feel the same way... well at least the hardcore fans do. Rocket Love, baby. It's what causes us to pain when things go wrong, and it's what causes us joy when things go well, even when it's small.
Yes. Baseball is America's pastime, football is our most popular sport, and there has been growing interest in NASCAR, golf, and soccer in the U.S. However, to me, nothing tops the excitement of basketball. It's the one sport among the 4 majors that you can go out and play by yourself when you feel like it. It's the closed-in atmosphere within an arena where the front-row fans are closer to the action than any other major sport. It's populated by comparatively giant human beings, so there is the "larger-than-life" aspect. And, on a personal note, it's a sport that has brought us from Houston the only major championship we've ever experienced. Remember all the clippings you saved from 1994 and 1995? The basketball cards they gave out at the games? The "We Believe" and "Back-2-Back" banners? Being able to buy championship T-shirts at 12:00 A.M.? Driving down Richmond with 4 people hanging out of your car, using the championship celebration as an ideal opportunity to meet women? (well, maybe not everyone). Losing your crappy job because your break was between 2:30 and 3:30 and you chose to drink beer and watch the Rockets beat Utah in Game 5 at SRO rather than go back to work? (it was worth it). Whenever I look back at the '90s, that was the pinnacle. Right in the middle of the decade. Celebrated a Finals berth in 1986, a previous year's championship in 1996, and a soon-to-be Finals appearance a few years after 2006. Basketball rules!
The true fans feel the same way. Just tonight I had to turn the Astros off and go to the mall for a walk, its what I do instead of blow up. I have a great job and family, nice things in life and good health but when it comes to the Roxs,Stros, and Texans, there is no cure for that feeling you get everytime they lose. You can tell yourself a hundred times "its just a game and they don't even no you !!" but its not just a game, it's A WAY of LIFE !!
Same here man, there is nothing that I enjoy more or consumes me more than basketball. I am a huge Rockets fan as many of you are, but am an even bigger basketball fan. I love the sport like no other. There's nothing that's as entertaining or worthy of wasting a few hours on as basketball is. I love the sport, and I love the Rockets. It's definitely a commitment, almost like a relationship...
It sometimes gets so bad that I don't read the sports page when the Rockets are going bad because I don't want to be in a bad mood to start the day. And if I do read the paper, I'm generally careful not to read the story on the Rockets. I had to watch the loss, no sense in reliving it. Just the opposite when we win. I wake up happy, get my coffee and breakfast ready, go out to get the paper. I try not to rush reading the paper and if I know I'll be interrupted, I'll actually wait to read it. It's like being a kid again - savoring the piece of candy or cake. When I get around to reading it, I usually read the story twice, just to make sure I haven't missed anything. Silly, isn't it?
I've been feeling the same way for some time now. My mood almost exclusively depends on how the Rockets are doing, and my optimism for my own life is often reflectant upon my optimism for the team. I think what it is is that the Rockets will never leave us. We get hired and fired from jobs; we go through an assortment of relationships, in which all fail until we enter the honored realm of marriage; friends come and go. But the Rockets are always here. We can always count on them to provide an escape from the dreaded measures that life often deems upon us. The team completes us. We place all our faith and hope because we know that, no matter how good or bad they do through each season, they'll always be there the next year. We can rely upon them. And when the Rockets improve themselves year in and year out, we see that improvement and the betterment of one's being IS indeed possible. It's not just a facetious account to otherwise manipulate the rugged bearings of our lives. And the reason why we complain, boast, whine, laugh, cry and take sheer enjoyment in the transactions of a mere sports team is because we CARE. We care about a team that many of us have abided by through years and years of our own lives. We're not greedy or obnoxious. We just care, simply because the things we do care about in life can, likely, all be counted for on one hand. How many things of life do you care as much for as you did 12 years ago? Hell, even 25 years ago, when the Rockets made their first appearance in an NBA championship round? This is the magic of sports. The team's players and coaches come and go, some leave us with everlasting memories while others are everyday scapegoats of discussion on this board, but the team transcends us. The Rockets ARE us. They define and embody us unlike anything else outside of our families and, for some, our jobs. It's because the Rockets became NBA champions in 1994, and from that day on, we knew it was possible that, someday, someway, we could and would become champions as well.
Go ruin somebody elses thread you jackwad I'm with ya Rileydog, I guess thats the life of a true sports fan. GO ROCKETS!!!
03, if you can't stand "warm and fuzzy", get the heck out of the warm and fuzzy thread!!! Thanks for expressing my Rockets feelings so elloquently for me. By the way, what part of Taiwan are you from?
I'm 33 and I have been in love with the Rockets since 1980. I, too, get the questions from my wife about why I'm so happy....but she gets it. Her life is more focused on the kids though. She's on some "I wish I could follow the league like you do", but we go to games and have a blast.... Regardless of bad trades, f-up playoffs, etc...I bleed rockets red for life....My dad was the same way with the Oilers...until they moved...
Not happy. Battier for Swift and Gay. Losing Mike James to the T-Wolves. Not sure what to think of Kirk Snyder. Hopefully he pans out, but I can't say that signing him made me happy. More like at least we added one young, athletic player. I love the Rox, but I find it hard to be happy with the team right now unless you're a complete homer. Lost Gay, James, Wesley. Gained Snyder and Battier.
My emotions also rise and fall with the Rockets. My wife also tries to be happy for me when we're doing good, but she doesn't really understand the fuss. when we're losing or whatever and i'm pissed she gets annoyed at me for letting such a "stupid" thing affect my mood. Women just don't get it friends.
Dude, that's the point of the thread ...we are COMPLETE HOMERS. That's why we are here. Mike James? Blah ...life will go on. Woulda been nice but he's a jerk anyway. Gay/Swift for Battier? Initially sounds bad but it might actually work out in our favor in the end so there is no reason, IMO, to be so upset about it. 2 years from now is the proper time to analyze this trade ...not now. Snyder ...he seems primed for a breakout. I'm optimistic ...esp for the price. Here is a reason to be in a better mood: If Yao and/or TMac can have a monster MVP type of season, which they are both capable of, our role players become less and less important and we can vie for a championship. 1994 Hakeem was surrounded by what ANYBODY would have called a scrub the year before and Dream carried that team on his back. It can happen again. I BELEIVE CD still has more moves to make. So far Battier and Snyder were outta left field moves. Previously the 1st Mike James trade, Rafer Alston, Jon Barry, David Wesley trades were all outta left field moves. I'm sure CD has a couple more surprises for us. So yes, I'm a Homer and proud of it. Regardless of who is on the team this season, I can't wait and I'm optimistic that we'll be a contender! Maybe we won't be competing for homecourt advantage but come playoff time, we'll have the squad that can compete with anybody!!! Go Rockets.
Yeah, I agree been a Rockets fan since 85 when Akeem punched out Billy Paultz. That was too funny. Then the next year with J-Luc we beat the Boxton bastards with or without Bird. Haha! We have gone some time without contending for the title and hope always springs eternal. I think T-Mac has something to prove not only to the fans but to himself. If he can start bringing the fire with him on the court, that will translate in the team as a whole bringing up their intensity. Bottom line, this team to seriously compete MUST average 94 to 96 ppg. With the new hand-checking rules, it is going to be rare i think that a team will be held down under 80 ppg plus the talent as a whole is improving. D-Wade, Lebron, and maybe some of these rooks (Bargani, Morrison, Roy (unfortunately, not ours) and possibly, JJ Reddick). That all being said, potentially the Rox have the best center in the league should Yao continue his climb to improvement that he did after 1st injury last season. I believe T-Mac is going to bring it. I believe Novak is going to shock some people in a good way. Definitely upgrades our perimeter shooting. Battier adds some intangibles and Snyder oh man, a world of potential. It could definitely be a whole lot worse. Ok, I admit it I am a die-hard rockets fan. Lets go with the season and go kick some ass!
Yeah I got you on that one! I mean it would look really weird if we all cheered each other up with a quilting circle or went on a shopaholic run. Men hunt, fish and or play sports. Asking us to be sensitive just isnt in our DNA. I think thats why frying pans we're invented. LOL. I mean we can try but mostly we will fall short of expectations in that regard. Sorry ladies.
Made in Taiwan; exported to Houston when I was 5. all of kid life and working adult life in Houston. college in Austin. I have spent an inordinante amount of time thinking about Rockets related stuff in my life. I remember when the bust hit Houston in the 80's and families, like mine, hit hard times. All parents were worried and in bad moods about finances. But I could always talk to my Dad about the rockets. at least 5 to 10 good minutes every day. Asian dad's don't talk much, so the rockets gave me a lot.
