I know some of you out there are sick of positive upbeat threads. Before you dismiss this as just spitting in the wind think about for a moment how great it is that we get to see the Rockets go out there for one more game in the Toyota Center. This is a team that many pundits had predicted wouldn't make it to the playoffs when T-Mac shut it down and Alston was traded. Many pundits said would lose to the Blazers even with Yao and Deke. Then it was get swept by the Lakers, then lose in 5 but here we are with a 6th game and one more chance to go out and enjoy our Houston Rockets. I'm not going to spread false hope. The Lakers might deliver another smackdown on us. For as much as I detest them they are a great team led by one of the two best players in the NBA. Rather than worry about that lets enjoy that we can put on our Red shirts, Red hats and in some cases Red faces one more time this season. In times like these I like to think of the speech from Henry V before the battle of Agincourt. Henry's forces were greatly outnumbered by the French forces and victory seemed doubtful. Henry tells his troops, "We few. We happy few. We band of brothers. For he that shall stand with today shall be my brother." This is more than just a call to arms this is a call to the spirit that binds compatriots together in the face of adversity. Brotherhood. This year's Houston Rockets have shown us brotherhood. They have taken the vagueries of injuries, trades and the onslaught of the best of the best of the basketball world and are still standing for another game. We as fans aren't so priveliged as to stand on the court with the Rockets. We are only spectators to the battle but that doesn't mean that we aren't part of a brotherhood. The ancient Greeks looked to sports as the individual expression of their collective identity. While there was only a lone sprinter or wrestler facing an opponent that athelete carried with him the hopes and pride of a whole city. Then as now these weren't amateurs out solely for civic virtue but it is the drama of sport that makes us imbue into our teams our hope and pride. It is our tribal ritual that binds us together as more than just spectators but as a brotherhood of fans. So tonight as we get ready to cheer on our team once more I say it doesn't matter whether you are a Yao only Fan, T-mac only fan, or Artest only fan. It doesn't matter if you have been rooting for the Rockets since the days of Elvin Hayes or you only started watching the Rockets this year. It doesn't matter if you were born and raised in Houston or from anywhere else in the World. These are our Houston Rockets and we are fortunate to get to go and cheer for them for one more time this season. We will have lots of time to worry about who is and who isn't going to be on the team but tonight go and root on your team. To you I say: We few. We happy few. We band of brothers. For he that shall cheer with me today shall be my brother. GO ROCKETS!
Win or lose, I hope the crowd gives the guys a huge standing O at the end of this game. This team certainly deserves it.
No such thing as too many positive threads. We have a lot to be proud about with this group. Excellent post, very well stated. Go Rockets!
One more home game? Let's hope we have 4-7 more. That's what gets me -- I can guarantee you guys, the group in that locker room is going to be heartbroken if they lose one of these next two games. They expect to win both, and while I may not think it's likely, I do think it's possible. Yes, the Lakers kicked their ass Tuesday. So? The Rockets kicked their ass on Sunday. What's the big deal? It's two games of basketball. Hit a few shots, play solid D, and who knows? I just wish the fans would stop with the eulogy-writing/reflecting and instead talk about how this team can win this game. Trust me, that's what these players would want more than anything. Believe.
I would love to see more home games and am hoping there will be. This thread isn't meant to be a eulogy on the season but giving all of those who are already looking past the season or are feeling down about the Rockets a reason to stay positive. We don't need to worry about us not living up to expectations or look to ahead but just enjoy the moment.
I will be screaming my heart out tonight for a team that has given it all of thier heart. If we are down by 40 again, I will stay to the end and salute this team and hopefully other Rocket fans will join me. However, this will not be the case tonight, The Rockets will get the win and TC will be on fire with red loud Rocket fans Go Rockets!
I don't think there is anything wrong with upbeat threads... I'm always biased towards the Rockets, but even objectively I do think we have a good chance tonight. Game 7 will be tough, but you can't count a team like ours out.
I made a photoshop 2 years ago with that image with JVG's head and the Toyota Center in the background with the caption: THIS IS TOYOTA CENTAAAAAAA!!!! That's on another computer or else I would repost it.
