I know you weren't, im just informing ppl about what may have influenced him. O yea, he is a really pious follower of Islam. And the trip from Houston to Saudi/Nigeria is a lot further than Jordan to Saudi/nigeria....
It would have meant a lot to you, and me, and the rest of us long-time fans... but not to any of the Rockets. Rudy T was the LAST link to our past championship days... and Hakeem/Clyde would have only showed their faces if Rudy had been around. Think of it like your old High School or college (if you're old enough)... the first few years after you leave, you come back to visit a few times to see all the old teachers, and some underclassman, etc. But as time goes on, and the teachers change, and the students you once new there also leave, would you still want to go back? Even if you were the all-time best student there... you did not have ONE meaningful relationship with anybody still invovled... do you think you could still make a difference by showing your face? I know its sad, but its true. It also makes me feel old now thinking that Hakeem was from a past era...
If you know ANYTHING about Hakeem, you know he shuns the spotlight off the court. He is a VERY private guy and it should be no surprise to anyone he is not visible during the playoffs. Nevermind that he is living in Jordan.
Exactly, If i ever saw him at the mosque in houston, he was very low profile, rolled up in his old mercede's and just sat in a corner till the prayers. Kids asked for autographs and he used to say after prayers, then he signed autographs talked to some others and then used to leave... after a while he was just a part of the norm, but this was right before he got traded to Toronto.
FYI, Clyde was at Rockets game 4. There was a standing ovation for him at some point during the game. He was also signing autographs and tossing t-shirts pregame. They also played some highlights from his career on big screen.
Yeah, like the LAKERS who show up to their games, right? Well, none of our Rockets have tons of money from LOEWS' theatres or bombed late-night Talk Shows on the UPN...
I dont get it... "Originally posted by Austin70 I think thats where Amahd Rashad lived for a few years "
Thanks. I read up a bit on the topic and it was kind of sad. I'm sure Hakeem's finish in Toronto was disapointing for him since he retired after only one year of the three year deal. Rockets ended up saving maybe $1.5 million - there max exposure was about $4.5 million. Wonder if it was worth it for the team considering the loss of franchise continuity and loyalty. Hakeem is an icon - but his association with the Rockets seemed sullied by the way it ended. I get the feeling the community has lost interest in the team since Hakeem left - the stadium is sold out - sometimes - but never full - even game four of playoffs - less than 70% of suites were occupied - some EMPTY - and the court level had plenty of empty seats as well. Oh well - that's the past - just not as legendary as maybe it could have been. This threads near terminal - probably no one will read my fleeting thoughts so - i'm out.
Exactly - I can't blame Hakeem or Rudy for NEVER wanting to come back. Rudy hasn't been to a game all year, I don't think, and can't even watch them on tv. It's probably hard seeing someone else coach the team you sweat blood for for 30 years and not even do anything special with it.
If the Rockets had shown Hakeem even a shred of respect instead of trading him, he would probably still be involved with this team in some fashion. Instead of paying him a measly few million- as a reward for being, you know, the greatest player in Franchise history and all that- they saved some change and ruined the end of his career.
Exactly!!!!! They made Moochie "freaking" Norris a priority over Hakeem. They lowballed Hakeem to force him out to turn the team over to dumb and dumber. Rudy stopped drinking and became Santa Claus. Moochie had the nerve to "reluctantly" signed for 4.5M and the scrub tandem of Cato and Taylor combine for over 14 million dollars in salary. Unbelievable!!!
The way I remember, the opinion on this board was pretty split about Hakeem leaving. There certainly was no consensus that management was jerking him around - in fact I remember some pretty heated posts from people who thought Hakeem was overreaching with his salary demands. In fact, all you have to do is look at Hakeem's performance while playing for Toronto, which pretty much spoke for itself. Plainly, he should have retired a year or two sooner. As far as the contracts for Moochie, Cato, etc. - obviously management felt that they were investing in the future. You can argue all want in hindsight, but how many people really felt that these were horrible deals at the time?
Putting aside Rudy and Hakeem, it seems management never gave any serious consideration to hiring Mario Elie. That guy will be a heck of a head coach, knows all of our players (with the possible exception of Yao), and could've added some of the grit, determination and "heart" that Van Grumpy is lacking.
