thay just sed on houston nbc that dream will have a Press conference today at 6:00 ------------------
Maybe he'll talk about his new recipe for Clam Chowder ------------------ (===) [This message has been edited by Achebe (edited March 15, 2001).]
You know, it would be nice to think that Hakeem might give out some important information at this press conference, like a decisive answer as to whether or not he will retire, and whether or not he wants to play for the Rockets next season, but you know he won't... Basically he will say, "I want to keep my options open. I would like to play next season if I can. I love the Rockets and always will, but I will keep my options open. If Charles Barkley wants to come back and play, that is fine. Did I mention I would like to keep my options open?" Etc... I love the guy, but he never seems to give a straight answer to questions from the media concerning retirement and the future. ------------------ "all your base are belong to us!" "you have no chance to survive make your time!"
http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2001/0315/1155426.html Olajuwon will speak before Thursday's game -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press Olajuwon HOUSTON – With doctors insisting it's the medication and not the ailment that will keep Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon out of action for the remainder of this season, the question is where or if Olajuwon will play next year. Olajuwon, the greatest player in Rockets history and the NBA's all-time leader in blocks, is through for this year, his 16th season in the league, sidelined by a blood circulation disorder in a vein in his lower left leg. He was expected to address his medical problem and his future preceding tonight's Rockets' game against New Jersey. His comments would be his first in public since it was disclosed Tuesday that his season had ended. Olajuwon, who grew up playing soccer in his native Nigeria and took up basketball at the University of Houston, redefined the center position in the NBA with his spin moves and athleticism and led the Rockets to a pair of championships in the mid 1990s. His contract, which pays him $16.5 million this year, expires with the end of the season and it was unlikely the Rockets would offer him, at 38, another similarly lucrative deal to return although his play had improved tremendously in weeks preceding disclosure of his ailment. A week ago, he left a game in Atlanta with what was described as a calf problem. Doctors isolated the blood disorder Monday and prescribed a blood thinner called coumadin. The medication, however, raises the possibility of hemorrhaging if he gets banged around on the court so doctors have refused to clear him to play. Olajuwon, the overall top pick in the 1984 draft, was the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 1994, when he became the only player to ever win honors as MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and MVP of the NBA Finals. He is the Rockets' all-time leader in nearly all categories, including games, points, free throws, rebounds, steals and minutes. Olajuwon averaged 11.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.55 blocks in 49 games this year. Last week he scored a season-high 27 points at Dallas and in a game last month had 20 rebounds against Washington. For his career, he has averaged 23 points and nearly 12 rebounds per game. In the playoffs, his average is almost 27 points and more than 11 rebounds. ------------------ "Repression never did me any harm (I finally ceased to include "stop masturbating" as one of my guilt ridden New Year's resolutions, but that's a different topic)." Achebe - programmer by day, Mrs Palmers Husband by night
He said he DOES want to come back and play once he is well next year. ------------------ Note: It was my cowhead. I started the cowhead craze, and my cowhead inspired Mooch to step up and bring us a victory. Thank you for your time.
Dream said he was feeling great and that he wanted to clear the air that it was nothing major and no one should worry. Dream will wait till after this year to make his decision about playing next year and beyond. But it sounded like he definitely will be back in some capacity, if it is with Houston or someone else. He wants to make sure he will be completely healthy, but this should not affect his decision, since they really don't think that this will hurt him.
rock on dream. play another five years if you want. Remember the last time Houston let a supposedly 'over the hill' icon with some health concerns go? I'd hate to see Hakeem go into the Hall of Fame wearing some other (incidentally, more attractive) jersey. Go ahead and laugh if you want, that's what people were doing when Nolan left. ------------------
From cnnsi.com HOUSTON (AP) -- Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon, his season ended prematurely by a blood disorder, said his health would determine if he returns to the NBA next year but would not rule out a 17th straight year with Houston. "My position from the beginning of the season was to play out this year and look at all the options and make a decision," he said Thursday. "What's important is how realistic is my health. Can this be corrected? To the doctor, this is nothing new, other people have this symptom and can be corrected." He said he would think about next year during the summer, while he is completing up to six months of treatment for what doctors said Thursday was a blood clot in his lower left leg. "I've been here in the old uniform and the new uniform," he said of his lengthy tenure with the Rockets. "The most important thing is I like the chemistry that we had before the injury. Everybody felt comfortable, the coaches, the teammates. "This is my home, it is the ideal situation." His physician, Dr. James Muntz, said Olajuwon had received medication by injection and orally and was showing improvement. "He's responded extremely well," Muntz said. "I expect him to do excellent with treatment and expect him to have full recovery and come back ... I'm not sure about this year but for sure he'll be able to play next year and longer if he wants to." Olajuwon, who grew up playing soccer in his native Nigeria and took up basketball at the University of Houston, redefined the center position in the NBA with his spin moves and athleticism and led the Rockets to a pair of championships in the mid 1990s. His contract, which pays him $16.5 million this year, expires with the end of the season and it was unlikely the Rockets would offer him, at 38, another similarly lucrative deal to return although his play had improved tremendously in weeks preceding disclosure of his ailment. The Rockets have said they would not close the door on his return. Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said Thursday that Olajuwon remained a viable center in the NBA and refused to concede that he had played his last game with the team. "I don't want to think about that," he said. "I kind of want to get him back." But Dawson said Olajuwon's return would depend on the 7-foot center's complete return to good health and a conviction that Olajuwon still had a burning desire. "It's tough," he said when asked about the prospects. "I can't stand here and make a decision on that. You try to leave your heart out of it but with this guy it's hard... Talking about this before he gets well is just a lot of conjecture." A week ago, Olajuwon left a game in Atlanta with what was described as a calf problem. Doctors isolated the blood disorder Monday and prescribed a blood thinner called coumadin. The medication, however, raises the possibility of hemorrhaging if he gets banged around on the court so doctors have refused to clear him to play. Olajuwon, the overall top pick in the 1984 draft, was the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 1994, when he became the only player to ever win honors as MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and MVP of the NBA Finals. He is the Rockets' all-time leader in nearly all categories, including games, points, free throws, rebounds, steals and minutes. Olajuwon averaged 11.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.55 blocks in 49 games this year. Last week he scored a season-high 27 points at Dallas and in a game last month had 20 rebounds against Washington. For his career, he has averaged 23 points and nearly 12 rebounds per game. In the playoffs, his average is almost 27 points and more than 11 rebounds. "I have to go into the mindset this summer if I'm playing next year," Olajuwon said. "You have to have a goal so you can shoot for it: what kind of condition, how you want to play, do you just want to play or want to play and dominate?" As for reports that indicated he had played his last game, he replied: "I think they've been doing that for three years. "Nobody likes to go out with an injury, but if that's the case, just be grateful for all the good years you've had." Asked about reports that retired contemporaries Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley were considering comebacks, he said: "I can say I never left." ------------------ I voted YES!
