Olajuwon dazzles in possibly last game with Rockets HOUSTON (AP) -- If it was Hakeem Olajuwon's last game in a Houston uniform, a sellout crowd made certain the franchise's greatest player went out with a hero's goodbye. Olajuwon, a free agent after this season, scored 24 points and thrilled fans with some vintage moves as the Rockets rolled to a season-ending 114-87 victory Tuesday night. Olajuwon, who has played 17 seasons for the Rockets, started the season planning to retire, but changed his mind and is expected to play again next season, even if it means leaving the Rockets. That didn't keep the crowd of 16,285 from cheering Olajuwon's every move and clamoring for giveaway Bobble Head dolls prior to the game. "All I know is I still feel that I can play," Olajuwon said. "This is really the first time in two years that I've really been healthy. You can see if you are healthy you can play." As time ran down in the fourth quarter with their hero on the bench, the demand went up "We want Dream! We want Dream!" Coach Rudy Tomjanovich responded immediately. Olajuwon returned to the court smiling broadly to the standing ovation that awaited him. When Olajuwon left the game with 53 seconds to play, fans stood the remainder of the game chanting "Hakeem! Hakeem!" It was Olajuwon's greatest moment in the game. "It was just that crowd reaction," Olajuwon said. "I was sitting on the bench and I looked at the coach and he said just go back in the game. This is my home and my ideal situation is here. "This will always be a family regardless of what happen, you can't overlook that." Tomjanovich isn't giving up on Olajuwon's return to the Rockets. "I'm not going to jump the gun. If we can make it happen, if we can have him be a Rocket, we're going to try everything in our power to have it happen," Tomjanovich said. "We're going to try and not let this be his last game." Olajuwon had nine rebounds and six assists. His final points came on a pair of free throws with 3:05 to play. He made a brief on-court appearance after the game with fans shouting "MVP, MVP," an honor he won in 1994. "He was all over the place," Tomjanovich said. "He was so sharp right from the beginning. Not only on the offensive end but everywhere. I was watching on fastbreaks and he was so light on his feet. He's a tremendous athlete." Olajuwon missed the previous three games with a sprained right ankle, but he started against the Timberwolves and had nine points in the first quarter. He was 5-for-6 in the period and treated fans to his signature Dream Shake jumper in the opening minutes. Olajuwon had 14 points at the half and helped the Rockets to a 65-52 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Olajuwon threw a blind pass to Shandon Anderson, who was fouled on the play and made a pair of free throws. The Rockets would like to have Olajuwon back, but he'd have to accept far less than his 2000-01 salary of $16.5 million. The Rockets want to reduce their salary cap to seek free agents to build around guard Steve Francis. Olajuwon has played all of his basketball career in Houston, first leading the University of Houston to three consecutive NCAA Final Four appearances and then taking the Rockets to NBA titles in 1994 and 1995. In 1994, Olajuwon became the first player to win the MVP, defensive player of the year and finals MVP. He was the finals MVP again in 1995. Olajuwon is a six-time all-NBA first teamer and the leading shot blocker in league history. Olajuwon became the first player in NBA history to block 200 shots and have 200 steals in the same season. He had a string of at least 200 blocks and 100 steals for a record 11 consecutive seasons, ending in 1996. Houston took the lead early in the first quarter and never trailed after the opening basket. Wally Szczerbiak led the Timberwolves with 16 points. Kevin Garnett had 11. Garnett didn't feel a need to comment about Olajuwon. "Next question. He speaks for himself. He's not the Dream for nothing," Garnett said. [This message has been edited by Band Geek Mobster (edited April 18, 2001).]
Hakeem thrills in Rockets' rout of Timberwolves The cheers filled his pores and pushed out a smile that he could no more stop than the ovation that engulfed him. Hakeem Olajuwon left the court on a wave of emotion so rich you could all but see his spine tingle. The Rockets bounced away with him, delighting in what could be a last night together. No one knew exactly what ended Tuesday night -- a season neither sweet nor bitter, or a sublime 17 years in a Rockets uniform for a cherished icon. But whatever is over, it ended just right. It ended with a stirring, spontaneous tribute to Olajuwon and a rousing 114-87 rout of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team that had claimed the last Western Conference playoff spot the Rockets had coveted. The season might have ended before the 45-37 Rockets wanted. Olajuwon might not know what ended for him. But when the Rockets left the court, they knew they and their long-time star had taken all they could from a last night that made Compaq Center shake and goosebumps rise. "The way the crowd here showed their affection and love," Olajuwon said, "I can't help by get emotional and grateful. I feel so privileged and blessed. Houston has adopted me. I love Houston. "If this was the last game, this was the ideal game." The game quickly became, as he had hoped, a celebration. Olajuwon wasted no time flashing one of his classic Dream Shakes. The young nucleus of talent surrounding him scored with efficient ease and often-stunning acts of levitation. By the second quarter, the Rockets led by 23 points. By the fourth, they up by as many as 31. With nothing else left to accomplish, and the possibility the game could be Olajuwon's last with the Rockets hanging over the night as inescapably as the 10,000 bobble-head replicas of the Rockets center that were given away, the game became a chance to venerate Olajuwon's career. "I got those good goosebumps," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "I'm proud of the way they responded. These are special nights in sports. "If we can make it happen, we'll try to do everything in our power, if he is going to play again, to make him be a Rocket. This might not have been his last game for the Rockets. If it was, it couldn't be better." But once Olajuwon immediately set that tone, the game became a night to remind everyone what the Rockets have been and could be again with more than Olajuwon's individual excellence. Steve Francis got loose for a few of the jumpers he has consistently layered into his game through the season. But he also offered two more mind-blowing slams to his collection, both on alley-oops. The second came as he caught a pass and paused in mid-air to c0ck his arm for a more violent punch of a dunk. He drove the baseline for a third hard dunk in the second half, finishing with 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Cuttino Mobley began beating the Wolves down the court on breaks and finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. In the run during which the Rockets began to pull away, Francis made moves into the lane on consecutive possessions to lob passes to Kelvin Cato for slams. Olajuwon even offered a different sort of reminder of the most glorious of glory days. When the Timberwolves had been left with no choice but to send all sorts of double-team help to challenge Olajuwon inside, he flipped consecutive passes to Matt Bullard at the 3-point arc. Bullard, in the name of all the shooters that had prospered in Olajuwon's orbit, canned consecutive treys. "He said, `Way to hit those for me,' " Bullard said. "I told him, `I'll always be there for you, Dream.' That's the way it was in the old days. That's how I made my living, taking passes from Dream." All that was left after that was to complete Olajuwon's night. With 7 1/2 minutes left and the Rockets leading by 30, Olajuwon was sitting on the baseline floor when the night became about one thing. The crowd began a chant of "We want Dream, we want Dream." It took only 17 seconds before the Rockets coaches answered by sending Olajuwon to the scorer's table to start his standing ovation. When Francis took an intentional foul to allow Olajuwon to check into the game, the Compaq Center sellout crowd of 16,285 roared for him again. The entire Rockets bench joined the salute, and every Olajuwon touch of the ball brought more cheers. Olajuwon did not get loose for another shot, twice making moves so quick that the Wolves could only respond by fouling him and sending him to the line. He made four free throws, pushing his scoring total to a game-high 24 points to go with nine rebounds and six assists. But with 53.3 seconds left, Carlos Rogers checked in for Olajuwon to raise the roof yet again. And this time, the ovation lasted the rest of the night until Olajuwon finally disappeared into the tunnel. "When they were screaming for him to get back in, chills went through your whole body," Walt Williams said. "It was something he deserves. He deserves all he gets." It was, Olajuwon said, "a game I could look back on for a long time." Whatever the game turns out to be, it was a night worth those extra looks. -------- [This message has been edited by Band Geek Mobster (edited April 18, 2001).]
Players hope they haven't seen last of Olajuwon While his friends were clamoring to be the first ones on the block with Air Jordans, Moochie Norris' dreams were elsewhere. In the summer between his eighth- and ninth-grade years, the slick new Etonic sneakers worn by Hakeem Olajuwon caught Norris' eye. And eventually so did Olajuwon's game. "Even though I played guard, I wanted those shoes and was always a fan of Dream," Norris said. "I wished I could get on the court with him one time if to just hear the referee blow the whistle so I could say I was with him. Just to have this opportunity is unbelievable." Like Norris, the rest of the Rockets were grateful not only to have had the chance to play with Olajuwon, but also to have been a part of what could be his final game in a Rockets' uniform. Only time will tell if the Rockets' 114-87 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in their season finale Tuesday night at Compaq Center was Olajuwon's last hurrah, but his teammates were happy to be part of it. "Dream is a legend, and we were playing with him," Rockets guard Cuttino Mobley said. "I'm just privileged to be out there. It's a sad moment, but I think he'll be back next year. ... But just in case he doesn't come back, we want to savor the moment." Olajuwon scored a game-high 24 points, pulled down nine rebounds and had six assists in 28 minutes. It was the kind of game Norris remembers seeing Olajuwon play on television growing up. "I've been trying to get to Houston ever since I was a kid," Norris said. "I had dreams of always coming to Houston and playing with the Rockets and playing with Hakeem. It's incredible I had this opportunity. This could be his last game as a Rocket, and I was glad to be on the court with him." All of the Rockets hope Olajuwon, who is now a free agent for the first time in his career, will return next season, and Mobley even said he was going to try to urge Olajuwon to return for an 18th year with the club. "I'm going to talk to him a little bit to see what they're going to do," Mobley said. "You don't force nothing on nobody. But having him here is a big plus." With the way Olajuwon seemed to be rejuvenated the second half of the season, Rockets forward Walt Williams thinks Olajuwon proved he still can be a force at his age. "Hakeem came back so strong I think he showed the rest of the nation that he can still do it after 16, 17 years," Williams said. "You've still got to double-team him. So hopefully, there will be more of that." Rookie Dan Langhi credits Olajuwon as having a valuable influence on his career despite only playing with him one season. "He's helped me a lot this year and kept me positive," Langhi said. "He kept me positive tonight. He told me I wasn't getting any calls and he told me to pull up quicker. I'm going to miss him keeping me positive next year, but he was a great player." When Olajuwon checked out of the game with 53.3 seconds to play and received a standing ovation, the Rockets' players and coaches were leading the cheers. For soon-to-be stars like Mobley and Steve Francis, it was a farewell they can only dream of. "Olajuwon is one of an elite few," Mobley said. "I hope my career is like that. I'm a young guy, a young star or whatever you want to call it. But that's the way to go out." By the time most of the younger Rockets call it a career, Olajuwon will be in the Hall of Fame and his legend will be bigger than ever. Langhi is already teaching the younger generation about Olajuwon. "My daughter is going to have a little (Olajuwon) bobbing head doll on her dresser when I get home," Langhi said. ------- Yes, I have a lot of free time on my hands.
I gotta give this one a bump. Great articles and great quotes. Ok, I'm going back to sleep now. ... select * from alsajwoiejrw hwere jaas;dlf.. zzzzzzzzzzzz ------------------ Yugo grills, Yugo mills, Check out the oil my Yugo spills...
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I'm bumping this back up since it took me 20 minutes to pull up the articles and quotes. ------------------
Here, I copied the Blinebury article for ya BGM. I didn't do any of the bold highlighting though... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/881920 April 18, 2001, This love affair shouldn't be over By FRAN BLINEBURY There were just over 7 1/2 minutes left in the season when it began to build like the rumble of a jet engine at the far end of a runway. It grew steadily and loudly until it reverberated off the walls and the ceiling and eventually made those championship banners overhead flutter in the emotional breeze. "We want Dream! We want Dream! We want Dream!" It came from out of the throats of the 16,285 crammed inside the arena, but it might as well have been shouted from every rooftop in Houston. And maybe it was. He stood, and he smiled. He stood, and they roared. He stood, and 17 years of memories hit like a flash flood, washing over everything. Hakeem Olajuwon had come to celebrate, and what he did was to dominate and to resonate from the long-ago past into the not-too-distant future. Twenty-four points, nine rebounds and six assists. Those are just numbers. What Olajuwon has always been about was not quantifiable with numbers and statistics, averages and percentages. Should he do it again next season? "Hell, yes," said Steve Francis. "He's got to come back." There, the future of the franchise has been heard from. The young man whose job it is to take the torch from the veteran warrior and to usher the Rockets back to those lofty heights. "Look what he can do when he's out there with all of us kids," Francis said. "He runs the floor. He goes for the rebounds. He finishes off those passes. "And did you see the smile?" Yes, the smile. There's no place like home This is home. This is where Olajuwon wants to be. This is where he should be, no matter what comes of flirtations from other teams and no matter what kind of yoga-like contortions of the salary cap it will take by the Rockets. "Thanks for letting us live the Dream," said one sign that was held up behind the Rockets' bench. "Les, we need Hakeem to stay," said another. Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, who was sitting in his usual place at midcourt, knows that at 38 years old, Olajuwon is still more than just a living, breathing icon inside our borders. He also can be a vital, contributing part of a team that improved from 34 wins last season to 45 this season and is on an upward track. He showed again Tuesday night that he can still run with the young legs, even when the Rockets are playing a glorified game of playground ball against a disinterested bunch of Timberwolves who are simply resting for the playoffs. Olajuwon gave us the Dream Shake from down on the baseline and so many of the other how-does-he-do-that moves that have made him unique among all of the big men who have ever played the game. He spins in the paint and lofts a soft, arcing floater over the reaching arm of Kevin Garnett and winds up sprawled on the seat of his pants. He takes a feed from Cuttino Mobley and slams it home with authority. He gets a defensive rebound off a missed Minnesota shot, turns, and fires a length-of-the-court touchdown pass to a streaking Francis, who then puts a next-generation dunk home to the squealing delight of the crowd. Straight from the heart This was not about what he could always do, but about what he can still do to help a young team get better on its way, maybe, to the championship glory he brought to Houston in 1994 and '95. "Nothing about tonight was planned," Olajuwon said. "That's what made it all so special. It came from the heart, from the fans, from my teammates and, I know, from me. "The way the crowd showed affection and love, I can't help but be emotional. I'm grateful for what they have shown and the way they have treated me in Houston. If this was the last game, it was the ideal game." No, if this was the last game, it is wrong. What it will take is not another contract worth the $16.9 million he earned this season. What it will take is for coach Rudy Tomjanovich to see and to fully understand that Olajuwon is still an integral part of this learning, maturing bunch and to open his arms and embrace him. It is about respect, not money. It is about feeling wanted, not simply tolerated. Strange needs and desires, perhaps, from someone who has done so much. But he has always been different, so worldly and yet so naive. He received an embrace from Francis and a bearhug from Mobley, and he walked off the floor in a shower of confetti, waving, grinning, reveling in it all. "Isn't this fun?" asked the Dream. Yes, still. ------------------ The season's almost over...and I still really need that keg of Pepto-Bismol.