Dream is looking for respect. Dream is looking for Kelvin Cato money. C'mon Rudy and CD... [This message has been edited by Smokey (edited July 21, 2001).]
I'll go ahead and agree with Newbiehad. I started follownig the Rockets as a 9 year old back in 1979. When Moses left the Rockets, I was crushed. Moses is long gone, and I'm still a Rockets fan. When Hakeem leaves the Rockets, I'll be crushed. After Hakeem is long gone, I'll still be a Rockets fan. In the long run, I am not worried about it because no matter what happens, I'm a Rockets fan above being any player's fan. ------------------ "I'll tell you this, the older I get, the less I trust people. It's true. It's damn true." -- gr8-1 going through some growing pains.
Well I was crushed when Otto Moore left But I am still a Rockets fan. ------------------ "For there is nothing either good or bad, thinking makes it so." - William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Hamlet
What does Tweak think? Tweak thinks that Hakeem will stay---NO, Hakeem will go---NO, Hakeem will stay---NO, Hakeem is gone... ------------------ Protrolls.com! Keep the ???? alive! The ZRBucks!
Geez, and I thought I was old....... Otto Moore- played two seasons with the Rockets, 1973 and 1974 Thank you ClutchCity History section!! ------------------ It looks like a veteran can Be had.
Everyone remember this was to be Hakeems last contract and he was retiring, then he started to change that last season. I think it is complience that has set in, caused by Houston fans and media. Make no mistake he has been paid for the two championships he won for the rockets. While he was makeing 16 million a year the last 4 years he has played 60% of the games, reported in condition that he could play himself into shape[only works when you are young], while on the ir how often did you see him with the team? All fans know, as they see this just like the media does, but we owe Hakeem so we overlook it and then wait for him to go on the IR again. Maybe he can play 40-50 games, but we will not complain as we owe him. Well I think it is time for the loyalty to work the other way. We have players that are needing to break out and to be held back by paying Hakeem too much that you can not complete the team is just not fair to the younger players or the fans that are waiting. If Hakeem thinks that he is being disrespected by the offer of only 4 million a year, what will he think when the fans in another city have less tolence for his actions then what he is used to by the ones that thought they owed him and he owed nothing to them. RIGHT, its not about money!! ------------------
I think that Dream is being very selfish with his demands and I question his loyalty to the Rockets.Didn't Charles Barkley sign a veterans minimum contract so that we could trade for and sign Pippen? That is loyalty.We dont owe dream anything anymore and it angers me to see him act this way. ------------------
I recommend Jeff's Truth column to all of you. He makes the point far better than I do. Here's the link: http://www.clutchcity.net/feature.cfm?FeatureID=125
I don't know what to say. I have been an avid defender of Hakeem, to my friends, and on other boards. The whole thing is starting to anger me though. How can I keep defending him? I will say that if he leaves it's because of pride and not money. On the front page of Clutch City, they said he felt insulted by the offers. I think he looks around and sees what lesser centers(Cato) are making and feels that since the offers don't match up, it's an insult. I don't agree with his logic, or thinking for that matter, but the guy isn't about greed, and has always been about pride. None the less, I think Hakeem is the one shaming himself in this circumstance. I do remember during the Charley Thomas days when Hakeem was almost for sure going to be traded. There was talk of Ronny Siekley(sp?). Anyway things got worked out then, and over the next few years we got 2 championships out of it. Things look bleak now, but all hope is not lost, judging by the past. Hakeem needs to shape up. I know he is big on pride and honor. It's time he look at what in the end would be the most honorable thing, and take pride in that! ------------------
Barkley then made 9 million the next year playing a grand total of 18 games. ------------------ Protrolls.com! Keep the ???? alive! The ZRBucks!
ZRB, i think i speak for everyone, in that we all like TWEAK better than Turn so, what does Tweak think?? ------------------ Hanta-Force Paintball www.hanta-force.com
The Rockets paid dream for what he did during the championship years and they don't owe him anything now. What has he done in the last four years? Has he even completed a full season in that span? And now he wants how much money for one good half of basketball. Let somone else pay him that money for him to play 40 games. Oh, and 16 million for how many games? ------------------
I have to agree with Vengeance. His actions & words this last season & during these negotiations tend to make me think he's trying to find an excuse for leaving, without being the bad guy. It's amazing how his theory of "What's for the good of the team", doesn't apply when it affects him. Come on Dream, it's time to step up & be a team player. ------------------ A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.
I just want to say that there IS debate about that statement for some of us. I've been a Rocket fan long before Hakeem set foot on American soil. Moses Malone was my first Rocket hero. The 81 finals were very hard on me. But I was elated that we made it that far! For those who thought the 95 playoff run was exciting, you should have seen Malone take a team with a losing regular season record all the way to the Finals against the great Larry Bird. "Me and four guys from St. Pete" I wish he had never said that. We were crushed the next game. But Rocket fanaticism survived the loss of Malone, and it will survive the loss of Olajuwon. It's the team for me. It's the Rockets I cheer for. Always have. Always will. ------------------ It looks like a veteran can Be had.
I think you cannot be so sure of that. With Hakeem, and if Francis becomes the superstar he can be, plus, if Griffin pans out and Mobley and Taylor deliver good seasons, why should we not be title contenders??? Don't be too pessimistic, please. Yes, but I think he still has one or two good years left. I usually really like your writing style. But that is a horrible analogy.
