I agree, a standing o seems to be a bit much. I'll give him a nice round of applause during the introduction but after that I'm all about the Rockets. I will not cheer when Steve makes a basket for the Magic. I will cheer when he or who ever misses a shot or turns it over just like I do for every other player not on the Rockets.
I think he deserves a standing Ovation in the beginning, however, after that, he's just anothe player until after the game. Which means, I'm bias towards the Rockets on any plays that do/do not include the Steve.
Why do people keep assuming different?? To paraphrase from the "Yao Only" battle.. It's ridiculous assumptions like that, that label you "SOF"...
we were 45-37 the year before francis's injury, why do you think Yao made us better? (at least not on W-L column)
Rockets fan since '78 - that's when I moved to Houston (I was on the floor of the Summit when they won both Championships, and was at the game when Moses Malone made his first apperance at the Summit after being traded to Philly, so please don't question my loyalty to the Rox). I still appreciate most former Rocket players (except Pippen) even if they no longer play here. To answer your question, NO, I wont be slapping hi-fives if Francis dunks over Yao, but I wish Stevie, Cat and Cato the best, as they were part of this family for the last several years.
Wow! Now that is bashing T Mac. Steve has twice the heart? Why? Just because he showed it when made that jumper in the playoff? He worked hard, no doubt, but hawing twice the heart just because he kept saying that he is doing it with heart? Now that is stupid. No need to give him standing ovations guys. What will TMac feel? You need to give TMac and the Rox standing ovations, as for Steve - applause would be just fine.
Even I, the 'hater' will applaud Steve when he returns. He doesn't deserve boos. Actually, I'll be clapping loudly per turnover!!!
Maybe it's because all I really get to do is READ about the Rox, but I don't quite understand some of the sentiments -- why so stingy with the love? It's not like the Rox SUCKED during Steve's years, having come oh-so-close to the playoffs twice in a very tough conference before finally getting there... (probably he had as much to do with us not getting in as he did with us getting so close)... The Rockets ARE like family to me in a way (been a big fan for about 33 of my 42 years), Steve seemed to feel that way, seems like a good thing to me... maybe we're glad he's gone on, but can't we send him off with some love for him and his work? It just makes being a Rockets fan more intense for me, I guess, to have some serious love for all the players who have toiled here... especially for players who were so central to the story I followed so closely and emotionally... thanks, Steve, for the interesting reading, if nothing else! I don't think people doubted that you were making a good faith effort... but... "if you only had a brain..." I kept reading, hoping to hear that you'd figured it all out... it happens! (Heck, I'm a teacher, I sort of have to believe in that stuff...) A standing O isn't so much, it's not like he's getting his jersey retired or a statue or something... he DID take out that ad... and I agree with the idea that T-Mac would probably hear that and think that Houston fans are pretty cool. MAYBE he'd think "hey Steve got a standing O, what will I get when we win some championships?" Oh, and wouldn't T-Mac be the tinman by that analogy, needing a heart? edit: wow, I've only got 181 fewer posts than Doc Rocket! Now, if only I had anything else in common with him as a poster...
Ahem, I said "Yao and Co.". It wasn't just Yao who made us better, though he did share in most the offensive burden while Steve "sucked" throughout last year on that end of the floor. Not to be rude or anything, but the guy did suck that year, worst year of his career, something that just can't be denied. Whether it was his injury or JVG's coaching or his inability to play the role of PG successfully is debatable. But, it was the emergence of Cat's defense and better self control, Cato, and JJ's rise to the offensive depravity left by Steve's struggles adjusting to a new role of PG, along with Yao that gave us that playoff appearance.
