You all seem to enjoy filling in the blanks. Reading between the lines. -B******T- Barkley talks without thinking. So does my wife, but she can't rebound for crap. He made a general statement. Maybe his intent was to get a response from his teamates. I think some people read with intent to get mad about something. It won't take much to stir up something shallow. Tempest in a teapot? Should Barkley keep his mouth shut in america? Land of the Free.
Axeman Dont watch him then if he pisses you off so much. The only person on the entire team who's even come close to contributing as much and Barkley is Francis. Besides, he didn't name names. He just let everyone on the team know he's frustrated. In any case, most of your points are wrong. Barkleys injuries in the playoffs for the most part were not due to conditioning. barkley remains the best player on the team whether you like it or not. if you don't like watching Barkley, become a Jazz fan or something. You probably wont be missed.
RocketHead, My man, I've been a Rocket fan since the days of Calvin Murphy, Mike Newlin, Robert Reid, Moses Malone, Mike Dunleavy... I don't have to stop watching the Rockets because they happen to have a player on the team who's done nothing but slowly wreck it. I watch the team because I'm a fan. And it's because I'm a fan that I get sick and tired of watching this guy destroy the team from within slowly but surely... First it was Clyde Then it was Mario Then it was Pippen Is Francis next??? Have the Rockets improved AT ALL since he's been on the team?? '97 - 6 games in Western Conference Finals '98 - Out in first round of playoffs - Clyde quits, Elie leaves '99 - Out in first round of playoffs - Pippen quits I was around here watching the Rockets before Charles ever got here. If anything, he owes the fans a little respect who were supporting this team before he ever got here. He forgets that he came here BECAUSE the franchise was doing so well. Then he runs off the players that made the franchise thrive. You watch... Francis is going to be the next one to get fed up with Barkley and he'll eventually say something in the media, too. Boy, then won't things be just peachy in H-Town.
you're being entirely too over analytical (and biased, i might add)... charles was making light of the kids on the team, not unlike ppl i work w/ getting harassed by some of the older developers, it's nothing serious. he didn't say 'cuttino, stevie, shandon and bryce ' are just hanging out all of the time mackin'; they need to act like they're professionals... he said 'i've got to get used to the new world' (a passive aggressive and VAGUE stab at the kids that every old man in the free world does) when he made a note that he was going to play better he put a fire under his own arse... you should be stoked about that... sorry charles, you just can't win apparently w/ some people sheeshhh... by the way, (no offense dream, other than the one intended to get you to realize that you don't have to score every night) where is the pent up anxiety towards dream about the same thing? or are you 33man, i mean axeman just playing tag along on an easy target???
Me personally, Im not a Barkley hater. I have always (before he came to Houston) held the proper game repect he deserves. His mouth is what I hate. Lost in all of this is his obvious, finger pointing elsewhere "These guys aren't on time" but "I had my best game" but "They have to watch BET" but "Im pulling it all together" The list of Players Barkley has publily chastised is enourmous. Armon Gilliam KJ Pippen Iverson Clyde Elie and now Francis Im not saying that he doesn't have a proper point. My beef is that for someone who just a week ago finally realized he needs to keep away from the media about co players, it didn't stop. Im confused aren't you some of the same people who hated Pippen for doing the same thing??????
Thank you dreamshake99... Finally someone who is also willing to look at what is and not what they want things to be. THANK YOU...
I just heard Rudy T on his talk show say he has not been aware of any disruptions at meetings or practices with guys pagers or cellphones. hmmmm...... Barkley says what he thinks as we all should know by now. Nothing to get worked up about. We need to get worked up about how to stop Scottie and Steve Smith and the Blazers Friday.
Axeman, what are you talking about Barkley shouldn't ask Pippen an apology on TV? How can you blame CB for it after Pippen asked to be traded in public? Hakeem was asking an apology from Pippen and how does that sound to you? I don't think talking to Rudy is feasible to solve attitude problem,Rudy is a player coach, he is soft on players, I doubt he ever talk with players other than give them tapes to watch. Rudy didn't talk to Maloney for his lack of concentration and fire. He didn't talk with Pippen about his role on the team either, nor did he perceive Pippen's frustartion. If he did what a coach should do we will get a lot more for Pippen. As for the embarrassing issue, the way CB handled it is exactly the way it should be done. Guys condemn Isiah Rider and Dennis Rodman for being late for practice, however, when the Rockets doing the same thing, only more serious considering that they are down 2-11. They should be embarrassed a little but being taught about attitude one on one is more embarrassing. Personally if I have missed a class, I would rather to have the teacher address it in the classroom without mentioning my name than asking me to her office and talk face to face. Embarrassment exists no matter you talk about about it privately or not. People stop undesired behavior as they want to avoid further embarrassment, it is called negative reinforcement in behaviorism. I still don't know who are CB referring to despite some posters suggested fans and media all know of the names. I just don't like people make a big deal out of it, actually probably Rockets who is clean feel good that soemone step out to correct it, and those who were wrong already realized they should stop such behavior. The whole thing maybe well over a long time ago. Maybe some will say what if guys are ticked off by it and bear a grudge to CB, that is a possibilty but such a risk always exists when you try to deal such problems. Actually, if you want to pick on someone you can try Francis, he said a while ago in a pregame interview that " it is hard to drive with those two guys clogging up the lane." What he siad is true, yet the same goes to what CB said. According to your theory, Francis is clearly shifting blame for the team's underperformance, and such things should be addressed within the organization solely. In fact, no one barked about Francis's remarks and I sense an inconsistency here. Please stop making a big deal out of CB says.
I can't agree with the point that simply because someone has been on bad terms with several guys so that everything about him in personal relationships is his fault, and therefore he should shut his mouth up. I have a relative who has divorced for several times but in real life a very pleasant man, and no, I don't think he is pervertic in any way, his wives haven't used that against him in any court. And Clinton only has one wife but is he a good husband? The answer is no. If Hillary divorced him should we place blame on Hillary because Hillary has a big mouth(well, no sexism intended, women mean big mouths to me automatically )? The same no. In fact, in most personal relationships the fault should be placed on both sides. I don't know what exactly happened between CB and his friends so those names mean very little to me.
Like I said in another post: Charles criticised the team as a whole. HE DID NOT NAME NAMES! There is absolutely nothing wrong with what he said. He has often given himself tougher criticism than his mates. So get off his back, the guy is a workhorse, and if a challenge is set forth for the rest of the team to step up, because of his comments, than good for him. ------------------ When a man stands for nothing, he'll fall for anything.
Some may not want to admit it, but Charles is the leader on this team. Hakeem is 'second' co-leader (he is too quiet). Even leaders are not perfect, but they have to lead for a team to succeed. If Charles sees something that is bad for the team, let him handle it. If he gets out of line, it is up to Rudy to straighten him out. Frankly, it seems that Charles is trying to get the younger players to rethink their intensity. G*d knows we could use that. Also, note that Charles does not fingerpoint (even when Pipsqueek really lost the game) nor share what occurs in the locker room.
Charles always says it like it is. I don't always agree with him but he pretty much states what he believes is the truth of the matter. This one is tough for me. Charles, I thought, likes to keep things behind closed doors relating to team matters but, heehee, I know he must have a reason. If bringing attention to this matter straightens it out then good. Hope it doesn't get everyone arguing though. The most important thing is that it is happening and should not be. I was shocked to hear about beepers going off while they are watching tapes or discussing strategy, etc., or guys watching BET rather than studying tapes. With the record and struggles we have, there is just no excuse for it. I personally think Rudy should put his foot down on this one. Or it should be an NBA rule - no beepers, etc. except for emergencies during work hours - which includes the mental part. This was a total disappointment to hear about. Eat, sleep and drink basketball Houston Rockets. GO ROCKETS!
As a leader you criticize your teammates behind closed doors. You can't let the rest of the NBA know that you guys are having problems. Teams will just recognize that there is no togetherness and attack that. You can't show your weaknesses in public. If you have a problem with your team, then you take care of it with them in practice, but there is no point taking it out on them to the media. What good will that do? It will just create chaos and confusion within the team. Adress it clearly to them and tell them that you don't like what is going on. What he did is not "ok" just because he didn't give names. Anyone else remember in 1996-1997, when during an interview with NBC, Charles openly criticized the team, and said, "sometimes I feel that some guys don't have the urgency that vets like me, Kevin, and Eddie are playing with (not exact)." Granted, he didn't give any names, but those statements did cause some confusion amongst Clyde, Mario, and Hakeem. Charles later did iron things out in a later interview and state that he was addressing the team as a whole, but those comments shouldn't have been said in the first place. Things like these need to be kept behind closed doors. When was the last time you ever heard any foul comment out of Michael Jordan? He addressed his team in privated when he had a problem with them. Charles is a great player, I will give him that, and I am in no way trying to bash him. I just feel that sometimes it would be wiser for him to keep his mouth shut.
Don't be fooled... Let's think about this for a second (and believe me, if you only think about it for a second, it will become obvious): 1. Rockets are struggling this year 2. Charles doesn't want to go out on a bad note. 3. Charles is embarrassed about the team this year. 4. Charles has ONE good game and we finally beat a team (albeit a crippled one). 5. Charles, already embarrassed about the team's play, and a little puffed up about himself, decides to pull a, "See, it's not MY fault..." on everyone by saying this stupid comment. What he's saying here is: "The real problem with this team is all these cell phones and BET. I have nothing to do with it." But, that's BS. Chuck has been struggling with his shot so far until last night. He's been missing free-throws, turning the ball over, just like everyone else. Now, he's trying to say -- "Look at those kids... It's their fault." He needs to grow up enough to look at himself for a change and see how he's also contributed to the 3 - 10 start. 1. He's old and in decline. 2. He showed up for camp overweight again. 3. His elbow is messed up and he's having a hard time shooting well. But, to Chuck, it's the cell phones and tv stations. I wonder if anyone on the Blazers, or Kings, or any other of the top teams in West has a cell phone or watches BET before games. I'll bet they do. Here's an interesting thought though... THEY'RE BETTER TEAMS THAN THE ROCKETS, SO THEY WIN THE GAMES. Chuck's just frustrated that he's on a bad team this year, so he's going to make sure he makes everyone else look like the bad guy. That's the reaction of a LOSER. Sorry. People need to stop putting this guy on a pedestal and see his stupid antics for what they are. He's not "planning" anything here. He's just being a crybaby.
Screw Barkley and screw Hakeem. Because right now their pissing me off. Barkley's not as smart as yall think fellas! [This message has been edited by ROCKETBOOSTER (edited November 25, 1999).] [This message has been edited by ROCKETBOOSTER (edited November 25, 1999).]
maybe he did address the issue behind closed doors...its 13 games into the season and he said this was the first time he was playing with clear mind..we dont know what happens in the locker room..but i think after a 3-10 start its about time someone spoke up to let us know what is going on..so to the rocket faithful who criticize particular rocket players infavor of others..please understand it could be those players who are not committed off the court.
also for the people who say we'll barkley has no room no speak about commitment..granted he has a history for not coming to camp on shape and being unprepared..BUT THAT WAS THE PAST...Were talking about NOW!..I believe in the last 2 years he's stepped it up in his weight training and atleast he shows up on time.
