It wouldn't cut y paste....(i can't believed I looked @ their site) http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/olajuwon_answers.html?nav=ArticleList
Two Excerpts that Sparked me..... Q: What do you think it will be like to play with Vince Carter? Olajuwon: I like that. It's like being in college with Phi Slamma Jamma when we were dunking over everybody. I'll love to play with him and it will be fun for me. I think I can help him tremendously and make it easier for him. Q: What about Antonio Davis? Olajuwon: It's wonderful to play with a legitimate power forward. That frontcourt is respected around the league. Ouch...a "legitimate" power forward?? I am probably one of the biggest Dream Fans around but thats a little harsh for Mo Taylor and Charles Barkley. But then again Dream had his best years especially as a shotblocker when Otis Thorpe, who very much reminds me of Antonio Davis, filled the lane with his wide body and large hands that could pull down rebounds and score when needs be. Hakeem, unlike a Mutombo, has always been more of a weakside shotblocker. Having a guy like Antonio Davis will truly make Hakeem Better. He will not have to clog the lane and put pressure on his body and can use his mid-range jumper, which has gotten much better in the last few years, and his blocking instincts. I feel they have the best power rotation in the east, and maybe even the league behind Duncan/Robinson and maybe Wallace/Sabonis (FA). With Toronto's abundance of shooters in Vinsanity, A Williams, Dell Curry and MoPete, this not allow as much double teaming on Dream's part. I truly feel if Vince steps up, and Hakeem/Davis stay healthy, that Toronto will win the East. Now the Lakers Matchup? TORONTO LAKERS EDGE Center Dream Shaq Lake, but no backup Forward Davis S/Walk Raptors Forward MoPete Fox/Horry - Guard Vince Kobe - Guard AWill Fisher - Coach Jackson Wilkins LA (8 Rings, But I like LW) Bench Clark, Curry,Will Horry, Mitch Toronto Childs, Madsen I think LA is better but Dream turns it up a notch in the Playoffs. Exception last 3 games of Lakers Series after a solid first game in 1999. Comments??
If he really wanted to just go and dunk on people was Toronto the only place he could do that? I mean last time i checked Steve Francis knew how to dunk too.
Real nice how he admits the past few Summers he has been content to not really workout or work on basketball very much, hence his showing up to training camp out of shape the past few yrs. But this year it's different. This year he is staying back and getting in shape. Only coincidence that it happens to be a contract year for him, too.
I sure hope that when he made that comment about Antonio Davis, he was meaning right now. The last time I checked Charles Barkley was named one of the 50 greatest players of all-time and will be elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility while Antonio Davis is uh none of those things. Does the idiot not remember Barkley getting 33 rebounds against the Suns in his first game against them back in the '96-97 season? Can his hero, Antonio, do that? I almost wished Barkley would come back and play, so he can posturize this jabroni just like Vinsanity did.
Man, that last question about him working out bugs the heck out of me. So how come here's working harder now in the off-season? Really gives me the feeling that there's a falling out between him and Rudy when they change the direction of the offense. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a glimpse of the old Dream this season. Sad... really sad for us.... but good for Toronto fans.
This is what happens when people read parts of stories or just post excerpts. If you read the entire interview, he states that he's able to work out more now because his parents are in the states and that he didn't have to spend as much time abroad as he usually does.
DOD - here's the excerpt: "Q: Glen said you were working out more this summer. Was that in consideration of your situation this year? Olajuwon: I've been maintaining my workout program, but working on more basketball drills. This is the first time I've spent more time in Houston working out. Usually at this time of the year I'm out of the country because this is a transition time, but I was only out of the country for a couple of weeks this year. My parents are now here in Houston with my family so I spent more time in Houston. " You could read it both ways... but I am reading this as saying, well, you know the last few years I don't usually put a premium in working out more on my basketball skills because I am no longer the main component on the Rocket's plans so there is no need to improve, of course during those years I could always tell my parents to come here in Houston so they could visit me while I work out but I don't want to do that, I rather go out of the country and visit them. Now I am not saying there is something wrong in his decision-making as he is entitled to do whatever he wants on his freetime but that also tells me what his priorities are, definitely not the Rockets, I would say. Not that there is anything wrong in not putting a priority on his job as a Rocket during his off season but it tells you what his motivation is. So now he feels rejuvenated as a Raptor, therefore, motivated to work out more than before. That is what I meant on my statement.
His response clearly indicates he values his parents/family more than his game. The b*stard. Let's just shoot him. If you people would quit looking for every freaking excuse to burn the man at the stake and just accept he's gone this would be so much easier for you. Here let me break it down for you from his quotes : "My parents are now here in Houston with my family so I spent more time in Houston". So if he spends more time in Houston, he has more time to practice. That is all the man is saying. Whether or not he's lying we don't know, but frankly, I don't care as I can't prove it.
boy wrote: How the hell can you say this about a guy who's worth more to Houston then anyone else? It's easy...he doesn't play for the Rockets anymore. Seriously, he was the reason why I started liking the Rockets. However, he knew just like everybody else that he was getting overpaid the last couple of years. Maybe that makes up for the fact that he was being underpaid when he was at the height of his game. I don't know, I guess you could debate this forever. For him to want 7 to 10 million a year was ludicrous. I also lost respect for him when he said, "The best thing the Rockets could do is to keep the same team together and not pursue any other free agents. This team has the talent to go deep into the playoffs maybe even reach the finals." I don't have any use for people who talk out of both sides of their mouth. If he really felt that he was being dissed in Houston and didn't want to come back, then he never should have said that quote. It's just like Butch Davis who said that he was never going to leave the University of Miami and then he leaves to go to the Cleveland Browns!! What the @#*% is that about??!! So, that's why in the hell I can say that about him. Maybe I will get over this soon, but not right now.
