I was lucky or un-lucky to be at courtside at tonight's game. This was probably the closest I've ever been to a Rocket's game in my life. I was sitting about 10 seats to the right of Les Alexander and his wife tonight and sitting about 4 sits from Rapper Fat Joe from the Terror Squad. I got to say hello to Les before the game started and just kinda told him to keep the Rockets in Houston! He was very nice although not too happy with the game. I saw a couple of Rocket Fans behind me and one wearing a #4 Barkley Jersey that was getting dogged by the Nets Mascot Sly Fox around the 4th quarter(Too bad CB wasn't around). It was really hard to concentrate on the game from where I was at because there were a lot of distractions and I can tell even the players weren't paying attention. Rapper Jay Z was also courtside and both teams players were talking to Jay Z and Fat Joe during the game especially Marbury. El Duque from the Yankees was also present and several other players but I just wasn't sure who they played for. Back to the game... For the first time watching the Rockets...I saw Rudy T. tonight GIVE UP ON A GAME! In the 3rd quarter when he took his starters out and let the second team in, He threw his hands up and sat down the rest of the night!! I couldn't believe what I SAW!!! usually Rudy is up and about calling plays but in the 4th he sat down until he drew his technical foul!! I think he was trying to get thrown out of the game because he was on the court for a long time, but the Nets called a Timeout when Rudy T. got his Technical. Steve Francis' Flu wasn't an issue tonight, at least to me! Francis looked like he was ready to play but I was kinda surprised that he wasn't talking that much on the court like I had expected which brings me to another observation. Man..without Charles Barkley...THERE IS NOONE VOCAL ON THIS TEAM!! This Rockets Team DOES NOT HAVE A LEADER on the FLOOR!! There is no communication on the floor. A couple of times I saw Rudy call a couple of plays but then the team just ran their own sets which got Rudy so disgusted and he threw his hands up in the air!! I think that is why he took the first team out!! Also,a couple of times I saw Cuttino run to the basket when he had an open man on the wing for an easy score but I guess he thought he was the only player out there. They don't communicate with each other very well on the court. Also, I will say that during several timeouts I noticed players on the Rockets not in the huddle and watching the Nets dancers! On a lighter note,Matt Bullard is the coolest. I remember when he was inbounding a ball in the 4th, I shouted "AIR BULLARD!!" and my other friend yelled out..."Let's go to the Men's club after!!" He turned around and chuckled with us!! Gotta love BULL!! Regardless, this team DID NOT WANT TO WIN TONIGHT!! I even talked to a friend of mine who travels with the team and he even said "They don't care" meaning about this game. I asked him why Rudy gave up so quickly in the 3rd and he can only say that they just wanted to go home(they left that night to go back to Houston) I WAS HORRIFIED!!! I did get to meet some of the Rockets in the back after the game. Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley hung out together and were pretty cool. I even got to have Cuttino's shoes which he is a size 13 wearing white and blue Team Nike shoes. Cato was hanging out with Rappers Jay Z and his crew. Pretty much, I didn't see too many Rockets hangout with each other after the game, however they did bolt out of the arena pretty quickly. Team bus left about 45 minutes after the game. Stephon Marbury avoided us at first but we kept following him until he finally stopped!! We told him..."We know you listen to HOT97 and don't listen to our radio station(Z100) but can ya just take one picture with us!" He then kinda laughed and took the picture and said "I listen to y'all too!" yea right!! Well, as for the game goes, the Rockets didn't care! It looked really evident on the court and after the game!! I don't know what is to happen with this season because I was one of the people on this BBS that really BELIEVED that we can turn this thing around and try to make a run for the playoffs!! I hope that tonight was just a fluke and that they decide they want to play!! However, I must say that looking at this team and comparing it to the the championship years...these guys don't have any kind of unity or desire!! It's REALLY REALLY SAD FOR ME SAYING THIS!! I grew up in Houston being a DIE HARD ROCKET FAN and will continue to do so in NY but tonight I am very very SAD!!
Thank you for a very interesting and informative post. One aspect of Barkley's game that not enough people have touched on is his leadership as you so pointed out. Yes, the rocks did lose touches, rebounds, stats; but most importantly, they lost their leader and are now lost. Maybe that's why Rudy gave up. Maybe he just wanted to go home and try to get the team on the same page back in Houston. Hopefully the rocks will find some chemistry as this season progresses. Kim M. A&M c/o '03 By the way, what kind of radio station do you work for? ------------------ Oldest Junior Member on the BBS (since June '98)
My friend and I work for Z100 in New York which is New York's #1 Hit Music Station-the most listened to station in the country(2.6 million listeners). The radio station is very similar to 104 KRBE which we both came from. Paul "Cubby"Bryant and myself used to work at KRBE from 90-96 before coming to New York. Although we've been here in New York, we still root for the Rockets!! GO ROCKETS!!
Thanks Rich for the narrative. As I have said many times. This type of posting is one of the three or four most enjoyable types of postings for me. I like to debate players and startegies as well as the business of the franchise, but really love first person accounts. I have also noticed and posted something about RT's defeatest behavior. He talks about keeping the team pumped, positive, and not allowing them to wash out the year. But man, the last two games he was looking for a placve to crawl into, IMHO. Anyway, cheers and thanks again.
Popeye!! You are my hero on this BBS!! I love your posts!! I only have one source on the team, however since I have known him BEFORE he worked for the Rockets, its not easy for me to just ask him about the team and their secrets. I hardly EVER ask him about the team and business. Luckilly, we have people like you to keep me in touch!! I don't claim to know the inside scoops of the team but I just wanted to let people know what my experiences were the couple of times I got to actually see the Rockets and other sports players . Being in the music industry, I see a lot of artists and producers, but there is something about the NBA that fascinates me. I have noticed that unlike many artists in the music side, Players after the game, at least to me, just act normal. With the exception of Pippen who completely lives off his ego, most NBA Players are really cool and are just regular people when the cameras are turned off. Unlilke artists in the music industry who feel they have to live their life like their characters they portray on MTV. Maybe I'm just jaded by the music industry, but in my personal opinion, I haven't met too many egomaniac ball players. I've only met 2 ball players that totally live off their ego and really believe what the media tells them and that is... SCOTTIE PIPPEN!! and PATRICK EWING!! Both guys were real JERKS!! Then again, I don't have to tell you that because I'm sure you can just see it!!
Rich Well, thanks for the kudos and kind words. Actually my inside stuff has been there through various contacts I have made over several years. I used to gather this information and just chat with friends and beer buddies. Once in a while I would post something, mostly anecdotal in nature. Last summer I was in touch with a lot of people (seemingly)simutaneously who were close to a lot of NBA trade action and I was lucky enough to get some great scoops. I had been posting under various names for a couple of years at clutchcity, then moved to another city (outside Houston) and started posting some of the more interesting stuff under "popeye". One of my real nicknames, by the way. But, frankly I just love talking hoops. I have friends, mostly through old sports medicine ties throughout the country and Canada and we keep in touch by phone,email or when I (or they) travel to another city on business. As far as sports players go, they all go through some massive personality adjustment. We call it maturity. They call it whatever their publicist wants them to call it. LOL They are sometimes forced to do it quickly and without a lot of guidance. Some people I have met behaved differently at different times in their careers. Michael Jordan: I met MJ (actually I was standing beside him when he was talking to an acquaintance of mine,LOL) several years ago and he was entirely into himself. Full of self promotion, and we were talking about an injury to a key player at the time. This past year I sat next to him (well, again, behind him) as he watched the Rockets play while sitting in Les Alexander's courtside seats. He was open, mature, relaxed, talking at everyone's level.Perhaps he just pays people to talk about him now. LOL Some guys I met who I liked right off: Kevin Garnett ... one of the most together pieces of NBA protoplasm out there. He fashioned his identity since day one. Avery Johnson ... if you can get a word in edge-wise, he is an intelligent B-Ball player.Funny as hell. better yet he can take a joke. Great competitor. Actually I feel he is a far more competitive guy than Mario who I also met and liked right away. Kevin Willis ... had lunch with him and Mugsy Bogues, he has a remarkable gift of comedy and knows exactly what he wants out of the game. Sensitive for a big guy too.Super competitive but has a good perspective (as does Mugs) about life and B ball. Hakeem ... Philosphical to the point of boredom at times, but instantly likeable, especially if he is in a joking or laughing mood.Not as serious as he sometimes appears. There's tons more, but time is short for me today. Music versus Sports I know you have met people in the music industry who would reflect the same sort of things. The good and the bad. I was a bit of an athlete. I played rugby, soccer and hockey when growing up. Started watching basketball at an very early age but played some in college. I was not as successful as in other sports but I loved to watch it and play though. Eventually coached some kids and stuff. The reason I am saying all this is the fact that the physical play of participating in a sport caauses: releasing of large amounts of adrenalin, energy in the form of nutrition, endorphins to ease and block the physical stress and changes in your body chemistry. All drastically occuring over that one or two hour period. It could be that sometimes what we witness as quiet meditative moods or smiling acceptence of a surrounding bunch of fans, or a friendly non-hurried approach is actually absolute exhaustion. LOL I still may agree with you though that sports figures are not quite as egocenteric as musicians. Cheers
Disregard the nick, for all you new members who don't know me. I love Z-100!!!! Damn, it's on 24/7 in my room! You work with Cubby, NYC Rich? Are you Skeery Jones in disguise? Do you see Danielle ? Christine? Tim Louy?! ELVIS(is he hilarious or what?)??!!!! Can you hook me up with Jingle Ball Tickets??!!
I am DJ Rich..on Saturday Nights for Planet Z 11pm-5am!! I was giving away Jingle Ball tickets on my site, but I already picked the winners!! By the way, Cubby and I along with Sharon are ALL ROCKETS FANS!!! GO ROCKETS!!
Sharon too? What a small world? So you're the Dj that "mixes and remixes" at 11 p.m Saturdays. Great work! Hey, is Greg T. the Frat Boy really as moronic as he sounds on the radio? Or is it just an act?
Popeye, Your posts always make me sleep better at night... (well, unless the Rockets lost, then I'm pretty much cussing up a storm in my sleep). Something to be said for rational thought amidst a sea of bizarre opinion. So... would a Matt Bullard and a 2nd round pick 2049 for Vince Carter trade fit salary-cap-wise? ------------------ Rocket fuel pumps through these veins... [This message has been edited by Dr of Dunk (edited December 13, 1999).]
great read Rocket. Fun stuff Popeye. Wish I had your contacts!! Rocket, I guess you may know by now that Rudy came out and confessed to quitting on the game. He said that is the first time he's done it ever, but does not intend to give up on the year. Sounds like he was about ready to lose it on someone--probably the closest person to him. I do admire coaches that will sit it out on the bench with his players, as opposed to getting kicked out for an early exit. Rudy said now they have some practice days and will get back to some type of team effort. I am certainly gaining more respect for the man this year. He's had a lot of criticism in past years (from me as well), but I do see that, if nothing else, he will find players that give out strong efforts, and he will nuture that attitude with more playing time. Just wish he still had the help of Barkley to kick some butt. The give-them-playing-time-for-heart-and-desire works with the Rogers of the world, but they might not work with the Franchise players. Popeye....have you ever met Mobley. He reminds me so much of a young Vernon.
