With all the dumb rumors floating around here about the Rockets moving here or there, I thought I'd start my own. Suppose the Rockets move to New Orleans or Baltimore or Timbuktu. What then? The #4 media market can't just sit around without a pro basketball team. So let's see. Hmmmm. What other team might be enticed to move to Houston in exchange for a sweet deal funded by a 100% tax on, say, guns and Dell PCs? (Well, OK. We'll leave the PCs out of it.) How about ... the Vancouver Grizzlies? They seem ready to bolt drizzly Canada at the first good opportunity. Why not go to Houston? This would reunite Houstonians with Othella and Dickerson and even Mr. Krispy! O would be in hog heaven. And best of all, for us tankers, Houston would be guaranteed that lottery pick the Rockets have been fumbling away the past couple of weeks. What evidence do I have for this scenario? Zero. Zip. Nada. Pure fiction. Just like all the other "rumors." But it would be pretty ironic, wouldn't it?
I think the Jazz moving to Houston would be illegal, since there actually is some Jazz music in Houston. Rule 245 (c) (3) of the NBA manual clearly states, "No team shall be relocated to a city or state to which its mascot bears any logical relationship." This accounts for the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz, etc. (The NFL follows a similar policy, which explains the Tennessee Oilers, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, and Indianapolis Colts.) Rule 245 (c) (3) was adopted in 1972 in response to the San Diego Rockets' move to Houston. The name "Rockets" made a lot more sense in Houston than in San Diego. People in San Diego felt just terrible about it, figuring they had wasted their time in a foolish and doomed relationship. So Rule 245 (c) (3) was adopted. There was some controversy about the rule a few years later, when the Baltimore Bullets became the Washington Bullets. At the time the move was made, everyone agreed that there was no logical relationship between Washington and Bullets. But over time, as the murder rate in Washington skyrocketed, murmurs grew around the league that the franchise was in violation of Rule 245 (c) (3). Eventually the team agreed to change its name to the Wizards. Now that Michael Jordan is on board, the name Wizards, too, is clearly illegal, so the search is on for a new mascot. I'm nominating the "No-calls."
LOL Will! Absolutely hilarious and shockingly true as well One thing that shuts down your Houston Grizzlies plan is that the Griz were bought by a Chicago business man last night who made it very clear he has no intention of moving the team. The scary part is, this owner looked a little too honest. Azim da Dream ------------------ No guts, no glory, no brain, same story. [This message has been edited by Azim da Dream (edited January 26, 2000).] [This message has been edited by Azim da Dream (edited January 26, 2000).]
Will: I thought Washington changed their name from Bullets to Wizards becuase bullets was a violent word and they did not want to encourage or have any connection with violence. "No Calls" LOL. . Should they trade for Stockton and Malone?
So True, Will. On the Bullets issue, I remember hearing that Abe Polan (Spelling?) was a friend of Yitzhak Rabin , and as a result of his assasination felt the need to change the name of the team due to the negative connotations of the word Bullets.
Actually, Will, we're not the fourth-largest media market in the country. We're the fourth-most-populous city, but we're considerably further down the list in terms of TV households, etc. As for leaving us bereft of a team, perhaps I'm just paranoid. But I really don't find it that hard to imagine, given David Stern's attitude toward the city of Houston. In my opinion, he's likely to interpret the arena referendum's failure as another example of how us idiot Texans don't appreciate the NBA and everything it's done for us. Not only do I think he'd approve any move Les Alexander made, but I think it's entirely plausible that Stern and the NBA would drag their collective feet in establishing another franchise in Houston.
Brian's right. We are somewhere between 8 and 10 in terms of media-market size depending on whose stats you believe. Also, Vancouver's new owner has no intentions of moving the team. Bill Laurie was the one that wanted to move them and he's gone now. Otherwise, I'd personally like to see the Rockets, the Transco Tower, and the Astrodome traded to Los Angeles for the Lakers. I think that fits within the fiscal budget cap. (The day they start trading entire teams is the day I quit following sports. ) ------------------ trade them all and fire the coach.
The name Washington Bullets makes me want to buy a gun right now On the Subject of team names not fitting where the team is why dont the NBA make relevent names: LA Hype Utah Flop Chicago Who Care's Jordan Isnt There Any More Portland Jailblazers Washington Our Best Player Is In Managment's Boston We Use To Be Good's Charlotte Damn Free Agentcy Miami NY Haters Golden State Choke Jokes Pheonix Barkley Made Us What We Are NY NBA's Vancouver We Were Made To Be Failures Toronto Will Do anything For A Point Guard's And the best team of all.... The Houston Pack Your Bags Were Going To Baltimore! ------------------ Your Starting Power Forward for the Clutch City Allstars My Expert Opinion Of Steve Francis:Mate he is a special player!
If Shareef Abdur-Rahim is willing to dunk chicken nuggets in sauce and mumble "Unbeatable", you've got my support. Think about it... 2003 or 2004 ... the headline: "Steve Francis leaves Houston, signs with Houston" Oh the irony of Francis "signing with the Grizz" ...
