Dream Update?

In my opinion, Dream is sulking. I think he sees this team going nowhere and sees his contributions waning, and he has a hard time accepting it.

He has always been a proud man, and I am certain that if he were motivated, his points and rebounds would be around 18 and 10.

I think he is simply tired of the game, and does not have the ENERGY to play anymore.

I am hoping he retires at the end of the year, he no longer has that win at all costs mentality.

DaDakota

 

DaDakota- true or not (concerning his competitive edge), there is something physically wrong with him. He admitted he's getting winded in two or three times up and down the court. This really has been the case since his comeback from the hernia, if you want to actually call it a comeback. I really think there is some physical problem that the doctors haven't found yet.

 

He is still doubtful. I didn't see the game yesterday and don't know what happened.

Hakeem - It is time for you to retire. I can't stand to watch you struggle anymore. This is season has been really sad.

 

Well to put some Hakeem perspective on it:

1. He has a reoccuring (mild) condition called A-fib {for atrial = that's the right side of the heart, fibrillation = that's an unscychronous heart rate}. Generally considered benign and not life threatening, it can in fact lead to more lethal dysrythmias. The condition can cause periods of weakness and breathlessness and in some severe cases syncope(fainting,especially on exertion. He has altered how he drinks liquids, how and when he excercises, and has medication for prolonged episodes.But he will have this condition for life.

2. He has just come off a lengthy rehab and in previous years when he got injured he came back to a team that would play around him until he got his feet under him again. Not this year. It is catch-up or get left behind. The team has not slowed it's running game(well actually it has slowed somewhat, but not because of Hakeem).The team has only a few effective "Hakeem" plays that they run regularly. His PT is way down. Also, despite attempting to recondition himself, he feels ".... not 100%", "..... I'll never be able to get all the way back", ".... feel so weak, but I feel in shape too. Strange."," .... am trying harder and harder to regain my (shape)."

3. In a list by Rudy as the guys he wants in there in "crunch time" and placed in his order of their importance to the team winning (as told to a colomnist for Sports Illustrated, then picked up and reported blindly in the local media recently) was the following players .... "Steve Francis at the one, Mobley at the two, Shandon at the three, I guess they're about even, definitely Carlos at the four and Cato at the five. Well maybe the Dream in some situations too. But I like that line up." OUCH!!!!!!!!

4. When Hakeem had his financial agent approached the management about possible buy out of his contract when he was injured this year, and wanted to augment or change the terms of the contract, he was more than a little surprised by their attitude. They were NOT shocked. They WERE accomadating. They would be "sad to have you go but so long", attitude was NOT what he had expected. Hakeem thought when he went into these exploratroy talks he was in a position of strength. Surprise.

5. With a career that is clearly dwindling, but still at a very passable talent level, he wishes for a different career-ending situation than this. He does not want to have his starts in question every game. He wants to be in control of his own destiny. But unfortunately for him, that is not the case. He may get brief starts. He may even get some plays called for him. But he is no longer the focus of this team. He is a proud man. It has got to hurt.

In my humble opinion, this is his final year.

 

"He is a proud man."

Doesn't being proud go against Islamic teachings. I thought it was like your last statement, "be humble".

Cocky on the court, humble in life.

If we have one 5pm game and have clutch, turbo, the power dancers, Leslie, Bob Lanier, Calvin, Jim etc. kneel in sunset prayer with Hakeem, that just may be the setting where he walks away in humble certainty with no fanfare but with proper respect.

If not...we turn away and let Rocket Freak shoot him.

 

hey popeye - just to correct something. atrial fibrillation is not exactly like you described it. first of all the atria are 2 of the 4 chambers of a heart (they are the 2 top chambers that collect blood returned from the lungs and rest of body and then they pump into the lower chambers - the ventricles.) they are not the "right side" of the heart. in atrial fibrillation these 2 chambers occasionally fibrillate (something like quivering) in a random fashion, instead of contracting in a smooth, periodic controlled fashion. secondly this does cause weakness but only when it is actually fibrillating. considering that A-fib often can go day, weeks and even months between episodes, i doubt hakeem's weakness is related to his A-fib. more than 99% of the time hakeem's heart is working fine and any weakness can't be blamed on the condition. if he did have an A-fib episode during a game, he would be able to tell and would not continue to play - assuming he has been informed well by his physicians.

 

It has been reported that he has been putting in extra work before and after practice to try to get back in shape. It obviously is not working. I think there is something physically wrong with Dream. I just hope that it is not serious.

 

heypartner

Everywhere I look on the BBS you have been disrespectful and tasteless when talking about Hakeem and his religion. Would you ever say the things you've said on the BBS straight to his face. Respect Hakeem and most importantly respect yourself. This is pathetic.

 

Finally, somebody who knows something that Popeye doesn't. Go Bronxfan...Go Bronxfan...

Jerry....Jerry....Jerry....Jerry!

<smirk>

Surf

 

Everywhere...what?!

Yes I would say that very thing to Hakeem, and any word I've ever said on this BBS. But thanks for pointing out that obviously I can't say things on this BBS that I would say to Hakeem.

The only time in my life I haven't respected Dream was when he dated a fellow Rice alumn, neighbor of my sister, and told her he wouldn't marry her until she proved her "fertility", then broke up with her after she got pregnant. This was before he renewed his Islamic faith. Ask Hakeem about that, next time you speak to his face.

That's it with my disclaimer, LAROCKETFAN. I have no need to explain my values to you or anyone else on this BBS, or claim misunderstanding, or say it was just a joke...go bash Jay Leno now.

Excuse me now, while I hunt down Rocket Freak for starting Monday off with a little, cynical humor that led me to stretch the boundaries of Rodney Dangerfield.

 

I saw on the ESPN sportsticker Dream is out tonite due to a virus. Thats all I've heard.

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Proud Cheerleader 'til we move to New Orleans
302

 

Atrial fibrilation is common. Several million Americans have it. George Bush was diagnosed with it a few days ago. I have it. I don't take any medication for it, I've had no problems to speak of from it. Of course, I'm also not playing NBA-caliber basketball, either. I'm not sure what Hakeem's problem is, but to blame his sluggishness on atrial fibrilation alone? I'm no doctor (wait, what the hell? I am on this BBS, dammit!), but I don't think that's the cause of his sluggishness. I remember he was anemic in the past, and I'm not sure how much that's contributing to his problems.

I just wish the guy would retire. Screw the championship, forget the 1 more year on the contract and whether or not he's affecting the salary cap by being here. He needs to retire simply because if he's having this many problems this year, I doubt it's getting any better next year. His game hit a wall and hit it fast; damn near spontaneously and I hate seeing him barely even 40% of the center he used to be.

Lastly, Moesha looks like a damn fish.

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<this space for rent>

[This message has been edited by Dr of Dunk (edited February 28, 2000).]

 

I think all of this talk about wanting Hakeem to retire is a bunch of crap.

I want Hakeem to go out like a warrior, not like some friggin' washed up has-been. And don't say he is. He is not.

If Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Robert Parish or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, can produce at the ages they do/did, then so can Hakeem.

David Robinson has had back problems for years, Ewing has had knee and ankle problems for the past few years. Hakeem Olajuwon can still produce. I don't doubt that with one cell in my body.

It is not because his talent has diminished to the point of where he can't do it anymore. It may have something to do with desire, but not it's not the major reason, in my opinion.

That only leaves something physical. Again, I'm not saying that this is the only reason, but I believe that it is the overriding reason for his inability to play.

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I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.

 

I agree DREAMer, if the Chief "wanna smoke outta my peace pipe" could play without getting winded, Hakeem should do fine.

 

No, it's physical.

The fact that he's "proud" would only support that it's physically something he cannot overcome on his own without medical help. The way he rehabbed every other time, like last year with his knee, he worked even harder to get into shape... only as a proud warrior would.

Don't count him out yet. Let the doctor's get him some help, if at all possible, and he'll be right back on top making rookies look like old men, and old veterans look like retirees.

He ain't done.

 

Dream was excellent in that movie "Dead Man Walking".

 

Bronx Cheer (and I guess Surf dude too)

Thanks for the enlightenment,but.....

(Here goes another long one by that popeye guy!!!!!)

I was attempting to write something as rudimentry/elementry as I could without belaboring the suject. I guess I am not very good at that, as it seems I regularly belabor subjects. LOL Like right now. Sorry. However.....

My medical profession allows me to address these very issues on a daily basis, as one of my responsibilities is answering legal inquiries on medical issues.

A. I wrote: ".... He has a reoccuring (mild) condition called A-fib {for atrial = that's the right side of the
heart,

You wrote:"..... atrial fibrillation is not exactly like you described it. first of all the atria are 2 of the 4 chambers of a heart (they are the 2 top chambers that collect blood returned from the lungs and rest of body and then they pump into the lower chambers - the ventricles.) they are not the "right side" of the heart...."

1. You of course are correct, the atria is the plural of atrium describing the upper two chambers. However, when discussing cardiac landmarking for fibrillation or electro-mechanical conduction purposes it is customary to align the "right" or "left" affected side as either atrial or ventricular in origin. Usually the reason is given as the "near" or " close enough" proximity of the SA Node (Right Upper Aortic) and AV Node(Left Lower Septal) positions. Also, although not accurate as far as actual placement of the chambers is concerned, the actual conduction mecahanism travels in a direction from upper right to left through the septum, and affecting the contractility of the myocardium along those pathways.

2. The areas or chambers of the heart are seperated by the septum. When these areas function poorly or become independantly less productive they are said to have congestive heart failure. The definitive terms used to describe the origin of this failure is: Right sided failure or Left sided failure. I know this is not germaine to the issue but does make the case that acceptable terminology does include the the terms right and left when describe dysfunction of the heart muscle(myocardium).

B. I wrote: "....fibrillation = that's an unscychronous heart rate}

You wrote: "...in atrial fibrillation these 2 chambers occasionally fibrillate (something like quivering) in a random fashion, instead of contracting in a smooth, periodic controlled fashion.

1. Actually the atrial chambers themselves do not fibrillate. Blood is circulated primarily by the action of the myo-contraction (the strongest and most profound being the left ventriclular) in accord with the firing and subsequent rest periods (systolic/diastolic)of the entire mycocardium. This is significant in interpretation for this issue, because the atrial (A-fib) misfiring does not appreciably impair the circulation of blood through the heart. Therefore making it not as lethal or suspect as a ventricular origin. It is the response by the atrial-ventricular conduction (AV Node) and the subsequent left ventricle contraction that makes this A-fib go from a benign to a maliganant condition.

2.I see little difference in our defintions here but, I'll stick by my definition. Accepted defintions per a number of authorities(incl McLane/Mclean, Howard, Saunders, Mosby, et al...) a.fib.= a cardiac arrhythmia marked by rapid randomized contractions of the atrial myocardium.

C. I wrote: "...the condition can cause periods of weakness and breathlessness..."

You wrote: "...this does cause weakness but only when it is actually fibrillating. considering that A-fib often can go day, weeks and even months between episodes...'

1. I don't see were we differ on that.

D. I wrote: "...in some severe cases syncope(fainting),especially on exertion.. "

You wrote: " more than 99% of the time hakeem's heart is working fine and any weakness can't be blamed on the condition...."

1. Sorry you cannot rule out that whatsoever. As a matter of fact, the lethality of A-fib rises when the symptoms of weakness associated with it is ignored.
2. The real problem with a-fib, according to a number of studies (some by DeB's team, etal in Houston)is that prolonged mild(low end a-fib rates or short episodic occurences) can lead to more serious situations and more prevading syptomologies. In essence, although history shows the degree of the incapacity experienced in the past, it cannot accurately predict the progonosis. Pointedly you vcan not rule it out simply because he has a mild case or he is healthy "99%" of the time.

E. You wrote: ".... if he did have an A-fib episode during a game, he would be able to tell and would not continue to play..."

1. Some sports medicine studies that were cited a year or so ago after Hakeem's diagnosis was first made public (sorry can't find the source,it's here in my office under something) show that athletes have a greater capacity for the fibrillation NOT to overtly present itself as a symptom, until it has progressed to a level requiring aggressive treatment(IV Cardizem, Digoxin,etc..)to convert.
2.In short, he may become breathless, may have some mild to moderate impairment, but the actual "feel" of a rapid heart rate, or attributation of the symptom to A-fib is absent due to exertional endorphins, increased muscle bulk/tone, typical denial factors, etc... . In these sports examples, the therapeutic effect of valsalva manueuvres and other pedestrian actions was minimal.

Bronx

Hey appreciate the opportunity to debate. Keep Healthy!

The rest of you readers.

Sorry for the length of the post, but it was Hakeem related, so noit totally without some merit.



[This message has been edited by popeye (edited February 29, 2000).]

 

As i have already suggested there will be a Dream press conference soon and he will announce his retirement due to a mysterious illness and will be forced to live the rest of his life in bubble (just like the boy in the bubble in Seifield )and the nba hierachy will not allow him to play in the bubble. Dream will argue him playing in a bubble is no worse than allowing Stanley Roberts, the Big O Oliver Miller and the ex-rocket THam to play the game of basketball. Dream will successfully sue the NBA for say 17 million for discriminating against bubbles. The NBA will give the Rockets a very large exemption, which the rockets will use to sign Mr Duncan, additionally we will use the 4.5 mill exemption and Drew, Walt, Pig and Bull to get a sign and trade for Mr Hill. Several months into the season Dream will announce a comeback saying that has been cured and he has been practicing with Chuck for months and Chuck will also play another season, giving the rockets a line-up of Duncan, Thomas, Hill, Mobley, Francis, with Dream, Cato, Chuck, Rodgers, Draft pick, Anderson and Moochie coming off the bench.

 

Thanks for the info.

What are some of the side effects of the most common medication for this condition?