I hate to start another thread about Hakeem, but this one is a little different. It's obvious that some of us think that he should retire, some want to release him after this season, and some think he should be traded. Regardless of how you feel about that, it is painful to watch him go out and not play like he used to. I myself think that his asthmatic condition is causing a lot of the struggle, but that might be me denying the fact that his skills have eroded. Whatever the truth is, I have made a decision not to go to Rockets-Cavs game on March 20th. I live in Pittsburgh, have been an Olajuwon fan since I was 12, and had plans to go for a year and a half. In January when I was preparing to buy my tickets, I chose not to. I don't think I could sit there and watch a man who's basketball talents I have adored for so long struggle to do something that used to be so easy for him. What would you guys have done? Should I have gone? I type this almost in tears thinking that I will never get to see Dream shake on the left block and hit a baseline fade-away jumpshot. I can't watch him struggle though. If Hakeem plays well on Monday, that will be good enough for me. I will have wished I did make the trip, but I think that I will feel some of that excitement knowing that he has shut some of his critics up. But, that may not happen and if he does struggle I will be glad I did not have to experience that.
