For every body that bashes Hakeem on here because his ability should feel terrible. We owe him two championships and countless memories. How many of you would talk this way to his face. He is old, and getting worse but have some respect, what hasn't he done? Everyone gets old. We are seeing a legend on his last legs. If anything we should just think about whether or not he still helps us on the court. If he does than he should stay. If he doesn't than we should thank him for the great career, not for retiring. ------------------ Rocketfan
I have a part of me that agrees with you Rocketfan(Francis3422?)......But....judging by what I have seen out of the Dream this season...I do really believe that he should go ahead and retire while people still respect him...Why hang on and get made a fool of and diminish an otherwise great career?? I really hate to see players try to hang on to past glory when they just can't physically do it anymore.. ------------------ [This message has been edited by myputersux (edited March 16, 2000).]
I agree he should retire, but I think there is a lack of respect for Hakeem. He can not do his thing anymore, but he shouldn't be criticized. ------------------ Rocketfan
yea...since I posted my prior response/I've been catching up around here(haven't been here in a while) and I'm just plain disgusted to see what some of these so-called Rocks fans have been sayin about Hakeem...I've had way too much fun watchin the Dream do the impossible for so long that I refuse to slam him like they are..I just want a great player to go ahead and quit while he's ahead.... Go ROCKS!!!! ------------------
Of course Dream deserves a lotta respect...I don't deny that. But a job done half-assed is a job not worth doing. If he's not going to give it all, then get outta the way and let someone else in that will. ------------------
We should look at what Hakeem can do for the team if he retires. He can become an assistant coach and continue to contribute. Defensively, he can coach the younger players on the tricks that the older guys use. ------------------ Do not harm little children!
Sorry to say this but hakeem would never be good at coaching. His accent is too hard to understand and he just wont help. Thats the way I see it. ------------------ President of the Moochie Norris FAN CLUB
I disagree with you Francis3! Maybe he wouldn't be great at headcoaching, or being an offensive/deffensive assisstent coach, but he could definently help young post players i.e. Cato, Rogers, KT, develope post games if he took the time to solely concentrate on that. And any budding post player would love to hear his coaching, accented or not. ------------------ Not only am I president of the WaltWizFanClub, I'm also the member.
Ahh come on...he isn't *that* hard to understand...and saying that someone with the obvious skills that he has/had wouldn't be a good assistant coach is just plain ludicrous...how do you know that he would not want to do it if offered the chance??? Go ROCKS!!!! Lottery or Not, Losing is NOT Acceptable!!! ------------------
Great players do not equal great coaches. I tend to think Dream will not be a good coach, simply because who has he taught any of his current skills to as a player. Only player I could think of is maybe Othella, but none of our post players seem to emulate Dream. Anyone have any insights as to wheter he has taken any young post players under his wing? ------------------
Shaq Daddy himself stated publicly that he learned many of Dream's moves and worked on his footwork with him in the summer of '92, the year Shaq was a rookie. ALthough they play completely different games, there are subtle similarities. Azim da Dream
Let Hakeem retire in his time next year and don't think Rudy will let him look too bad on the court. Rudy like some of us fans want him to leave in style in his time for what he has done for the Rockets. I know most of you won't understand, but just remember this and in years to come you will understand and think it was the right thing that youth didn't allow you to see at the time. ------------------
I can't believe people still argue over this. I think it is very simple if you don't think he deserves all the respect and appreciation that we as Rocket fans can give him no matter how long he stays, YOU ARE NOT A ROCKET FAN! ------------------ HAKEEM... the best ever!
Okay, I wouldn't go as far as to say that just because someone wishes Hakeem would retire or that the Rockets would've traded him is not a Rocket fan. I know some of you that I've sparred with me over this issue may not believe me. Just because I don't agree with another Rocket fan or because I don't understand them doesn't mean they are not a fan none-the-less. I may have said otherwise in the past in the heat of the battle, but I've had time to think about it and I can see where some people are coming from. I will never ever agree with them, but I understand what they want. People who want Hakeem gone want to win. There's nothing wrong with wanting to win. Some even think that "winning is everything". I am not one of those people. I've played ball with friends who used to use every dirty trick in the book to win, and they usually did win. But, I can't bring myself to use "Jazz-like" tactics to win. It's the main reason I hate the Jazz. (Sorry Jenna ) Back in high school we used to call them "Celtic-like" tactics, then "Piston-like". Speaking of the Celtics people continually bring up the Celts when talking about keeping Hakeem. I remember the Celtics, and what happened to them. Their situation was much different than what ours is now. They had four aging players: Bird, McHale, D. Johnson, & Parish. They kept them all until it was too late. That isn't even the whole reason they are in the situation they are in now. Coupled with keeping aging players they had two of their high draft picks and future stars die on them. Neither one was going to be the next Jordan, but a Ray Allen or Allen Houston-type player is not stretching what they could've become. We on the other hand have one aging star: Hakeem. And, we have a whole roster full of young talented players: Francis, Mobley, Anderson, K. Thomas, Cato, & Rogers. So, we have the core or base that the Celtics never did. So, I'd like the comparisons with the Boston Celtics and our current Houston Rockets to stop, because the two situations are not comparable. So, to the Rocket fans who want to get rid of Hakeem just to win, I say: "You're caught up in winning too much. Basketball is not life. Winning is not life." To the Rocket fans who want to see Hakeem retire to maintain his dignity, I say: "I know where you're coming from. But, try to enjoy the man for as long as you can. Once he's gone.... he's gone." To the Rocket fans who, like myself, want Hakeem to finish out his contract, I say: "Keep the faith, but don't expect the MVP Dream to lead us to a title next year. If you do, you're leaving yourself open for a big disappointment." ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem. [This message has been edited by DREAMer (edited March 18, 2000).]
Hey DREAMer, I think your statements could quite possibly make the front page. But that's just me talkin'. ------------------ <this space for rent>
