I will be there chanting "we want Steve," mainly because we do want Steve. Just because he isn't 100 percent doesn't mean we don't still wish to see him get back out there and play.
Man, there's a lot of you guys! Obviously the "Don't be so mean to Steve" stuff was over the top and joking, but don't think the players don't care what the fans are cheering about. If the fans are constantly cheering "We want Steve" while Rafer, Brooks, or Barry is bringing the ball up, you don't think it will have a negative effect on the team? Remember, JVG was willing to spend thousands of dollars of his own money (Tmac chipped in, too) in order to have a more supportive atmosphere in the Toyota Center. I don't think that just because Steve's tough, that means he's above crying. His situation has sucked, A LOT, for a long time. A few years ago, he was on top of the world, a young superstar on the rise. Now, he's on the verge of being considered "washed up" (we know better, of course). You're also wrong about my age/choice of music/adherence to a subculture. But you do get some points for your innovative use of emoticons to convey a sardonic tone that might otherwise have gone unnoticed in your post. I'd be willing to bet the majority of the Red Rowdies read the GARM on a regular basis, and it's not often that mass chants are started or sustained without them. I think the above two posts make a good point. If you're going to chant, you should do it in garbage time, so it's a show of support for Steve rather than a call to yank whatever guards are on the floor. He did say it was the "toughest" thing. Still, maybe you're right and he'd really appreciate it, but chanting during a competitive game still shows a lack of support for the players on the floor. And it still won't get him on the court faster. Like I said, voicing your support for Steve is great, but if you're going to call for him to be put in, at least do it during garbage time. When he's ready to make the team better, he'll be put in. Until the Rockets have another open practice, you should realize that the coaches know better than you how ready Steve is. -------------- Lastly, there seems to be a certain kind of poster that thinks I'm somehow threatening their First Amendment rights by making a suggestion as to how we can best support the Rockets. Chill out. I can't make you do anything, nor would I if I could. I'm making a suggestion. The last few months must have been awful for you guys. I can just see you driving down the street. Every time you passed a sign saying, "Vote ___ for Judge" you must have screamed, "DON'T TELL ME HOW TO LIVE MY LIFE!"
I don't expect the coaches would listen to such chants (though I know they're annoyed by it). That wasn't my point. Fans serve a function in an NBA arena. It's not merely to keep themselves entertained. It's to cheer for their players on the court and try to boost their morale. If fans are breaking out a "We Want Steve" chant, what message is that sending to the guards who are currently getting playing time? It's telling them, "You guys aren't getting the job done, and we'd rather have this dude who hasn't played for a year to take your minutes." Toyota Center is so lifeless, as is. If fans are going to break out a chant, at least they can make it positive for the players who are actually expected to perform.
Sweetness. In fact want this as the stadium chant over ANY other chant idea that comes up. I might pay 300 TO see that.
This is a very silly request. The fans love Steve. Sure he didn't do much for us in the winning department (playoffs) while he was here, but he sure as hell gave his heart out every game. Even after every stupid turnover and every dumb shot he took, the passion, the love, the excitement the brought to this city during his first tenure with the Rockets earned him the respect of many. He is adored by the fans and no one can change that unless he does something really stupid that makes people hate him, otherwise, this fan base will always love him. I can chant as I want. I do not care if the coaches do not get him in the game. I just want to show my appreciation and welcome him back with open arms as he sits back on the Rockets bench. I'm glad he gets emotional. It just shows he appreciates the fans and this city. If he cries, I really doubt they are tears of sadness, I would feel that they are tears of happiness, that not matter how long he hasn't truly played for this team, he is still loved.
Usually the chant would be said at the end of games when we have the game won for the most part. Obviously if our players were playing bad they might take a "We want steve" chant like that. But if they are playing bad, we're ****ed anyway. If they are playing good I don't think they will take a "we want steve" chant as "they think we suck". I think Francis hearing "We want Steve" would inspire him to get into bball shape that much more. I hope that we blow the Spurs out so that we have a good shot at seeing him in garbage time.
This reminds me of when Nikolai Volkov would request that fans not chant "USA" when he sang the Soviet national anthem prior to his matches.
I should realize? Is there at any point in this thread that any of us are suggesting we know more then the coaches? Chanting "WE WANT STEVE" is far from saying "we know more then coaching staff so put in Steve". If anything I found it as motivation for Steve to do it not only for himself but for his fans and that he has our backing all the way.
