My family are big UH supporters (gluttons for punishment I guess) & have been following Cougar basketball since Hayes. I was a little kid when Akeem was at school, so when he went to the Rockets, it only seemed natural to follow them. I bet many people were introduced to the team in the same way.
I'm in the 20+ range (which doesn't seem right) my first vague memories are the 81 finals against Boston- I think we finished under 500 that year it was compared to the 95 run- Greatest moment was scoring tickets to game 6 against the Knicks it was trippy the crowd was crazy- everyone was connected (best friends for a night high fiving random fans, talking smack to the few knick fans around us, etc.) good memories!
I've been watching ever since 85 when Hakeem joined the team, although i didn't know what I was watching or what was going on, I enjoyed it none the less.
My first memories of being a Rockets fan are when I was 7, when we were in the finals in '86 against the Celts. 2 memories stick out: I remember one of the games being in the afternoon in the middle of the week (is this correct?), and our first grade teacher brought a TV into class to let us watch the game. That's a little vague, but, the more prominent memory was my parents taking me to see the then just-opened moving dinosaur exhibit at the Museum of Natural Sciences. We went early enough so my parents could get home in time to watch the game, and I can destinctly remember them talking about how they hated Bird in the same manner that my generation would hate a Malone. I also remember, and have nightmares about, Mchale's armpit hair enveloping Ralph Sampson.
We'd just moved here the year prior and I had just started getting into sports. I couldn't resist watching the horra that was Allen Leavell's jump shot, plus those Hayes street commercials just sucked me in.
I've been a fan since Moses parted the paint which possibly makes me a tad older than some of you punks, but no less cool, perhaps even more so. I was around when Rudy got his card punched. I also followed Olajuwon from college (Cougars) to the pros. It's almost like reading one of the "We Were There...." series books. Soon to be a fairy tale come true. Believe. "LIfe is like a cherr of bowlies" - the Blues Magoos
I remember when the Rockets moved to Houston. My dad was connected with the U of H and we used to go to Cougar games sometimes. I remember listening to the Cougs playing the big game at the Dome while at a drive-in theatre with a girlfriend. I think she got a little ticked that I wanted to do that instead of making out, but hell, most of the cars had their radios on as well. People hollered and honked their horns when Houston won! I was a big Elvin Hayes fan after that, and that was a big deal when the Rocks came to Houston. Had him for one season. Became a serious fan after we got Ralph, and then Dream! I can't say how long I've been a fan in years, 'cause it's too depressing.
Quickly. Moved to the states in 73. Wow, American sports suck (I was really into soccer). Found myself in Houston in 79. Wow, American sports are cool. Dedicated my "fan-ness" to Houston in 80 (thank you Moses). Been a die-hard Houston All Sports fan ever since. And it's been a great ride. RR
I'm about as old school as you fred...been watching since Calvin and RT were playing. I dont remember how old I was...but I think I discovered them cause my dad took me to see the "new" bball team that was in town.... damn, I feel old.
Since the Rockets moved hear from San Diego. I've been a Rocket fan longer than Calvin and Rudy. Grew up in Dickinson, TX
Wow, it makes me feel ancient to realize that I've been doing anything for over 20 years ... Like a lot of people on this board, 1981 was a watershed year for me. We moved from San Antonio to Houston in 1980 when I was 9. I was kind of a Spurs fan (Go George Gervin!), but too young to really have any deep roots as a fan. During the 1981 playoff run, my switch was complete -- a Rockets fan for life. It was a great time for a kid to move from a city with one sports team to a city with three. Stros playoff run in 1980 (and lesser run in 1981), Luv Ya Blue, and UH even went to the Cotton Bowl. Got me hooked to big time sports -- I thought it was going to be like that every year (three teams in championship contention)!
Rockets came here in 1971- Murphy came with them or soon after, so he is definately the ultimate Rocket fan. I have followed them from day 1 in Houston although those early days are just a fog in my memory.
Thanks everyone for participating. It feels good to know we have many long time Rockets fans. For the new comers, welcome aboard. It was nice reading how you became Rockets fan. Please feel free to continue posting.
That's what I was thinkin, but since I was only 6 or 7 at that time, my memories are a little foggy.... I remember goin to see games at Hoffheinz(sp?) and there wasn't that many ppl there...we were able to go just about wherever we wanted (close to the court,Yea). I didn't actually become a full fledged fan till the mid 70s, the year b4 Moses joined the team (76 I believe?) I could tell you all the members of the team and what their stats were from the night before and all that stuff .. Ahh...great memories.
I've been a Rockets fan since they moved from SD in 1971. I went to HBU and remembering watching the Rockets practice there in the 70's. I remember Jack Marin used to drive to practice in a VW bug convertible. I remember Marin and Cliff Meeley punching it out during practice (in a Baptist gym). I remember getting 2 for 1 Rox tickets with Rainbow bread wrappers and getting free Ron's fried chicken when Mike Dunleavey hit a shot to put us over 135 points (not much D played back then). Houston Native
I was first a Rockets fan in the 1990-1991 season. I think the first player whose name I memorized was Otis Thorpe, and the second was Kenny Smith. (I thought they looked alike for some strange reason). Then I remember that Akeem got injured and had to be out. I believe the Rockets were 20-20 at that point, and then Kenny Smith went on a rampage for the next 15 games, leading the Rockets to a 12-3 record (32-23). Then Akeem came back, changed his name to Hakeem, and the Rockets lost his "coming back" game. And then, what I remember most about this season was the 13-game win streak that pushed us way over the .600 mark to 45-24. Well, after that and the next season, we all know the rest.
Rockets caught my attention in 1995. I became a true Rockets fan after moving to Sugar Land five years ago, and started posting just recently because of this Yao-mania. I've visited the MAVS' BBS because of Wang Zhi Zhi. Compared to our BBS, their board is no match. I knew Hakeem, Avery Johnson, and Mario Eli lived in Sugar Land 5 years ago. Do they still live in Sugar Land? Who else (NBA players of course, not those Enron executives) lives in Sugar Land?
