I was not anti-ming but i wasn't pro-ming either. I figured the Rockets couldn't get any worse than last season so any change is welcomed. I wish Ming and the Rockets the best of luck this upcoming season and hopefully in the post season. Personally I am more psyched about Nachbar!
Oh. My. God. Anti-Sonic: TroyBaros is your example of someone who's been unjustly labeled a troll? Are you kidding? A troll with friends on the team is still a troll. A troll who remains loyal to Olajuwon is still a troll. You posted to a Rockets fan site on a day that we picked 1 and 15 that you hoped our #1 would be a bust and that the Rockets deserve to fail. Why don't you and Troy and El Grande Queso set up your own Bizarro Rocket fan site, in which you can all talk about how you hope the Rockets and Ming fail and anyone who hopes the Rockets win games is labelled trolls? Every BBS has people like you. On many boards people like you outnumber true fans and ruin all the fun of posting and reading message boards. Thankfully your type is in the tiny but vocal minority here. The great admins here see to that. And on that note, I'm off to the tip jar to do what I should have done a long time ago.
You know something, Anti? Granted I hadn't started here when you were in your heyday, but I have heard and read how respected posters like Behad, Doctor of Dunk, and others sang your praises. I gave you the benefit of the doubt and always felt respect towards you. Well, that has all gone out of the window. If you really, REALLY feel that you want Ming to bust and that Olajuwon should still be "holding on" on the Rockets team, then to me, you are no better than gettinbranded or some other NBA team fan that posts here. At least some of those guys like Swopa don't post incendiary things like "I hope Ming busts". Why are you even still a fan of the Rockets?? Why not follow the Raptors?? How do you explain Olajuwon's season this past year with the Raptors?? Was it a fluke that he was the "bust"?? Hmmm...never expected him to get hurt again....:rolleyes. Trying to defend the Rockets' decision to not give Olajuwon the money he wants is something that has been discussed over and OVER again. I do not wish to re-hash it. However, it looks like to me that the Rockets did the right thing...after all, if Olajuwon was here, we wouldn't have Nachbar, who will turn out I think to be a steal. I wouldn't be surprised that once the years go by, an analysis of Olajuwon, who was 38 (some say he was even older) at the time, going to the Raptors for what turned out to be Nachbar will be judged a pretty good trade for the Rockets.
Manny - how much worse could last season have been with Olajuwon riding the injured list? Signing him to a "thanks for the memories deal" wouldn't have been detrimental at all. Granted, I wish Hakeem had retired after his farewell game vs. Minnesota, but after all the happiness he's given Rockets fans I think his wishes should be granted. Yeah, I worship Hakeem. So what?
AntiSonic, Did you really type that in all honesty you hope the Rockets first #1 pick since Hakeem is a bust? What does that have to do with "worshipping Hakeem?" please explain.
Okay, let me rephrase that... I don't stay up at night thinking "gee I really want that Ming guy to fall on his face and not amount to **** in the NBA." Though I wouldn't exactly be saddened if he did as I feel the Rockets would deserve such a fate after how they handled Hakeem his last years.
Hakeem is responsible for my love of basketball and my all time favorite player....but no player transcends the team,not Dream, not Francis and not Ming. I was upset that we didn't bring Dream back but I'm not really sure he wanted to come back.Whatever the case it's in the past and Ming is the future.
Take it outside, y'all. I made you a new thread just for this purpose. You shouldn't have any trouble finding it. Thanking you in advance, Your friendly neighborhood Batman
Absolved? From what? From disagreeing with other posters? I don't need no stinkin' absolution. I've already said that I hope for the Rockets' sake that he pans out before you started this silly thread but I have to ask. What will you not allow me to join since I've spurned your proposed absolution? I'll say it again. This is a silly thread. Let me ask a final question. If I am a "Ming Hater" because I would have preferred that the Rockets drafted another prospect, does that mean that you are a "Ming Lover" and there for "hate" all the other draft prospects? Don't you feel a need for absolution now?
He was being facetious with "absolved" JT. The thread is merely about whether you are now ready to cheer for whoever we did pick. I think the point is that he would root for any Rocket rookie to excel, and we want to know if people who originally wanted to trade Ming can still root for him. It's an easy thread to understand, imo. Being critical of a number one is one thing. Just like any player, I guess. But we do have to go into his first season hoping for the best, and hoping he can put up Sampson numbers right away. We can be critical after we see him in action, but until then, he's not being traded, so high expectations and hope is what defines every #1 pick, to any fan without an axe to grind. Maybe the thread title is wrong to use "Ming Hatas," since people get so defensive to the word "hata." But you know BMJ is right...until proven otherwise, Rockets fans sure be hoping for the best now, and hoping the predictions of "bust" are wrong.
What he said. Thanks hp. That's exactly what I meant. JT: I was half joking as hp said, but I was also just trying to give people a forum to hope for the best even if they're not sold. I wasn't saying you had to love Yao now, only that I hoped others would wish him the best. Which you did. Thanks for playing.
Heypee, Yeah I got the jist of the post but it would have been nice to get past the "Ming hater" drivel finally. Just something that has irritated me for weeks and I wanted to get it off my chest. Yao isn't the first pick the Rockets have made that I wished they hadn't and won't be the last. If Yao turns out to be a stud you guys can say you told us so. If not? If we are Rockets fans then we are Rockets fans regardless. If we think they made a mistake we just move on and hope for the best No pledge of allegiance is necessary.
Fair enough, JT. I didn't ask for a pledge of allegiance though. I just asked if people wanted to wish him the best. I grew weary of the bickering too, and I really didn't take part in it. Check the record. I previously used the word doubter rather than hater and probably should have carried it over to this thread. I mostly just wanted to give people a place to exhale and hope for the best. I'd just read TroyBaros' thread and was wondering how many Rocket fans might be in Troy's boat, having invested so much in opposing the pick that they might be hoping he'd fail just to be right. I though it was a pretty benign effort, regardless of the tongue in cheek approach. I'm sorry it upset you so much. See my signature for further humility.
Batman, No problem. You and heypee are right. I am being a bit over sensitive but sometimes it gets to itching so bad you gotta scratch. I hope Yao give me every opportunity to say I was an idiot for wanting the Rockets to draft someone else.
My skepticism of drafting Ming #1 is well documented in several threads. As Ive pointed out, the main concern is with Ming and Griffin together as I am concerned they will get abused inside. Also, Im concerned about the fast break b/c Steve cant run it. Its not necessarily Ming as a player b/c I feel he is a fine offensive talent that will add a good deal to our offense via his passing and scoring from many different areas; Ive stated this several times. However, the Rockets winning is first and foremost in my interest; it really doesnt matter to me whether I am right or wrong. I wouldnt gloat if the Rockets get hammered inside by any halfway decent big man, and the fastbreak was horrid. That would be depressing. I hope this all pans out, and the Rockets go to the next level. On a side note, I heard Rudy on 610 while driving home, and he discussed how the additions of Ming and Nachbar will very much improve the transition game. He was talking about having an efficient fast break which the Rockets didnt have last yr as they couldnt capitalize on running opportunities. Rudy knows more about coaching and basketball than I do, so I am willing to be patient and see how this fast break thing unfolds.
