"@$$hole" is one word, making your post technically 10 words long. You can just stick a dollar in the tip jar for me.
Good point. I think you've hit right to the heart of the matter. Why would Hakeem retire when he can play his 15 minutes, 6 point and 5 rb games, while dragging down the raptors...both moral-wise and franchise-wise. Hell 12 mil is 12 mil, who cares what he has to do to get it...right? F$^$& the Raptors is what I say!!!!! I'm just glad he isn't a rocket anymore with all his denial...I could see the headlines if he was: Ming has record rookie year with 25 pts on 65% shooting with 12 rbs. and 4 blocks a game...Olajuwon ask for trade because of playing time...former Rockets starter wants to be used properly
No, but if I'm paying a man 12 million dollars I would expect him to be in good enough shape to at least try and earn it, which is Something Hakeem didn't do. I remember when I got heat from people about 2 years ago when I said that Hakeem's fire was gone and the guy was just trying to get money without earning it. The ironic thing is Hakeem is doing the same thing people accuse Cato of doing, signing a big contract and then getting lazy. And I don't care what Hakeem did 6 or 7 years ago, if he is under contract I would want him to produce NOW! But I wonder how people would react if, say, Cato retired today and demanded ALL of his contract? People would be outraged. And it isn't any different because Dream hasn't earned one dime of that money from the Raptors.
This is gross. It ABSOLUTELY tarnishes his accomplisments - not on the court so much, but the whole 'character' mythology that went with Hakeem -- one of the most endearing things about him, which I rooted for and David Stern praised before giving him the MVP trophy -- will not only be tarnished, but pretty much forgotten. This is not a blip or minor footnote. This is Asterisk City. Be humble* *(unless one can disregard all logic by proclaiming one's self 'one of the best centers of the league' (when healthy*), turn down an overly-generous offer by one's hometown team, and then find a different team stupid enough to roll the dice but not stupid enough to lose games over it. Then, one is permitted to act like a prima donna and hide behind Dan Fegan...) *Hakeem is never healthy, so the question is moot Be hungry* *(unless one needs to grouse to the media when one does not receive unmerited playing time and shots*, and one does not feel compelled to indicate a shift in work ethic or perspective in accordance with the reality of the situation...) * Playing well six years ago does not merit touches for a team that wants to win now, not six years ago. I mean, I thank him for all the wonderful basketball memories. And for teaching my brother how to do pushups. Those memories are safe. But the Be Humble Be Hungry mystique is gone, gone, gone. He's screwing Toronto for two -- nay, three -- years. Hope it feels nice. Your right, Hakeem, Fegan was the real character guy, not Rudy Freaking Tomjanovich or Caroll Freaking Dawson. Whatever, dream. What a disappointment. CBFC
Can I ask what you're referring to? The only new facts posted in this thread are that Hakeem is injured and may have to retire. Is that what you're up in arms about? I'm trying to figure out what's so "gross" here. What just happened that "is not a blip or minor footnote"? I must have missed it.
Now I am not saying he is out to get anyone, but what is happenning to Toronto could have happened to us; it would be like if we signed some aging superstar under the delusion that he would contribute, but then he just tanked and sucked away our cap room (COUGH GLENRICE COUGH) for three years. It is gross when you realize cap room is so precious to a franchise. But seriously, when Shawn Kemp sets the standard for altruistic behavior and Hakeem Olajuwon looks like a bloodsucker, that's bad. If Hakeem pulls punches with Toronto by collecting major cake when he can not even suit up -- and there is no evidence to suggest he wont -- that's what would be, in my estimation, gross. And that's the tidbit I get out of this thread. If he negotiates a buyout -- essentially, "thanks but it did not work out" -- that would be fine with me. CBFC
Okay, so you're saying what COULD happen would tarnish his accomplishments? Because it sure sounded like you were saying that Hakeem being hurt was tarnishing his accomplishments -- "It ABSOLUTELY tarnishes his accomplisments" and "This is not a blip or minor footnote. This is Asterisk City." I couldn't find anything in the thread that would do that, only speculation. Also the quote "He's screwing Toronto for two -- nay, three -- years." I don't get either. Either way I still weigh 20 good years more heavily than one bad one. I'm amazed that I'm one of the few that do.
My problem is that, if Dream does demand all this contract money without being able to play, then that "one bad year" will put into doubt many of the previous 20 good years. Not his accomplishments on the court, mind you, but his character overall. He was always described as a great guy that was humble, and generous, and kind...but it seemed like there were always little things here and there that made you think that maybe he wasn't quite as good-hearted as we would all like to believe. I always ignored those things. But the way he is ending his career, it can't help but blacken my mental image of his character over the 20 good years.
No no, look -- I love Hakeem, seriously, this is not about judging him as a bad person or something. It's that legacies like his are very precious; Hakeem's was special -- better than Jordan's to me, because it involved a human being who transcended sports though accessible and underacknoweldged, humble paths to greatness. Jordan -- to me -- never did that. Hakeem did. The problem is, the longer these Payday Years go on -- it hits Hakeem's legacy -- to me -- very hard. Harder than most, because his was not just about being a ballplayer. And I did not invent this pedestal, he talks about values and ethics all through his book, mind you -- he does relish being a role model, espousing his philosophies to anyone who will listen. His act since the "Send Me To Miami" days is the precise inverse of what he supposedly stood for. To me, I should say. His accomplishments made him a great ballplayer. No doubt. But his approach was what made him an <i>inspirational</i> ballplayer because he integrated things like self-sacrifice, humility intelligence and competitiveness into his professional life with remarkable results. This hurts to watch because Hakeem once seemed more intuned to reality than anyone else on a basketball court via humility and desire to win as a team. He knew the weaknesses of himself, his teammates and his opponents because he saw the bigger picture. Now, it seems like he has forgone all of his higher instincts for his most base ones -- and it has cost him everywhere but his wallet, which seems like a thin consolation. The Hakeem karma is punishing none other than Hakeem himself. THAT is what's gross. At best, continuing to play the game is about pride. At worst, it's about money. Both will tarnish his legacy of being a humble, dignified and wise athlete. It's not that he lost his game. That's not the worst of it. The worst is, he is ignoring the very approach that made him great. I feel like those of us disappointed in Hakeem have learned more from his work than he did. Seriously, he set the very standard to which he can no longer compete, and it has little to do with performance on the court. There is a difference between spite and disappointment/embarassment. For me, it's all about the latter. CBFC
I didn't know that the the freaking billionaires-owners of NBA clubs can get so much sympathy in this country. A contract is a contract. Should I remind you that Dream was playing for less than $5mil in his MVP year? That for years David Robinson has been collecting paychecks for doing nothing. Dream is a man of business. He never complained when he was underpaid, why should he listen to owners' complaint that he's overpaid. Shawn Kemp is a different case. He did whine a lot to Whitsitt when he was playing for $2mil/year, and Trader Bob used this to get back at him now.
At least Pat Ewing finally retired... I wish I could make Fegan the scapegoat and burn him in effigy, but Dream has his share of the blame too. Doesn't matter...Dream's legacy isn't tarnished for all that he's brought me. Faith in the underdog, and a determination that one person can change the whole team.
He never complained when he was overpaid because he probably realized he was going to be getting his payday later in his career, as he obviously did. The man was getting 16 mil a season towards the end of his productive time with the Rockets, so it is not as if he wasn't compensated for his "sacrifice" of only getting paid $5 million a season. And, technically, you are correct. He has every right to demand the money since the Raptors signed the contract. But then again, there are lots of people that have every right to start ridiculous lawsuits just so they can get an easy payday...but it doesn't mean they should. I am not saying what Dream is doing is the same, but it certainly seems like the non-******* thing to do is to not demand all the money that you won't be earning for the next two years. As CBFC pointed out, even Shawn Kemp left a great deal of money on the table because he realized that he didn't deserve it (or, at least I would hope that is why he did it...I can't think of another conceivable reason to do such a thing).
Thanks for the thoughtful reply, CBFC. The only thing I can add is I choose to look at the big picture. You know, 20 years of great memories and all that. I think the pluses far outweigh the minuses, and on the whole Hakeem was a true gift to the city. To me, harping on what is happening now is pointless.
Not me.....things like refusing to sign a high-dollar shoe deal so kids could afford your shoes are the things I remember. Stepping in and speaking in front of the players to help end the '99 labor dispute...those types of things. They don't go away.
Actually it's 10 words, and at least one of them is gramatically incorrect. Long live pedants everywhere!
