Rockets not happy about Hakeem upstaging Yao?

Be part of something BIG.

Go to that game, and give Yao and all the Rockets a warm welcome.

Why Rockets officials would be upset where Olajuwon's officially retires is soap opera stuff. Yao isn't getting upstaged by some press conference for Hakeem. Besides, wasn't Hakeem Yao's favorite player???

 

This is the dummest thing I've ever heard. Why would the Rockets be upset with Olajuwon's retirement on that day. It would only help the Rockets. "Say goodby to our hero of the past and say hello to our hero of the future." It's perfect timing because it will help with the marketing of Yao Ming.

 

And who are these sources for The Star? That just proves that you can't believe everything you hear in the media.

 

I don't understand it either. I made my dad get tickets to this game, BEFORE I heard Hakeem would retire then. I'd assume just a few extra tickets will be sold because of that factor.

 

I really find this hard to believe. The Rockets would see this as the perfect promotional tool and as shuttle said linking the past with the future.

 

I wonder if Nachbar will be mad that Hakeem is upstaging him also.

Hmmmmm.

 

This makes no sense. Big deal if the Rockets officials are not pleased!

If Yao is as big as he's being touted, then you don't need to hype Yao.
He'll take care of himself without hype.

Plus, the world will have already seen Yao play from other games on the
road.

NO amount of hype and promotion will make Yao a better player.
And NO amount of hype and promotion will make Yao a worse player.

I know that the NBA are looking for the "next Jordan," but people can
see through those things. We've seen the NBA try to hype other players.
It didn't work. Just ask Kobe, AI, and Grant Hill. The people want the
real thing, not a fake.

Just let him play and he will gain support on his own merit.

 

Hakeem's goodbye was supposed to be last year. It doesn't surprise me if Olajuwon is doing this to reclaim some of his glory that he USED TO HAVE. Olajuwon cannot live without attention, as quiet as he is.

I really hope he goes away and hides after he retires, like what Mark McGwire and Barry Sanders have done.

 

My sources tell me that Boki is pissed and is ready to take it to the man.

 

Seems fitting to me. Goodbye Olajuwon, hello Ming. When do you think they will retire his number? Maybe they'll wait for the new arena.

 

The day that Yao Ming plays his first regular season home game with the Rockets would be the perfect time for Dream to retire and give his farewell in Houston. It could be a passing of the baton sort of ceremony. I have a very hard time believing that anyone in the Rockets organization is mad about this.

 

I thought Hakeem retired last year?

 

Hakeem will make his own decision on when to announce his retirement. He's Houston's greatest sports hero, and deserves every respect.

If Hakeem retires, we do plan on having a day to celebrate his career. When that day is depends on when he decides to make it official -- we'll move quickly for Hakeem, but these things do take some planning.

Hakeem's announcement of his retirement and the organization's celebration of his career are related (obviously) but separate events.

Tim

 

Yeah, I'm sure Rockets officials get real pissed whenever they draw attention and sell tickets. They had imagined a small intimate gathering for opening day. The nerve of that Hakeem......

 

Just for the record, Barry Sanders went away BEFORE he retired!!

 

I think Hakeem may have burned some bridges when he left. The Rockets are too smart to ever besmirch their greatest icon. They will say the right things. Will Hakeem? Maybe that is their concern.