Hakeem stories appreciation

If you have access to Chronicle archives, search for Christmas Day articles by Jonathan Feigan. He usually devotes those to human interest stories of Rockets players. One that comes to mind in the Carlos Rogers article (probably 1999).

There's a great one about when Barkley got upset with the young kids and had to go out to Kinneally's with Jim Boylen to blow off some steam. The owner of Kinneally's had to lock them in a private room, because Barkley was getting a little animated and needed privacy.

As for Hakeem, Barkley's first season was doing so fantastically good that Hakeem got pissy and quit in a game at halftime when we were 17-1. The official cause was "he drink cold water too fast" and got heart palpitations. Rudy put him in the doghouse for a few games.

 

I am Hakeem's age and i was at Rice when he was at UH.
(an aside: "Akeem" was dating a Rice girl, whom he would marry, and he was a regular at our campus pub, where, geeks as we were, people would let him hang out and not hassle him at all.).
So the Coogs were playing the Owls at Autry Court his first season, and I was sitting right behind the UH bench (my dad knew Coach Lewis, and I was close to the UH team) Anyway, someone on the Coogs missed a shot and Hakeem rose up, snared the rebound and put it in off the glass. Coach Schverak jumped up screaming at Akeem, and he took him out of the game at the next whistle.
Right in front of me, Coach S screamed at Akeem "You dunk that damn ball! Do you understand me! Don't you ever shoot it off the glass! You dunk it!". Akeem was very young, and actually a sweet guy, even gentle. The were trying to bring out the aggression. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

One time I played against him and I didn't know who he was. Me being confident and with my crew i challenged him. I didnt like the way he guarded me, he would get too close. Sheet man he even spanked my butt. ****ing pissed off because they all looked like they couldn't hoop wearing them bright colors and heels. Anyways he invited us to his house to eat pancakes. Never judge a book by its cover. Tru story.

 

Saw him walk into the Denny's for coffee and newspaper with his woman when I was 3 years old (1988) - the first thing I remember about any "Houston Rockets". My older brother was about 8 or 9 and he went up to Hakeem's table to get his autograph on a dollar. That dollar has disintegrated by now

This was the Denny's on 1960 near Kuykendahl, when Hakeem was Akeem and he used to live in Northgate, I believe.

 

As for what I literally remember, just some tall ass, lanky black guy and my dad and brother acting bewildered that they knew who he was.

 

Wait, WHAT?

You'd better give a source on that. That sounds like something Charles would do, not Hakeem.

Hakeem has been so classy (after 1992) that I have to give him the benefit of the doubt here. Even Barkley himself didn't have anything bad to say about him when Hakeem retired--the only other person he could call honorable was Paul Westphal.

Skip to 3:29.
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Ramadan started yesterday?



Olajuwon Slakes His Thirst By Dominating the Bulls
Published: January 20, 1997

A depleted Hakeem Olajuwon was still enough to lead the Houston Rockets over the Chicago Bulls.

Olajuwon, who didn't drink liquids during the game because of his religious fast, had 32 points and 16 rebounds as the Houston Rockets finished with a 19-2 run to defeat the Bulls by 102-86 today.

The victory snapped Chicago's nine-game winning streak, as well as Houston's four-game losing streak against the Bulls, dating to 1994.

Olajuwon, a Muslim, is observing Ramadan, a period of fasting that includes no liquids between sunrise and sundown.

''I had some rice and also chicken and hoped that would stay with me,'' Olajuwon said. ''The hunger was not there, it was the thirst. I tried not to think about it. The thing is to control your desire.''

Olajuwon's fast didn't slow him down against the Bulls. Olajuwon played the entire third quarter and after taking a brief rest, returned to help put down Chicago's final charge. He played 39 minutes.

''We have a team that can beat them, but you have to pay the price,'' Olajuwon said. ''This is just one game but this is satisfying. We knew we could play with them. This is character-building for this team.''

Clyde Drexler had 17 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his 23d career triple-double.

Michael Jordan, who had 26 points, gave the Bulls their first lead since early in the first quarter when he drove for the basket with 7 minutes 12 seconds to play and drew a foul from Sam Mack. Jordan sank both free throws and a technical foul called on Rockets Coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who thought Jordan should have received the foul.

That gave Chicago an 84-83 lead, but Olajuwon made four straight free throws to start the Rockets' charge in the last six minutes.

''That technical really fired us up,'' Drexler said. ''That happens in games sometimes. You never know what's going to set a team off. That certainly did for us.''

 

hah, this is awesome.

 

I'll always remember this interview that Hakeem gave before I think it was game 5 in Phoenix, the Rocks down 3 games to 1. It wasn't looking good. Clyde was sick and we were facing elimination. Worrell is interviewing Dream, asking him all these questions and then he asks him if he thinks they can win tonight. Dream laughs and says, of course, that's why we're here. He was so confident that we would win, never a doubt in his mind. It was a hell of a game too!

 

You must always give the Dream his change!

 

cool story about the dunk.

and wow...i think you must have been at Rice the same time as me. What college? I was sid. At this time, my sister was in Jones. I have some minor corrections to your story. My sister's dorm room was next to Lita's, Akeem's girlfriend. Actually, Lita was first Cunningham's gf (Rice's center)...and left him for Akeem.

Lita wanted to marry Akeem, but he was somewhat a dick at the time. After graduation and the draft, Akeem told her that Nigerian custom says the girl has to prove her fertility, meaning if she got pregnant he'd marry her. Well, she did, and he didn't. So he was a big dick.

Lita raised Abi, became a lawyer, and I think moved to LA. When Akeem finally became Hakeem, he realized he needed to make up to her ... and become "the best father for my daughter" -- Lita is quoted as saying in an article.

So, they didn't get married. Hakeem's current wife is his first.

 

well the source of the "he drink cold water too fast" at halftime and got heart arhythmia sp? is the Chronicle game article -- i believe it was when we were 17-1 in '96. And it is easy to look up that Hakeem missed five games after that (I think 5). Of course, there is no "proof" that the excuse for missing the 2nd half and 5 games afterwards was made-up. And there is no proof that Rudy put him in the doghouse...but, everyone at the time suspected that.

Barkley was dominating in that fast start to '96, and took over the lockerroom...Hakeem got pissy.

 

In July or August of 1990, I was 22 and working at a Texaco at Kirby Dr. and 59, inspecting cars. (where I got stabbed four times a month or so later...lol)

I'd just finished an inspection and was cooling off in the office. My manager was a very short guy, with a jheri curl and he also stuttered badly.

He starts half mumbling and half talking loud towards someone out at the pump. Then, yelling (as the doors to the office where always open) "Y...y...you gotta' p...p...pay first!".

I look outside and it's Dream! In, I believe a white Jaguar. I'm like "Dude, that's Akeem!"

"I d....d...don't care who it is, he's g....g...gotta' pay first".

Dream is yelling inside "Turn the pump on!" Cedric is yelling back "You gotta' p...pay first!"

I'm going back and forth, like watching a tennis match, with my jaw wide open, pretty much in shock that it's actually Akeem!

He starts walking towards the office... gets to the door and ducks inside. He's looking down at Cedric, who's maybe 5'5", with the jeri curl and stuttering "You gotta' pay f...first, man"... and Akeem is still saying "Turn the pump on, man"....

He looks at me and motions with his hand towards Cedric, "What's wrong with him!?!?"

I'm still wide eyed, staring at him, jaw on the ground... shaking my head, "I don't know, Dream...."

Akeem walked back to his car, frustrated and I barely moved....lol.... still in shock.

Just thinking back at the way it must have looked - a near seven footer, with a heavy Nigerian accent, arguing with a short, cocky, stuttering little fella....

Something I'll never forget.

 

Great video and speaks volumes if how Hakeem was perceived by people...BTW heypartner maybe you should watch this...doesn't sound like your story has much substance

 

Dude.. I don't get your point..everybody here posts something positive about the greatest rocket of all time and you try to bring it down with your memory of him being pissy about some rumor or made up story...way to stay classy ...u must have something against Hakeem personally for that to be the memory that sticks out in your mind...you couldn't think of a million positive things....ashamed to call you a rockets fan

 

Why don't you watch the video above of barkely and Kenny Smith talking about Hakeem ....I don't need a source..I have that video to back me up and you don't have anything

 

Back around 85-86,I was underage but used to sneak into all those clubs in the 1960 area.Razzins,Commando's,Animal House and another that escapes my memory but was right at 1960 and 45 .. So anyway I'd often see various Rockets at these clubs.One night I was partying at Animal House on Kuykendahl and Akeem was there.I introduced myself and offered to buy him a drink,he said sure orange juice and vodka.Gave it to him and he finished it off in one swallow ...really happened.

 

Did you get any?

 

heypartner, I was at Weiss. my apologies for getting the story wrong- I'd heard they had a kid and presumed they were officially married.