End of suspense After being admitted into Clayton Gymnasium on the campus of St. Stephen's School in Austin to witness the final moments of the Rockets' morning workout Friday, members of the media corps became anxious. Nowhere to be found was Hakeem Olajuwon. Not huffing and puffing with his teammates, as he had done, at times laboriously, over the first two days of two-a-day workouts. Under ordinary circumstances, Olajuwon's absence might have been casually noted and the reasons for it pursued in a like manner. But the respiratory illness that landed Olajuwon on the injured list the final month of last season has been a big issue. Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich and team doctors had been pleased with Olajuwon's progress through Thursday. Then, he was a no-show. Had problems cropped up overnight? Was Olajuwon spending time in a hospital? "Today was mosque day," Tomjanovich said. Olajuwon was in worship as per his Muslim faith. He was back, though, for Friday's evening practice. No star treatment Hakeem Olajuwon has publicly stated that respiratory condition notwithstanding, he doesn't want to be coddled this year. He doesn't want Rudy Tomjanovich to play him simply for what he has accomplished during a 17-year career that includes two NBA championships, a regular-season Most Valuable Player trophy, an All-Star Game trophy and a pair of NBA Finals MVP awards. "I think he's the best," Tomjanovich said. "I think he's a class person, a great professional, always has been, has always cooperated. He wants what's best for the team. And I couldn't have a higher regard for him." Olajuwon's statement, said Tomjanovich, helps rather than hinders his decision-making regarding how to best utilize his star player during Olajuwon's final season in the NBA. This is from the Houston Chronicle.
