I've read a number of people commenting that Hakeem was laughing and others were cracking up when he made his comments about wanting the ball more. Some of you have suggested that it was really not that big a deal. No necessarily. Reporters don't report stuff athletes say if it is clearly a joke. Period! Why? Because, if they do, players don't talk to them after that. It has happened before. Hakeem is a smart guy. He knows exactly what he means when he says it. He may have said it with a smile on his face but it wasn't because he was joking. Reporters don't goof off with their sources unless they want to lose them permanently. Also, Rudy would not be addressing Hakeem's comments if Hakeem had been joking. So, whatever you think about what he said, don't think it was just for fun because, IMHO, it wasn't. ------------------ Mmmmmmm. Sacrelicious. [This message has been edited by Jeff (edited December 07, 2000).]
Good post Jeff. While Dream likes to kid around and have fun, he is serious about his game. He knows what the Rockets need, a low post game. We only have a couple of players that excel in the low post, and Los doesn't get many minutes. ------------------ When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new. This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view. -- Ella Wheeler Wilcox
what the hell are you talking about Jeff? Reporters turn on a camera and record what is said in a locker room with Hakeem with no rehearsal. I saw that camera. I am not talking about a newspaper article. There is NOTHING planned here to fool the viewer. The man did not look serious like I've seen him in the past. And we've seen decades of Hakeem interviews. If you are not willing to accept the opinions of other viewers here at the bbs, that is one thing. But damn sure, DO NOT say that we are all naive like only you knowl!! goddammit Jeff. Go rule another low volume forum. You are not coming into the 60,000 thread forum and claiming naivette abounds and only you know, without major challenges. This is NOT right! Renounce your Admin rights if you want to rant like this! cc.net is an info medium. Admins can't say we are all wrong like this in a 60,000 post forum that has a life of its own beyond the admins. Join me Jeff at the level of pion, and have fun saying whatever you want. But don't dismiss major opinions on a 60K forum as an admin. dammit!!
I had a friend once who had a dry sense of humor and would often joke with a straight face, but smiled when he was pissed and it was a "just keep @#$^ing with me" moment. Now I'm not trying to insult anyone's intelligence, but I say the interview and Hakeem looked like he was having one of those moments. I think his smile was more of a nervous smile, and not an indication that he was joking, and I STRONGLY believe he wasn't. And on a not so nice note, let me just say that it is ignorant (yeah, I wrote IGNORANT) of someone to blasts a writer who posts a message that refutes the post of another. In case you hadn't noticed, but this is a forum for fans to post opinions about our beloved Rockets. Therefore, everyone who posts here does under the assumption that you will ocassionally be met with resistance and possible ridicule (as I surely will for this post). Anyone who can't understand this needs to go to another board, or better yet, take the time to come up with your own board. And yeah, I'm preaching and being self-righteous right now. BUT THAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING THE RIGHT TO POST YOUR OWN OPINION, RIGHT?! NOW GET OFF OF JEFF AND LIGHTEN UP!!! ------------------ "We make a lot, but we spend a lot." Patrick Ewing, alumnus, Georgetown University
I'm sorry partner, maybe it's the way it came across, but you didn't look good with this. In fact, your post was downright sour to the bone. Besides, Jeff didn't particularly slam you. I thought you were 10 times better than this... ------------------ Sometimes you gotta do the next best thing!
Jeff said very clearly that a "number of people" were wrong. Not that he disagreed, not that he thought they were wrong, he said that they WERE wrong. When an admin says something like that it carries extra weight. heyp is saying that admins should use more discretion before saying something like that. I agree (as you might have guessed ) I understand that Jeff is fired up about this. Apparently, lots of posters saw the video of the interview. (I didn't) Each poster formed a valid opinion about the signficance and meaning of the video interview he saw. Jeff has no right to attempt to invalidate other posters' valid takes on the Hakeem interview. [This message has been edited by jamcracker (edited December 07, 2000).]
He didn't say: they were wrong. He said "wrong" to statements made which infer the matter is not a big deal ..Ahem..I don't want to call a spade a spade, but this Hakeem situation IS a big deal and not a joke, a prank, or a thrill, it's a very serious offense and one which warrants the proper awareness about the situation. ------------------ Sometimes you gotta do the next best thing!
Live sounds like a pretty sharp rookie. Or maybe he isn't ??? Do you know who Heypartner is ? ------------------ "There are two players carrying the Rockets right now. Hakeem and Olajuwon." Isiah Thomas
Maybe it's just me, but I thought HeyPee's comments were made a little toungue in cheek - I found it funny, even it wasn't supposed to be!! ------------------
Before this gets out of hand just : <font size=4>STOP IT!!!</font> Heypee I always have respected your opinion as a poster and since I met you as a person but right now don't you think you might have gone a little overboard? Let's not be too sensitive about the issue it seems as if you took it personal, I am sure Jeff did not mean it as a direct attack upon you. He was just simply stating an opinion that have some possible facts behind it. ------------------ If you are a positive thinking person but yet you listen to country music, isn't that odd?
This one is a close call. If he said it he was thinking it. Smoke usually leads to fire. Dream wants more touches. He may have laughed to ease the tension of it, but it seems that he knows what he wants. This has been building ever since last season. There have been a lot of clues. I think he wants t remain in Houston but he wants them to understand that he wants the ball. He used that one clutch shot as his time to speak. He's feeling the old juices rise up. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
Is it just me, or has this got out of hand. Jeff, I tend to agree that Hakeem was much more serious than just having soime fun with a couple of reporters. Regardless of his demeanor. Hey Pee, I can't tell if you were half-serious or half-kidding. But I too get sensitive to a prevailing condencension by some here on the BBS. I have been accused of doing it myself. I never read any such attitude from Jeff. "Me thinks thy play with our emotion dear sir." LOL I am leaning toward you half-kidding. Afterall, you do display a wicked sense of irony sometimes. ------------------
Do I know who heypartner is, you ask? Why yes, I do: He's BATMAN!! :EEK: (I know, bad joke) Heypartner is one of the many loyal, passionate Rockets fans who will always love the Rockets. Unconfirmed sources indicate that he's a pretty sharp cookie, too. And that's all I have to say about that. I don't see Olajuwon's outburst as being that serious or damaging. I actually have respect for the athlete that isn't afraid to demand his piece of the action. Now I can't say that airing your problems out in the media is the right course of action, but I'd rather see a player gripe about not getting the ball than going with the flow and then once they're not here anymore gripe about not being involved enough, a la Bob Horry. At least it shows that he cares and is confident enough to feel that he can make a difference. And in defense of Dream, he didn't say give me the ball X amount of times from this spot at this time, etc. He just wants to be a major contributor in the offense and has the resume to prove that he can be. Ooooh, I have THREE smiles in MY post. Time to do a happy dance!! ------------------ "We make a lot, but we spend a lot." Patrick Ewing, alumnus, Georgetown University
There is definitely some ambiguity in HP's post, just like there was in Hakeem's interview. I think that's the whole point. ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.
oeilpere, I am serious. Tactless, but serious. It isn't really even about this topic. It is just that Jeff did exactly what daddyoh01 claims he does: <A HREF="http://bbs.clutchcity.net/ubb/Forum3/HTML/009790.html">Dream has earned the right to speak period.</A> I just couldn't believe the timing. I've had a couple people email me in the past expressing disenfranchisement with the admins and the "cliquish inner circle" (whatever that means), mostly paranoid I'm sure, like daddyoh01. Like you say oeilpere, I'm not really one to talk, although us being rabid is a little different than Jeff's post. Jeff, in the Hangout arguments, everyone knows what they are getting in to and can handle a "you're wrong" with no added facts. But, here, people do get sensitive. This is our Rockets. I love your passion. I love your writing. I love the hard edge. I even seek "in yo face" responses from others. But I hate to see daddyoh01 be right! You know what I mean?
I assume heypee was kidding, however, in defense of what I said: The cameras may have been rolling but it wasn't live TV. That's what they have an editing room for. Second, even if the cameras were rolling, print media has a tremendous disdain for broadcast media and would NEVER print something a news outlet ran unless they agreed. Fact is, if a news station ran something like that and it was a joke, the newspaper person would likely run a story about how naieve certain broadcast media outlets are. Finally, NO ONE would ask Rudy to respond to Dream's comments were a joke and, if they had, Rudy would have said, "He was joking." I mean, maybe I'm completely off my rocker here and I never intended to make the entire BBS feel like I was superior. You should know that isn't how I operate. I was just trying to make a strong point and I certainly wasn't directing it at anyone in general. Now, if you were half-kidding as oeil put it, here's my response: You can kiss my ass. I rule this BBS with an iron fist. I will crush all of you! By the way, if you are kidding, you really should use smilies. ------------------ Mmmmmmm. Sacrelicious.
hey Live, where have you been?! One thing is for sure: clutch and Jeff have brought the lurkers out with this one! That is a Dream windfall.
Can't do my happy dance until I do this. :EEK: = OH YEAH!! (And I've learned the "running up the post count" method, too. Just like watching a baby take its first steps, ain't it!) ANOTHER SMILE!! ------------------ "We make a lot, but we spend a lot." Patrick Ewing, alumnus, Georgetown University
Live...your story about your friend has convinced me. That makes sense. Jeff is write. Now back to some talk about the Rockets and the effects of Dream complaining. I don't really care what Dream says, because he is playing stellar defense. Like jamcracker has been saying, it shows he still wants to win. I am curious whether this attitude of Dreams is why he looks so lost picking for people and moving in a motion offense, sometimes. I am sure Rudy and Dream are having healthy arguments about this behind closed doors if Dream really is asking for change. I would not change my offense for Dream at such a critical year when you must phase in new things with a new team. No way. Stick to your principles Rudy. Don't let complainers win. And don't trade him. Dream is worth more as a renounced free agent than disgruntled trade bait.
