I appreciate the way Rudy has always been a positive voice in the rocket organization. He has always been intelligent enough to put basketball in it's place, which is under life. He has never criticized publicly anyone and has always taken a personal approach to a game that lacks an identity of it's own. He has allowed players to be themselves. He has coached players to be themselves. He let them do what they can do best, which in the end may have hurt him as well. Nonetheless, he will always be the greatest rocket coach ever. Best moment--Thanking Hakeem this year for giving him the ring that many have chased in this league for more than 33 years. THANKS RUDY --I'm sorry the league turned into a league full of uncoachable and lazy primadonnas who cost you, a good coach, your job in the end. GET WELL SOON and NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR HEART AS A CHAMPION.....
i almost cried when rudy t did. that press conference just goes to show what a total class act he is. though i think that its the right thing to do for the team, i will really miss seeing rudy on the sidelines. its going to be real hard to see someone else out there. thanks for the memories rudy. 8 years later and im still riding high from those titles! it was awesome to be in houston at that time. ill never forget the "lucky red tie". i knew that when you put it on for the big games that it was a lock that we would win. when he wants to coach again im sure there wont be a lack of teams beating down his door.
I'll miss you on the sidelines Rudy! You were our greatest coach and best mentor Best of health and bring us the best of free agents!!
I love Rudy, always will. He has done so much for the Rockets and the NBA. Nothing but class. A series of bad personnel decisions and a group of whiney, immature, and underachieving players is responsible for ending a great coaching career. I hope some of their careers in Houston end soon. Personally, I would love to say goodby to Francis especially. IMO, he is the Rocket's number one problem. Can you say, OVERRATED, UNDISIPLINED, AND SELFISH. After this last season, I am utterly convinced that he will NEVER become a team player. IMO, T. Brown was a better point guard.
All I can say is get well soon Rudy T. There is nothing more important than that. I am saddened to hear that he is no longer the top ROCKET , but that feeling is minuscule compared to all of the great ROCKETS moments over the years with Rudy Tomjanovich. Thank you, Rudy T.
My memory of Rudy was when i talked to him at the airport when Yao first came into town. When Yao was going through the crowd Rudy was hanging in the background and the back of the crowd. I was the only one to notice him cause the rest of the crowd was following Yao. He was a class act, had the time to say hello to me and even shook his hand. He was one happy person that day and was just sad to see him break down to tears today at the press conference.
My favorite memory of Rudy T is of Rudy the player. It was on a Saturday morning at the Wheeler Avenue YMCA. There was a pickup basketball game going on in the gym. A small crowd had gathered to watch and I joined them. To my surprise, Rudy T, Mike Newlin and Robert Reed were playing. This was Rudy T the player in his prime firing up shot after shot of that flat line drive jump shot that was his trademark. I actually got a chance to talk with him briefly after the game was over. I remember we joked about his jumpshot - about how flat it was. I'll always remember his parting words to me - "yeah, but it goes in". A lot of folks on this bbs only know about Rudy T the coach who won two NBA World Championships. I will always remember Rudy T the player, the Rockets forward in red and gold rising up from the corner of the baseline or at the top of the key firing off that trademark line drive jumper that always hit nothing but net. If I close my eyes I can still hear Gene Peterson's call on the radio" T with the ball. He shoots. 2, T".
I remember the utter astonishment on his face when he was named head coach. He's being interviewed at the press conference and you can see the disbelief written all over him. He truly seemed to feel that he wasn't worthy... that management had made a colossal mistake, would wake up soon, and he'd go back to looking at tapes. It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Now we're divorced. I can't believe it. It'll sink in, but not yet. You'll always be loved, Rudy. Never doubt it for a second. And when your in the Hall, I hope they put a statue in front of the arena with your arms thrown up in the air, your head back and that glorious look of triumph on your face. You deserve it.
I can't say enough about the guy. I've met him a few times, and he was always very gracious and appreciative. I was too young to remember him as a player, but fell in love with the man after his first season. I bought his book "Rocket at Heart" about six years ago, and have read it three times. I was not happy with this decision, and I hope that it truly was Rudy's, because he deserved another chance if he wanted one. I can't say enough. We love you Rudy!!! And we always will. Enjoy your time off, get this bladder sitch taken care of, and know that you are as loved in this town as Hakeem, Earl, Bum, et al.
Thanks Rudy You are the man who delivered the ultimate prize to Houston...................Twice I will never underestimate your contribution, heart and classiness, glad i got to speak to you. As much as I hope you will always be a Rocket and continue to contribute to the organisation, i also wish the best of luck if you decide to continue your coaching career elsewhere. A great coach, and an even better man.
This is the day that I saw coming, but didn't want to. Rudy Tomjanovich is every bit a Houston Rocket as our icon, Hakeem. Rudy was integral in winning those championships, and I am dismayed that this is how it had to end. He is the greatest coach in Houston history, and will always hold a special place in the hearts of many Rocket fans(Most of us, hopefully). We'll miss you, Rudy T. In closing, "Never underestimate the heart of a champion."
