calling on CC.NET's awesome power and influence (re: '95 rox)...

You know those little toys that kids roll around that has the little balls that jump up and down inside that clear plastic bubble? Well, let's just say that David Robinson can't look at one of those without cringing into the fetal position on the ground...

 

Oh, damn, that was funny!

More Robinson jokes, please.

 

http://www.nba.com/0001Video/olajuwon_shake_052495.avi

 

Here's a D-Rob Joke...

MVP in 1995


"I don't know how I can sit here and say it with a straight face...but I feel for the most part I guarded him pretty well..he just played better than I've seen anyone play in along time"

 

Those D-rob jokes are hilarious

 

How are the '99 Spurs a great team? Didn't they beat a horrible 8 seed Knicks team?

 

Nice comeback. He sounds like a prick.

Yes, A-Train. Send him that one.

 

...in a lockout-shortened season?

 

Does anyone know how many records were set (or tied) during the championship runs...

K.Smith - tied the playoff record for 3 pointers (7 right?)
Rockets - tied the longest consecutive winning streak (15)
Only team to win the championship seeded at 6th
Holds the record for most teams eliminated with 50+ wins
Last team to comeback from a 3-1 deficit to win the Finals.

Most road wins in the playoffs 9 (thanx A.T.)

Only NBA champions NOT to get the cover of sports illustrated (national)

*only NBA team to destroy the league's MVP...okay, okay so it might have not been the entire team. Just one man.

Did I miss anything?

 

I'll let somebody else take my comment if they want to...Personally, I didn't think anybody would get it.

While you're all at it, toss in a quick, "Has the sting from being the first team in over 40 years to lose to an expansion team in their first ever game worn off yet?" for me...

 

that would be 9...

 

here's some more grist for the mill. . .

when you refer to the Spurs, refer to them as the Spurs*.

also, make reference to the fact that the '99 Spurs were the first team to fail to repeat as champions since the '85-'86 Celtics.

here's a copy of the e-mail I'm sending him. if I get a response, I'll post it here.

Junior,

As someone who makes a living in connection with professional sports, you really ought to at least make an attempt not to come across as so ignorant.

Your obvious homerism is blinding you to some painful truths about your Spurs*.

The '95 Rockets' playoff run was possibly the greatest in NBA history, if not all of professional sports. Being that you make your living covering sports and all, I'm sure you're already aware that the Rockets beat 3 60-win teams in the playoffs that year, all of whom had the home-court advantage.

And of course you already know that the Rockets and Hakeem Olajuwon clipped and completely ran off with David Robinson's manhood. Never in the history of the NBA has an MVP-winner been so thoroughly embarrassed publicly.

If the topic is the last unworthy champion in the NBA, the answer to that question is clearly the '99 Spurs*.

Most unbiased observers would acknowledge this assertion based on the Spurs'* uninteresting victory over a weak Knicks 8 seed from the East and the Spurs'* inability to repeat as champions the following year, making them the only champion in the last 16 years to fail to repeat.

I know that, with a radio job, you have to say a lot of things quickly. But it would be good in the future if you'd give thinking a shot first.

Cordially,
chievous minniefield

if I get a response, I'll post it here.

 

My response was a little winded, but I think I was fair. Pasted below for anyone interested ...

In defense of the '95 Rockets
I can't believe you would suggest that the '95 Championship Rockets team was the last non-great NBA champion.

You really shouldn't have to go back as far as '95. You might remember the asterisk every NBA expert and fan places on the '99 Spurs championship season. But I didn't email you to rip on a Spurs championship run that almost everyone else rips on ... in part because I like the Spurs, but more important, I would prefer to spend my efforts in defense of a great playoff season in defense of a championship trophy -- the '95 Rockets.

That Rockets team came on strong just when a champion should. The first series against Utah (60-22) went to 5 games, with the Rockets beating future hall of famers Stockton & Malone on their home court. The second series against Phoenix (59-23) was the greatest gut-check series ever for a championship team. The Rockets came from down 3-1 to win the series ... again without home court advantage. From there, the Rockets hit their stride, defeating San Antonio (62-20) in 6 games -- at home -- and humiliating league MVP David Robinson. After that, sweeping Orlando (57-25) was just a formality.

No team has come from the 6th seed to win the championship before, and with good reason. That was the hardest road a team has ever had to travel to make it to the finals. You don't have to be a high seed to be a great champion. And in fact, winning from such a low seed, beating so many good teams, is what made that '95 Championship Rockets team great.

 

good post, Toast.

 

Here's the email I sent him.

G'Day Mate,

No, I'm not Austrailian. I just like saying that, because it sounds cool. The reason for my email to you, is that it has come to my attention that you don't feel the "95" Houston Rockets are one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Now, if you're just basing this opinion on their overall record, then you are correct.

However, the "95" season was actually a tale of 2 seasons (as are all NBA seasons) for the Rockets, the regular season & the playoffs. In the regular season, we struggled to make the playoffs. But in the playoffs, we shined. We went from the 6th seed in the West to the best team in the NBA (Back to Back World Champions). During our journey to the Championship, we beat the 4 best teams to get there. The first 2 teams (Utah & Phoenix) pushed us to the brink of elimination & forced us to play the maximum number of games (5 & 7) to advance to the next round. From there our journey got easier, because the San Antonio series only went 6 games. We then went on to sweep Orlando, which had the biggest & strongest center in the NBA.

Let me repeat what I said earlier. We beat the 4 best teams in the NBA to win the second of our Back to Back Championships. All this while coming from the 6th seed & never having the home court advantage. That ranks us as one of the greatest Championship teams in NBA history in my book.

Oh, by the way. In the San Antonio series, the Spurs had the NBA's MVP in David Robinson. Now, I know that I don't need to remind you what happened, but I'm going to anyway, because it brings me great joy. Our Dream (You probably know him by the name of Hakeem Olajuwon) became the "Nigerian Nightmare" in Mr. Robinson's neighborhood. He spanked your precious MVP like a red-headed stepchild. He made Robinson look like a doofus "Where'd he go? Where'd he go?". Do you remember that one move where Dream did a couple of DreamShakes & left the MVP looking away from the basket, while he was jamming it home? "Where'd he go? Where'd he go?"

You know, it really doesn't matter if you admit it out loud, because you know in your heart that the "95" Rockets are one of the greatest Championship Teams in the history of the NBA.

Have a great day, Mate.

P.S. Good luck to your Spurs.

 

damn.....that was good.

EVERYBODY SHOULD E-MAIL THIS IGNORANT LOSER!