To get straight to the point here, I'll surely admit it, when it comes to the Rockets, I'm a "homer." Actually, for the most part, I'm a "homer" for any Houston team that's playing (doing terrible or doing well), still alive via a playoff run, etc. After reading some threads recently, I just wanted to ask, "Are Rox homers in short supply now?" I ask this because it seems as if there are more postings about people being upset with a variety of aspects about our team versus being truly optimistic. It's one thing to be opinionated, but it's another to just be downright negative a majority of the time. I've seen thread after thread about how we should trade off most of the team or should we prepare for a losing season, so on and so on. I surely welcome the right of people to post on a BBS (since..well..it's a BBS), but how about some legit excitement for a change? It really seems like some people want the roster to continue to be turned over each season, like some people and their fantasy league rosters, and quite frankly...this still wouldn't be enough. As various people have posted on the BBS, most of us have been around long enough to see Rockets rosters which consisted of mainly role-players and didn't nearly hold the potential of the guys that we have now. We've had to rebuild to get to where we are now, and actually, we've been pretty lucky that we've been able to gather a variety of young talent in such a short timespan. Right now, I see a group of guys who, if all goes according to plan, will get their first true, full season together. Yes, the playoff drought has been tough on us all, but think about it, we haven't been that far off from sneaking into the playoff mix with teams that haven't truly run a full season together. I have nothing but an optimistic nature about this group of guys that we have right now. In fact, dare I say, there are plenty of cities, NBA or Non-NBA, that would love to have our roster of talent right now to showcase. Personally, I don't see what we have to be so upset about. If people really sit back and think about it, with a new coach, new arena, new logo, new uniforms, etc., we, as fans, have a chance to establish a whole new identity for our franchise right now. Why not make it a positive one? We've had our championship years and I doubt any fan will ever forget those moments. Now, it's time to start up a new energy. It's time to not just fuss and cuss, but to think, hey, we have a clean slate here, with some talented young guys, so lets work on some NEW championship years. First, we have to get some people to realize that we do actually have playoff talent and that getting our feet in the proverbial door is STEP # 1. I may get chewed out for my thoughts in this thread, but that's ok, I can live with that. I'll just be damned that as long as the Rockets are around, and I'm still able to watch them, that they won't have me as a fan. Now, lets get into the playoffs, I could care less what seed, and piss off some teams in the West.
man, lighten up. i'm sure a lot of the folks here are just poking fun or at least i am. wait until a-train comes back.
I am not as sure as you are... there is so much negativity here that I wonder which team's bbs I am on sometimes.. bbj, have faith...we are out here..just not speaking up alot these days. I am and have always been......A Homer!
I'm a homer but that doesn't mean I won't criticize if the team is under achieving. There's a difference between a FAN and a CHEERLEADER. I'm a fan. I am very optimistic about JVG and the upcoming season. I like our team* and I think we will be much improved next year and MAKE the playoffs. *except Moochie
Believe it or not, I love this team, and really, really hope they do well. However, (to me) part of being "a homer" is loyalty to the organization AND the people who have been part of it for long periods of time. To take two examples: Hakeem Olajuwon's traitorous comments and tumultuous half season? Thanks for everything Dream, but the "homer" in me lost a lot of respect for you. Les Alexander's half-assed firing technique? I still love the team, they are *my* team, but I lost a lot of respect for the owner. Heck, Dierker was exited more gracefully. JVG and Pat Ewing? The "homer" in me still sees those guys on the opposite bench in the '94 finals. I wish them well (for the team's sake), but they will have to convince me. Please don't take this personally, but I don't get that. Look at the Lakers. Look at the Celtics. Look at the Yankees. People are glad to play for organizations with that kind of history...that don't run off their legends, and don't go searching for a "whole new identity" at the drop of a hat.
Im not sure either..Folks who are afraid to call themseles homers, just aren't Rocket fans. If they like players more ..if they play for other teams, mabe they should switch allegiance. The negativity on this BBs is far more than that of an average Rocket fan,,the folks who think its smart to be negative are usually underachievers who are negative about life as a whole. Im a native San Antonian who became a Houston fan when the Astros, Oilers and Rockets brought major league sports to Texas.. I will always be thankful and faithful.
I love the home team no matter what also. I also like to go to as many home games as I can. But if the rockets put the same product on the floor as they did last year it is hard to be optimistic. There were so many games that were very hard to watch being a hardcore fan. Everyone knows we have a lot of talent, but this team has shown they can't get any chemistry together that is why I feel they MUST have some change.
You typed a lot about homerism......well I'm a homer! I represent Houston!!! I'm a fan of anything in Houston.
Good post brotha. Big time Homer here!! I'm always, always optimistic about my team, but I also try to keep it real and not just be a blind cheerleader either. Still, the homer optimism always wins out. Like edc, the homer in me has a hard time accepting Van Gundy and Ewing (old rivals), but the homer in me is also optimistic about how they'll help the team get better. Hey, being a fan doesn't have to make sense, does it? Then again, I lurk most of the time so my homerism isn't impacting the BBS much. I'll try to make more of a difference in the future.
Halleluiah!!! Did I spell it right? Anyways. I don't respond much, but read posts often and generally only respond when I feel passionate on a view. I would like to focus on the potential of the team. Maybe these guys need more time with each other in the new system, before we should criticize so much. Let's face it. We have had less over-all talent before and still made the play-offs. I'm looking forward to upset some teams this year and having these primadonnas lined up in the West now just makes the pot sweeter. Can I get an Amen? Burg
I apologize for my lack of clarity edc, in regards to establishing "a whole new identity." No offense taken at all and I'd like to explain what I mean. I fully agree that our organization should be welcoming in our franchise legends, but, in doing so, we have to understand that those legends have laid down the continuous blueprints for our future. To place it in an example, it's like a group of parents, who've had great success in their lives, yet they always let their kids know that they can be much, much better than they ever were. As noted before, it's all about passing on a positive philosophy throughout the organization for years to come. For whatever the reason, it's just seemed like the increasing negavitity expressed amongst certain fans (at unwarranted times for unwarranted reasons), along with the lack of public fan support, has been placing a sour mood in the air about our frandchise nationally, for example. It just places such a negative feel about the city I was born in, raised in, and love big time. That tends to bother me. I've definitely had my fair share of debates with people, who claim to be Rockets fans, yet note that they hate Houston, love teams like Los Angeles, etc., would rather live in other cities, have the means to move, yet insist on staying in town and running the team down. Those kinds of "fans" are the ones that tick me off the most. All in all, like many of you have said, there's no need to be afraid to say that you're a homer. I know I'm glad to see homers speaking up here. Thanks everyone and keep the posts coming. By the way, swilkins, you can definitely get an Amen here.
Its obviouos where you stand.. but why do other so called Rocket fans have so much trouble admitting they are Rocket fans. On the forum today XCHARGED is interested in a new logo but he doesnt know if hes a homer, FAOS is interested in a summer roster,Ted Ruxpin is interested in Boki, EXTRAORDINARY is interested in Elton Brand, GummiClutch the new logo, SHUTTLE Cato, Fredterp Tmo, WINDANDSEA Yao, MoD Bulls vs Rockets, FISHBULB913 logo, PLAYAHATA Rasheed, ANOTHER BROTHER another sponser, McBETH Raptor fan wants to trade Cat, FLYING DRAGON Yao, BOTTLEROCKET Rockets fall behind, CLFranchise Logo, ROCKET RIVER colors, TIGERMISSION logo, DREWDOG logo to name a few.. Are you Rocket fans or typists,,where do you stand. You all started thereads..speak up.
I don't know, I kind of assumed that since all the people you listed (nice thorough list BTW ) are on this bbs because they ARE Rocket fans? Does everyone need to state it in every post? Call me crazy, but I always thought it was kind of a given...
HOMER and will always be. I still remember the days when this site was for trully the homers, and everyone love the rox and I finally had people who believe as I do (though blindedly sometimes) in the Rox and organization. But sadly as more ppl have access to the net and even more recently, Yao's popularity have made this site accessed by more ppl. This is the same feeling true punks felt when Greenday got big, it was ours, now we have to share. And through mass access, somehow something that was once beautiful and close to us had became strange, foreign, and mutated.
I am a Rocket fan. I was BORN and BRED a Rocket fan. I've been going to games since the mid to late 70's. My Dad played college ball and raised me to be a BBall fan. He used to take me to Rocket games on the UH campus before they built the Summit. I rememeber watching Rudy and Calvin play one-on-one during warmups. (Rudy schooled Calvin) How's that, zz? I'm a FAN not a CHEERLEADER. If the team plays bad, fans have the right to say so. I don't have any kids (that I'm aware of), but if I did, I would scold them if they acted up. Does that mean I would love them any less?
