A sign that Hakeem might need to rein in his demands

As I think has been posted elsewhere in this topic, but bears repeating, how much do most other players in the league scoring 15ppg, and 8 or 9 rebounds make? Also those stats leave off his leadership and defensive qualities.


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I see nothing wrong with a guy sticking by his teammate.


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I don't understand why it's greedy for someone to try and make as much as can? If an advertising executive, could get more money, I don't think anyone would fault him for doing so.

Sure Hakeem already has a lot of money, but not as much as Jordan, who played for about twice Hakeem's salary last year. How much you have doesn't affect how much you are worth.


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And Maybe the organization owes Hakeem something for slandering his character by saying he faked an injury. Anyone who knows anything about Hakeem and his pride, and honor, knows this was an awful thing to say. It was especially awful to someone who always came back early from injuries, and played with lesser injuries a lot the time.

I am not really trying to say the Rockets organization is evil, or anything like that. I just think that peope are wrongly accusatory toward Dream, and trying to show that it can go both ways.



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I think no one knows all of Hakeem's reasons for doing what he is doing. But I still don't think Greed is one of them. He was underpaid for many years, and the last couple of years salary was a pay back for that.

Again, I bring up Hakeem turning down more millions than his contract would have brought him, by saying no to a huge Nike deal. Not only would the Nike deal have meant money, but increased exposure from Nike Commercials, would have landed him other endorsement deals as well. Hakeem said, No, for various moral reasons even though it cost him personally. That's not the action of a greedy man.

Like I said, I don't think Hakeem should be paid that much, unless the Rockets can fill all their needs and still afford it. But regardless there is no reason to say he is greedy.

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All I have to say is Hakeem is not the future of this team, and even though its hard to see him anywhere else but Houston, and it would be stupid for him to be anywhere else but Houston, Hakeem needs to meet the Rockets halfway. Dan Fegan is the god damn anti-christ, who is only interested in money. If Hakeem wants more then 4.5 million dollars then Hakeem DOES NOT WANT TO HELP THIS TEAM.

The bottom line.


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-jbond77

 

franchise.. true.. but i don't know if him coming back last year had anything to do wiht some great thing by him.. i think the doctors basically told him that he was fine now.. and he reacted better than they thought.. so he really had no choice but to come back....

dont' get me wrong i've been a dream supporter for years.. i'm just a little frustrated right now

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Shane
"Save Our Rockets"
"Life without basketball in Houston........without an arena that is what it will be"

 

I hate Agent Fegan as much as the next guy, and I do think it would be classy of Hakeem to play in Houston for less money. I just want to say that I don't think it's 'unclassy' for him not to.

It may come down to the fact that the Rockets may want(or wanted) to get some more playing time for the younger guys so that they could develop. Meanwhile Hakeem knows that while he isn't an MVP he can still contribute. Hakeem also knows that he doesn't have much time left to be a real contributor. So he may think to himself, 'If I am gone, I can still play to the max of my ability, and the Rockets can give the young guys some playing time so they can develop quicker.' With that in mind, there is no reason why he shouldn't get as much money from other teams as possible.

I understand a guy who thinks this will be his last real chance to play as a quality player wants to go somewhere that has the most use for him. It would be frustrating for anyone to not be able use their talent to the utmost.

Like I said, I want Hakeem to stay, and I don't want his salary demands to affect anything else the Rockets are trying to do. I think the Rockets should only pay Hakeem as much as they can afford while taking care of their needs. It would be a better end to his career to finish in Houston, and I think the Dream should consider that.

But:
Hakeem can still contribute especially on defense where the Rockets need the most help

Hakeem leaving, doesn't make him a greedy backstabber.

In the long run, no matter where he goes, he will be remembered as Rocket, and will go into the hall of fame as one.



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The only moral reason Hakeem turned down Nike was because he didn't want to promote over-priced shoes. He wanted his name on shoes that everyone could afford. If Converse (or whoever made his shoe) offered him tons of cash without passing that cost over to the public then he would have gladly taken it.

Besides, I wasn't aware that Nike had a huge offer on the table for him. Not too many adverstisers came knocking on Hakeem's door during his peak. Only Houstonians could really understand him when he spoke. Not too many (or any) foreign-born NBA players get mega-multimillion dollar ad deals.

Taco Bell is the only big national company that used him, and that was in relation to the much-hyped, but doomed, Dream vs. Shaq 1-on-1 battle in Vegas.

Of course Hakeem wants a lot of money, he's a businessman. He knows that it takes money to make more money.


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All this talk about ads reminds me of my favorite local commercial featuring a Rocket. I can never forget Sam Cassel's subway spot:
Subway is the place,
Where fresh is the taste.

Classic!

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Hakeem did have an offer from Nike at the time. The Chronicle did a big story about it. He asked them to make his a low cost shoe, but they said no, so he went with Spalding who jumped all over it.

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Well first of all any moral reason for turning down a huge Nike contract, is more than I have seen any other NBA atheletes do. The Nike deal would have inlcuded Nike commercials which tend to get tons of air play, and could have lead to more endorsement deals.

And remember even with MJ's huge salary at the end of his most recent stint in the NBA, his endorsement deals by far provided him more wealth than his NBA pay.

Also part of the reason, was that they wouldn't make a low cost shoe that everone could afford was only the surface. He knew that there were kids stealing, or mugging other people for their shoes, and knew that quality shoes could be made for less, and he didn't want to add to the problem. So he turned down the huge Nike $$, and possible further endorsement revenue.

Anyway, with all that in mind I am really puzzled why you or anyone would dismiss, someone turning down anything for moral reasons, regardless. The way you put it seems like you are saying, 'if there was only one moral reason(which isn't entirely correct) he turned down that money, then it shouldn't really count as a good deed.' That logic makes no sense.
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[This message has been edited by Franchisedream (edited June 04, 2001).]

 

Many of you have eloquently stated your opinion, and so here also is mine:

I, like many of you, wish no ill will toward Hakeem! The man is both a legend and an icon, not only in Houston, but in many other parts of our country and the world.

Having said that, I too find myself frustrated by his apparent willingness to end his career in the "colors" of another franchise.

I restate my previous assertion that his last contract was entered into with the assumption by ALL parties that he would retire at its conclusion. While it is understandable that he now wishes to extend his career (and I believe he should as well), only one team should be considered...the Rockets!

I truly believe that no individual or organization has the right to set aside emotion, history and tradition in the name of commerce!

Regardless of whether Hakeem wears Rocket (red?blue?yellow?) into the Hall or not, to leave this team over $$$ is morally, ethically, and spiritually wrong!!!

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Our purpose in life is to find our gift. The meaning of life is to give it away!!

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[This message has been edited by Rockets-R-Us (edited June 04, 2001).]

 

franchise.. i dont know about back then. but i do believe that ha keem didnt' give it all he could over the last few years... several times I think he could have played and he didn't or when he did play wasn't giving it his full out

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Shane
"Save Our Rockets"
"Life without basketball in Houston........without an arena that is what it will be"

 

My biggest problem may be the fact that he claimed he was going to retire. We could have traded him and got something decent a few years ago but he always gave the impression that he wanted to finish out this contract and retire a rocket. Then after he finishes the contract out now wants to keep playing. We could have gotten something good for him several years ago but kept him because we wanted him to retire a rocket. Now he decides he might just leave anyways. I don't think he cares that much about retiring a rocket and that is frustrating. The only reason he wasn't traded to toronto a few years back I believe was to show loyalty to him. Now it's his turn

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Shane
"Save Our Rockets"
"Life without basketball in Houston........without an arena that is what it will be"

 

This is purely subjective on both of our parts, but last year after his year was supposedly over due to injury, he came back and helped the team go on a run.

Also from I think there were some misunderstandings, as to what role Rudy thought Hakeem wanted, and the Role that Hakeem wanted. It was after they figured out the misunderstanding and had the talk that Hakeem really started playing well. I think that's what happens when people aren't on the same page, and doesn't have to do with Hakeem not really giving it his all.

Let's also not forget that Hakeem played a lot on knees that needed surgery and wasn't 100%. In addition he had the breathing condition. That might make it appear that he wasn't playing with as much as he was capable of. Hakeem is a guy who always tries to stay in good condition, and plays hard.



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