Which made it tougher for the Rockets. The city had just ponied up for baseball. Without the championships the Rockets wouldn't have had a leg to stand on.
if it's the championships that brought the new arena, then hakeem olajuwon - not rudy - that is the reason.
Rudy didn't bring the Rings - Hakeem did. But where did Hakeem finish his career? It's a business and Les is smart enough to know when to hold them and when to fold them. Disappointed is not the word for this season - disgusted is. It's time for some radical changes from the front office to the assistants - I'm afraid it's 1 good ole boy network and those kind are not easily salvagable. It's gotta hurt Les some though because I'm sure it's like family - but it would hurt more to watch this year after year.
IMO there would have been a new arena regardless. It was either a new arena or no Rockets, and after the Oilers the city was not going to let another sports franchise leave. The championships had very little to do with it.
btw, if the championships are the reason why the Rockets have a new arena, why didn't the first referendum pass?
You sound like you were not privy to how close we came to losing the Rockets. Getting the new Arena was not as easy as you painted it. It took the efforts folks like David Stern (albeit indirect), Mayor Bob Lanier (who started the push), Mayor Brown (if I am not mistaken), Clutchcity founders (which was how I found out about this place) and many other dedicated Houstonians. The fight almost became a Partisan one (sadly) but goodwill prevailed. We should never forget the efforts of those mentioned plus of course Rudy and Hakeem (at leats on the court of play) in making it a reality - It was not a sure thing.
I didn't mean to make it sound like passing the second referendum was easy. I'm grateful to the folks who saved our Rockets. I just think the championships had nothing to do with it. Maybe you guys can fill me in if they did.
This is crazy. If they weren't going to let another team leave, why didn't the first deal pass? They could've lost the team right there. No championships = first proposal loses huge and no second proposal, or no first proposal to begin with. Les has made millions courtesy of Rudy T any way you slice it. verse, there are two reasons-- Hakeem 80%, and Rudy 20%.
Is that why every other franchise in the NBA got a new arena? Because they recently won a championship? Besides, Rudy was a good coach for Hakeem, but he's not a good coach for rookies that need someone to show them how to win, not be their buddy.
Politics. The power politics of those 'movers and shakers' (some of whom are now shakily moving) had plenty to do with the failure, then success of the referenda.
That is a two way street. If the Rockets have lost any money since the championships due to poor attendance (among other things), can we then deduct from these millions you say are attributable to RT? You can't have it both ways.
This is a mixed up thread. The issues brought up: Who is responisble for passing on Rashard?? Who gets credit for the new arena??? Should Rudy go?? I really think everyone would be unhappy if we had paid a 20% premium over Seattle to get Rashard as a restricted free agent. I'm just glad we got the arena and the Rockets stayed. We still need some time for this team to develop and mature. All the trades and changes we make will likely slow down that development. New coaches all have problems- look at Isiah Thomas - that team is schitzophrenic. They should be dominating the East - with the ability to challenge the West more than Philadephia or New Jersey thes las t 2 years. Thomas got a lot of credit for trades that Donnie Walsh did. I will be surprised if a new coach can do any better than Rudy in developing team chemistry.....
