I'll say this - I've been here my whole life (Since well, don't worry about that!!) Anyway, I remember the Rockets winning their championship as if it were yesterday. I remember running out into the street, as I watched it alone, and yelling "we're the WORLD champions" about 5 times LOUD!!! It was a shocker to finally be CHAMPS. It was definitely the second best time here in Houston ...for me! The Astros run is unreal. It's very similar to the Rockets of 95 AND 94. The World Series may have the chance to replace the Rockets simply because it's THE WORLD FREAKING SERIES!! I love the NBA FINALS and all but no one even watched it or knew what it was until the early 70's or so? No TV really until Magic and Bird. The WORLD SERIES?? I mean, Columbus discovered America, mistreated the natives, tried to convert everyone, and watched the WORLD SERIES....and this was in 1492. The Astros could take the place of the Rockets from a city view IF they win it. I'm in knots right now and can barely watch it...it feels like 95. The Astros right now have to be a STRONG 3 with hopes for a #2 slot. However, NOTHING, and I say this as a native Houstonian old enough to remember, NOTHING IMHO WILL EVER top Luv Ya Blue in the late 70's. To think of the 50,000 blue pom-poms waving around as we played the FREAKING Stupid-a$$ Steelers gives me chills just thinking about it. I actually believed Pitt would give us a rematch after that Renfro debacle in the end-zone in Pittsburgh. Talking about momentum shifting...we had that game for the taking....ok, I regress. But for me, LUV YA BLUE, Campbell, Pastorini, Burrough, Carpenter, Brazille, Bingham, BUM, Hartwig, MNF against (AS COSELL WOULD SAY...) Thu Pitzburrrg Steeeeeeuhlerz! We had the offense, we had the defense, we gave the other team no hope...cuz we're the Houston Oilers....and when you say the Oilers, you're talking Superbowl (Off key, of course!) Anyway, that's my opinion. However, I'm not worrying about Luv Ya Blue, The 95 Rockets or the 2004 Rockets or even (GASP**) the Texans right now (BTW that win over Dallas was pretty BIG!!), ALL I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN...ONE MORE WIN... GO Astros! Out
Doc -- I hear ya. As the Bulls' owner once said, he'd trade in all his NBA titles for ONE World Series title. I don't think I'd go that far...but the World Series is freaking HUGE!!
I disagree. The Rockets made the playoffs in previous years before they finally won it all. The Astros DO NOT have a history of playoff success. At the beginning of this year, the Astros were expected to win the division. They suffered mid-season and the fans did not give up on them like the Dome days. Then went against the odds to close out as a wild card. If the Astros go all the way and win the World Series - It will be HUGE!!! Then may we can re-sign Beltran.
The buzz that is the Astros should reach the same levels as the Rockets of 94/95 if they get to and win the World Series. Remember, the Astros organization has been around much longer than the Rockets, and baseball much longer than basketball. Baseball has deep roots in this town. Because of previous playoff futility, people are not very boisterous about their Astros, because there was nothing to boast about. You just kinda lay back in the weeds and wait for something good to happen. Well, something good is happening, and Houston is rallying around it. The Astros are building bonds with the fans that will live for a long time. If they win it all, it will be that much stronger. New generations of baseball fans (kids) are watching the Stros and loving it. I have a confidence I have never had in the Astros. Even down 0-2 to the Cards, I was confident about winning 3 here. I was at game 3, Minute Maid was incredibly loud. Astros win today at St. Louis behind Pete Munro and advance to their first ever World Series. Astros Fever is spreading! GO STROS, ROCKETS & TEXANS!!!!!
Well, we'll see what happens tonight. If the astros win, I think the town will go nuts. And if they win the world series....
that HR by Edmonds was incredible, just like the Kent shot... I've heard all kinds of stats about this and that(concerning game 7). The bottom line is this: It took the Cards 12 innings and a magical HR to beat us in game 6 with Munro starting. What's it going to take for them to beat Roger Clemens in game 7?? I have all the confidence in the world we'll win game 7. I'm not guaranteeing victory, not at all, but I don't think a team could be more confident about it's game 7 starter than the Astros are about Clemens. And we've got Oswalt to come in out of the bullpen. And Lidge won't blow a save, so I feel we've definitely got the edge. This is the best baseball series I've ever seen. Can't wait for tonight. SIZE=4]Go 'STROS!!!![/SIZE]
If the Stros don't win tonight (sorry, I hate even saying that), then that will render Kent's HR as very forgettable. Yes, it will still be good but history ain't written by the losers. I know we are just talking about the best 'moment' but our memories of past events change over time. If the Stros go down in flames (I hope not) then people won't continue to talk about it and therefore Kent's HR will fade away. If the Stros do win, there is also the chance that something even more memorable will happen. What if we have the same situation in game 7 of the WS, for example? That would clearly trump Kent's HR.
Notice how he put "strong 3" in all caps? I think this means the Rockets are about to acquire a new small forward!
I finally heard people talking about the astros. I guess there is a buzz. I'm still going to the pre-season rockets game rather than watching game 7 though!
Tonight makes you appreciate what a miracle those two years were. Roger Clemens doesn't have the heart that Hakeem Olajuwon had.
Noone in Houston sports history can compare with how Hakeem carried the Rockets on his shoulders especially in that 1st championship year. Roger Clemens let that double by Albert Pujols get to him. I saw the anger. He threw heat right down the middle to Scott Rolen, and that was game over. Hakeem got mad, but he was able to control his anger. That Jeff Kent homerun means much less now. It's like the Eddie Johnson shot that extended the series with the Jazz.
That's right up there with the thought that the only reason we won was cause Jordan was swinging at curveballs. You have the brains of an acorn and obviously did not watch the game. Clemens kept us in the game but Suppan and great defense combined with positioning took the game for the Cards. He made two mistakes the whole game and we had whole 3 hits to help him! Cardinals are just a better team but to say a 7- time Cy Young winner, sure HOF'er with 2 rings has no heart is downright insane.
What the hell? This team, sh*t, the whole organization had not even won a playoff series and they were one game away for the World Series. In mid-August they were toast and they pulled it together and had the one of the most improbable runs in the past 53 years of MLB. The Kent HR was greatness and I wouldn't trade that run they made for anything. Take away Mcgrady, Yao and Ward. That would equal Pettite, Miller and Everett. Reduce your bench to a bunch of WBL scrubs and that was the Astro bullpen. Now, start off by being behind six other teams for the final playoff spot 3/4 of the way through your season. Now, let me see you make the playoffs and then go on to be one game away from the Finals and that's what you had this year from the Stro's...great heart and not much else. The Cards were a better team and that's how it turned out.
What does heart have anything to do with this? I hate when people bring up heart when talking about sports. There is no "heart" in pitching. He either concentrates out there or he doesn't. He didn't fail because of a lack of heart or effort. Baseball is totally different in that regard with basketball and football. You can't put effort out there. Sure you can make a few slides or try and run out a groundball but for the most part you either perform or you don't. You either have it or you don't. You can't go out there and pick your man up full court or try harder for that offensive rebound. This wasn't about Roger. He held the best offense in baseball to one run through 6 innings. They got to him. We didn't hit. Oh well, I can live with it - the better team won. This has nothing to do with someone not having heart.
He's speaking about losing 3 integral members, of course. Pettite was #1 FA...so was TMAC. Is YAO more integral than Wade? Yes. Is Everett more integral than Ward? Yes. It's not that bad of a comparison as you make out. Astros NEEDED defense and pitching. You throw a top 3 defensive shortstop out there and he makes those plays that Viz couldn't. Throw Pettite and Miller out there all year and this conversation isn't even taking place. Cards were better but the Astros were right there...3 innings away. Now, if you want to talk about walking Pujols, that's another story.....but HEART?? Gimme a break!
Well, I'm officially back to this side of the site. I had almost forgotten totally about basketball because of the Astros. I am totally baseball'd out for this year and ready to turn my attention to the Rockets and Texans. It should be an exciting season for the Rockets. Being in Austin, I only got to see parts of the pre-season games in China. Looks like the big 2 had a big night yesterday. I hope to see more of it with the 30+ televised games in Austin. GO ROCKETS!
Unfortunately, Kent's HR is now a good moment...but not great. The Stro's run into the playoffs were awsome. They finally beat the the Braves. And they gave the Cards a run for their money. But this team was built for the WS and anything short is a disappointment because we all know it might be our only shot. Bags and Biggio are another year older. Will Roger come back...even if he does will he have enough? Will they resign Beltran? ... It was fun but they didn't make it to the big dance. You can't help but be disappointed. So, back on topic, the Rockets still stand undeniabely as the owners of the most memoriable Houston moments.
