I suggest that we go out and sign Rhodrick Rhodes, and trade him for Akeem. At this point, they should be equals....
What do you mean you doubt it. 100%, Cato's game is going to decline or improve from moving from a starter to a reserve. Well, I guess there's a slight chance that his game will stay exactly the same, but I'm certain it will decline or improve.
You know what you are doing, don't ya...? ...You're making excuses to be a fair-weather fan. That's ok. Be that way. Be a bandwagon fan and be proud of it! (sarcasm) If the Twins are winning and they still don't sell tickets, then they suck too! I live in Maryland, and the Redskins are sold out until 2010 (season tickets). The Wizards are always packed 20,000+. So, are the Mystics. The Balimore Orioles are packed too! Tell me why Chicago Cubs fill the stands when they are losing? Tell me why the Chicago Bulls are in the top ten in attendance; 18,000+ avarage? And these are just the multi-sport cities. Houston and Atlanta are the same.
Sorry for the delay responding, Freak. Got a minute now and don't want the trail to get too cold. I don't have a problem with Hakeem moving on to another team. It's disappointing, but it's his right. I had a problem with the way he did it (more below). But no, the way he left the Rockets is not equal with killing a dog. Nothing basketball related would be. And no basketball feat would equal saving a life. I think you got my point, but I'll put it differently: Doing good or great things does not excuse bad things done later. You can appreciate a good deed and disdain a bad one, even in the same person. I don't get your complaint here. Pete Rose was a great athlete too. He did great things. He also broke the law and disgraced his team and his sport. And no, before you accuse me, I do not think Hakeem's behavior = Rose's. Just making my basic point again, to be sure I'm clear. I use the term "dumped," because Hakeem acted like a jilted lover. I disagree that the team had no intention of resigning him. You think CD, Les and Rudy were lying. I don't. That's an honest disagreement. I think they had no intention of signing him long term or promising to continue to make him the focal point of the offense. And I think that's the source of the friction and the reason he left. And that's all fine with me. Again, disappointing but his call. But the things he said to the media, repeatedly, constituted "going out like a b****," as I said in my earlier post. In my opinion, of course, and I don't fault you for having a different one. I love Hakeem, too. I don't blame you for taking his side. When Hakeem came back from his injury he was a changed player. It was incredibly exciting, but it wasn't consistent with his production over the last three years. The Rockets didn't think he could keep that remarkable play up for three more years. They were right. I read articles and saw interviews which referenced his unhappiness with his role in the offense, contending that a good offense runs through the center. There were also articles documenting his difference of opinion with Rudy as to how he should be used. I'm sorry I don't have time to find them now. Maybe you'll call that a copout. If you want me to, I'll try and dig them up next week. I think you've read them though. As for the locker room stuff, I don't have evidence. I've heard things from sources I consider to be good, but I don't have proof so I'll back down on that. I do think that his unhappiness with the direction of the team and his place on it is consistent with a sour locker room presence, though. I think I covered all this above. I wish he'd retired a Rocket, but I don't fault him for leaving. Rudy, CD and Les were loyal to Hakeem. If you think the championships give him license to trash them publically even a year after the fact, for not signing him for three more years and promising to run an offense that he could no longer pull off, we just have different value systems. Riddle me this though, Freak: Does complaining about how a franchise player conducts himself after leaving the team equal killing a dog? I agree with a lot of ZRB's last post, re: the Bullard as center lineup and I think Hakeem had a right to be pissed about it. I didn't like the way Rudy had to find out about his displeasure in the newspaper, but I just never like that sort of thing. That's all I got.
I don't know if this is a forest for the trees thing, or just one of those myths about a place which get picked up and passed around by virtue of nothing more than people saying it, but as a non-resident of Houston, I can relate that there is a perception out there that Houston is a fair-weather fan city. I don't know if this is true or not, but I do know that that is a reputation I have often heard assosiated with the town... Believe me, I live in Toronto, and I know how a groundless rumour can take on a life of it's own with residents of other cities, but just like Toronto is described as cold (only true part of the year, and then much less than many U.S. states...about the same as Detroit), dull (not at all true, as it is professed to be amongst the top entertainment cities in North America-Film Festival, ranked no. 1 party city by as diverse sources as Maxim magazine and the I.T.A.etc..) and with high taxes (sort of true...but lower than many U.S. states, including California) etc., Houston is seen by many as having a very fickle fan base, for all the major sports...
No way Toronto will trade Dream for Cato! No one wants to pay Cato his salary. We are stuck with him like it or not. As much as I hate Cato, I would not mind if he was the backup center, but that won't happen in the near future. First, the Rockets probably want bring Yao along slowly and start Cato. Secondly, the Rockets will start Cato because they pay him TOO MUCH DAMN MONEY!!! They want to at least feel they are getting something for their money. I am wishing for the best though. I am hoping that Yao quickly shows that he can produce consistently on the court. Rudy will then be pressured to give him more minutes and eventually the starting position. I can only hope.
It's the end of the road for the Dream. He should retire, i wish he did a few years back, so atleast he finished strong. It's sad to see him on the court now. I wouldn't trade young guys for over the hill. If Hakeem comes, bring him as a coach or something. teach Ming a thing or two. (Not saying he knows nothing now)
New Yorker - You are large on sentiment and very short on logic. Let's get some facts straight before you machine gun us to death with the world as you see it. For your information, Olajuwon no longer plays for the Rockets. With the exeption of the occassional troll, all of us here are Rockets fans. Depending on ones particular feelings, there are those who chose to also root for the Raptors because of Hakeem and those (like myself) who really didn't care. Cases in point. If Vince Carter were traded to the Lakers, I doubt if JAG or Loogie would instantly become Lakers fans. Nor I doubt that mfclark really roots for Shaq as a Laker but still has the Magic as his #1 team. The fact that Carter or Shaq did not win championships in those cities is irrelevant - the primarily point is that the vast majority of fans (bandwagoners excluded) remain loyal to a team regardless of personnel changes. Your attempt to correlate the current lack of interest in what Olajuwon does for the next year to "fair weather" Rocket fandom is an absolute absurdity. If Jose Vizcaino was a Yankee fans' favorite player, is that fan now obligated to be an Astros fan? That is precisely the faulty logic you are trying to pass off. The current Rockets are young, exciting, and loaded with potential. I have spent money for the last 3 seasons of League Pass...but I'm "fair weather"? Only to someone like yourself that requires that I bow down to the Olajuwon-god you have created in your mind and overlook any and all personality flaws. Olajuwon left the Rockets under circumstances wherein management would not under any circumstances short of gratis consider bringing him back in any player or coaching capacity. I suppose your next rant will be about "fair weather" management.
Gator, People will remember that Hakeem finished with Toronto. Hakeem will be bitter for a while. Toronto sports will benefit from having Hakeem retire as a Raptor, just as Houston Basketball will lose for that not being the case. Someday, Steve Francis is going to be a bit disgruntled, and as his contract comes up...he's going to remember his first few years and Hakeem. Remember what Francis said about Hakeem...."I think he should get whatever he wants". Sentimentality to you...but there's so much more you can't even begin to perceive.
Just like they remember where Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Earl Cambell, et al finished. And just like in those cases, they won't give a damn. When ESPN does a Sportscentury on Hakeem, they'll probably devote 30 seconds to his last year with the Raptors. It will go down as just another athlete who hung on too long. Sports history is littered with them, from every part of the country, from practically every team - what makes you think Hakeem's situation is going to be any different? There's nothing here that hasn't been present at every other situation with an athlete hanging on too long. Nobody cares anymore - its almost expeted that an athlete will stay long after they become effective, just cause they won't let it go.
I know this will be hard to believe, but I'm not actually that much of a Carter fan...I just hate the whole off the bandwagon groupthink from people who hardly ever see him play, but make conclusions by proxy. On the other hand, I was just against the stampede to get on the Carter wagon to begin with, and my friends will still roll their eyes when they recite how, at the time, I would go on and on about the fact that McGrady was gonna be a more complete player, had better court instincts, etc... I do like to watch Carer play, and am in awe of his talent, but my favorite Raptor is Alvin Williams, because I love the way he plays, as opposed to how much talent he plays with. I am a Rockets fan and a Raptors fan, the one predating the other's existence by 10 years, and I guess that was your point, but I just didn't want to be thought of as a big Carter fan, just because i write a lot in opposition to what I feel is undue criticism...
As far as the Hakeem issue. I don't think that this is a "fair-weather fan" issue. Houston might have a bandwagon fan issue as a whole. But not about Hakeem. I think that it was business vs pride that came into play when Hakeem left. The Rockets are under pressure to win, at the same time keep a city hero happy. But the thing that Hakeem wanted was more playing time/money which is something the team didn't want to do. It is Steve's team now... Houston fans understand that Hakeem just wanted some respect for what he has done for the city. But the franchise didn't want to do that at the expense of losing. The sad part is that cites always say, "What have you done for me lately?" I think it was good that Hakeem left so that he could have more playing time. His pride did get in the way, though. He could have stayed in Houston if he would have taken a pay cut, but his pride got in the way. There were two sides to this issue. I mean, take a look at Jordan here in Maryland. They guy just doesn't want to retire. Champions die hard! They never want to leave the game they love. Hakeem is no different than Jordan. I wish things could have gone better for both parities. I think the day that Hakeem retires, he'll be back to Houston in some form or another. The fans wont forget.
Houston has fair weathered fans. That's just it. They loved the Rockets that won, and as soon as they lost it, people lost interest. Maybe in 40 years, when there is more of a tradition, then it won't be like that. It seems that cities like Houston and Atlanta, beyond having fair-weathered fans, also lack traditions. Chicago, New York, Cinncinati, St Louis, Philly, Indianapolis...those towns have loyal fans, but they also have traditions. But Olajuwon should be worshipped, he's the first Professional SPorts team Champion. How much Houston remembers him and worships him will determine a lot about future athletes who play here. Actually, the most impressed I've ever been with Houston fans when the rockets where down 3-0 to Seattle...down 18 pts, and during a time out all the fans started standing up and cheering wildly with only 10 minutes left.
There's so much more that we simple folk here in Houston can't perceive, huh? Oh educate us oh high minded one. Or are we too simple to even learn the lessons that the ultra-loyal NY fans (who boo their own team...even at the DRAFT) apparently have known for years. Tell ya what...I'll buy my Astros tix and go boo my team. Does that make me as loyal a fan as the New York fans? Overall a patronizing post.
Trust me, I have had many arguments about this very issue with friends back in Houston. They are stuck in their ways... Yes, time will help. Although, it's kinda hard being a "traditional city" when the city theme has always been "space city." Be modern, be modern...old his bad! It's good that the Astros have moved to a timeless uniform rather than a space age uni. Once the Rockets start pushing tradition/history it will be better. But, I like you said. Houston had no sports legacy before Hakeem. They need a history before they can pay tribute.
So because we're not mortgaging the future of the franchise by paying a center who shouldn't be playing anymore $16 to $17M a year for 4 years, we're fair weather? Frankly, that's nuts. A lot of the attendance problem stems from the fact that many of the older set in Houston come from elsewhere. It has traditionally been a transplant city. My generation (I'm 29) is really the first who grew up here. My contemporaries are very loyal to the team. Most of my contemporaries simply can't afford to go to many games yet. When we get to that economic point, attendance will increase overall. To lump all of us in as fair weather fans NEVER will obtain a good result for you.
