http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2130128 Sept. 30, 2003, 11:13PM Rockets summary Commitment? With Tuesday's start of the first phase of training camp, the Rockets' offseason and offseason workouts officially ended. Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy had asked Rockets veterans to work out together in September, but only Moochie Norris, Kelvin Cato, Bostjan Nachbar and Eric Piatkowski joined the players with non-guaranteed contracts in the sessions leading up to the start of camp. Forward Eddie Griffin had participated in earlier workouts. Van Gundy said he would have preferred to have more veterans volunteer for workouts in Houston, but that the priority is on their conditioning at the start of camp that he will judge this week. "I thought I heard a hunger to get started, to redeem," Van Gundy said. "One of the universal thoughts I thought I heard -- and I don't know whether I agree or not -- the players thought they underachieved in past years. What I heard was a great hunger to come back together and get it right. What I've seen is ... very sporadic commitment. Now, we move on. It's all voluntary. They had the choice to do it or not to do it. Now we move on. "A lot of guys who haven't been here have had tremendous summers to date. We measure that. It's `Don't tell me. We'll see. What is your running test time, your weight, your body fat?' Would it have been better to be here and also start learning the system? Yeah. Being in better shape is a huge step. The next step is being here, working together to start forming a team spirit and camaraderie and start learning how we're going to play. If you have your choice, you'd want both. If you have neither, that's the problem."
haha...same here! I think he's hilarious! I just watched a short report on him and Ewing and Amaechi and Rice and Jackson on local Fox news 26.....he's funny! And I'm glad that he was actually talking to Griffin...the two were actually communicating to each other..but unlike Rudy, who usually is always smiling and delightful..JVG looks serious. And I think his mind is set on a championship!
too busy being celebrities I guess. nice to hear Cato and mooch taking things seriously. I know Boki had a rep for being a hard worker in practice, and I kind of figured the same from Pike.
u beat me to it Faos! I already love JVG's style...he's singling out Francis, Mobley, and MoT and questioning their dedication....if that doesnt stir things up...i dont know what will! They'd better in shape and ready to go come Thurs! Let's get this season started already!!
This dude's ready for war. I hope he's going into it with an army and not the Cub Scouts. ... no offense to our little Cubby friends
Y'know, this all reminds me just a bit of when Parcells hit Dallas this offseason.. Hopefully, the players who really want to be pros will buy into JVG the same way that most of those in Dallas have.. But we'll see. It's not like they have a lot of mini-camps and stuff all summer long like the NFL does. Should we start a pool? Who is going to be the first 'name' player on the team to get the boot (not counting Rice obviously) ?
whether he does or doesn't does prove he's a jackass. Just about all the players, staff, etc he's been in contact with seem to think otherwise.
I love JVG's attitude here, he's right on the mark. Sadly we have so many chumps on this team that we might have to trade half the roster to get a strong commitment to winning here.
My thoughts exactly! I'm waiting for someone to spout off with an "EXCUSE." "But, but, but...I was out of town..." or... "I'll show up when damn well please!"
"It is tough saying goodbye to Glen, as he worked very diligently this offseason and is in great physical condition," Rockets Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy said. Ya'll are right, JVG is funny
If this is true and Francis, Mobley, and Taylor didn't show up and had no excuse (everyone else was accounted for), then I say to hell with them. Why not trade them? Get equal value. I am sick and tired of Cat and Steve's attitude- I say get rid of them and get something of value in return. Good riddance.
Don't Cato and Moochie have three or more years of experience? Yes, they are working hard along with Nachbar!
uhh, give me a call the first time francis or mobley comes into training camp out of shape. hell call me when they come in only equal to last year's shape. they usually even improve on their already excellent conditioning. coming into camp in shape is all that matters. so far they always have. i hate that hardworking attitude on my team.
