If it's been posted anywhere, lock it up. http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2006/09/reliving_the_dream.html Hakeem Olajuwon's contributions to the Rockets glory days were tangible of course, but maybe he offered more than his play as the greatest player in franchise history. Perhaps Olajuwon brought some karma missing since he left. The Rockets have not won a playoff series since Olajuwon was dominant. But he was in Toyota Center on Wednesday and his likeness, or at least some sort of representation of him, will finally be outside the building, perhaps if things go well enough, before the 2006-07 season ends. It couldn't hurt and it would be a reminder of the days past. But beyond all that, it is overdue. The delay since the promise to erect an Olajuwon statue was largely because of the difficulty in coming up with something fitting that would not conflict with Olajuwon's religious beliefs. Olajuwon was so flattered and appreciative that night when Leslie Alexander announced that the statue would forever be outside the new arena that Olajuwon he did not bring up his concerns. But eventually, he did share his feelings that his likeness could not be depicted and the project was stalled. Over the years, with Olajuwon spending most of his time in Jordan, the problem has been in getting together to come up with something to represent Olajuwon's career in way that he could be portrayed, without building a statue of his likeness itself. But Wednesday, he and Rockets vice president Tad Brown discussed ideas. Progress was made. "We're working on some of the details," Brown said. "We're working with Hakeem and Mr. Alexander to look at some different ideas. There's nothing imminent. The time frame is moving. People are engaged to make sure we get the right process in place. "We'll try to get with him before he goes. It depends on his schedule. It depends on how long he's going to be out of the country. In a perfect world, maybe we could get something this season. We are very sensitive to Hakeem's belief's. It will be something very representative of Hakeem's contributions to not only the Rockets, but also what he represents as a person." That would seem quite a challenge, especially without too closely portraying Olajuwon himself. But the project is moving again, and perhaps not too late the artistic geniuses among us and who post here to offer their inspired help.
How about a statue of David Robinson handing back the MVP trophy? You dont need Hakeem's statue to be there accepting the trophy. I think no one being there to accept the trophy from Robinson would be more symbolic and say more about Hakeem as a person and a player. 1) Robinson got his @ss whopped by Hakeem. 2) Hakeem was too humble to accept the trophy back.
How about Jordan cringing as the ball comes back? How about a bunch Knick players glued to the floor and looking up at the fury that is about slam the O rebound home?
why does it have to be a statue? why can't it be some sort of video tribute to him that constantly plays outside? we can make it more special than a statue and something that shows hakeems career culminating with his team accomplishments.
Along with a statue, I think the Toyota Center should change its name to "The Dream Arena" or "The Arena of Dream".
a statue is also lifeless and motionless. I guess I would have to find examples of what I am talking about. I'm not just saying a simple screen, but a massive wall that is a video display with different videos from different eras of the dream. I think it would be sweet to walk along and watch.
I like that Idea They can suspend the uniform with some kind of magnetic field and the uniform would be enclosed in a 20mm thick glass enclosure reaching 1 mile into the sky. With fiber optic lights all around the base. Les has the money to do it.
I'm trying, in my mind, to create a more miserable situation for honoring the Dream and for the life of me I can't do it... a statue lifeless? Only if it's bad art. If they honor the Dream in Vegas I bet it will be in full blown LED...
They could have a statue that is representative of Hakeem but not an exact likeness. The statue could have the "34" on the jersey and the player would be jumping up to block John Starks 3 point attempt in game 6 of the 1994 NBA Finals.... Now that is art and certainly not lifeless....
I'd love to have a statue of Dream outside of TC. Without Dream's presence this city would not still have this franchise. Even MJ and his 6 rings can't say the Bulls wouldn't still be in Chicago without him and Clutchfans know how close we came to losing the Rockets despite Dream's accomplishments. Regarding the statue I'd like to see it be more about Houston. Perhaps a an amalgam starting with E's with his jersey at UofH and blending into his Rockets uni, progressing to Mo, then finishing with Dream at UofH morphing into the champion he and this city starved for and deserved. It would make the concept less of a graven image and more of a necessary and integral history of how and why the TC was built.
I think a statue with Hakeem doing one of his juke moves...ya know, his body twisted and the defender going for it as he is clearly turning his body the other way. But I also like the idea of a halogram projection of Hakeem highlights constantly being projected in front of the Toyota Center.
