Blindbury is a real piece of crap! I stopped reading his garbage when he wrote this one article after the Lakers first championship. In the article he was talking about the greatest centers of all time and did not even mention Dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kareem, Wilt, Russell and Shaq were the greatest of all time! A Houston sportswriter discussing centers and not mentioning Hakeem just made me wanna puke!!!!!!!!!!
Hakeem is exempt from any more criticism from me. He considers Chucky Brown a mentor; I am finally sold. CBFC
The 'dump' came earlier this season when Toronto played in San Antonio and Hakeem mentioned in the media how insincere the Rockets were when they tried to negotiate with him as a free agent.
Actually if you believed that and could have proven it, you would be $10,000 richer right now. Hakeem punched Robert Reid out when Hakeem believed that Robert had spread a rumor of him using Cocaine. He also came out and said that he DID NOT use it, and would submit himself for a drug test and pay anyone $10,000 who challenged him to the drug test and paid for the testing if he tested positive. Hakeem was quick to nip that rumor in the bud, and said it was an insult to his honor. Since you didn't put your money where your mouth is then, you shouldn't be so gutless as to repeat those rumors now. Hakeem, isn't perfect by any means, and I don't know anyone who thinks he is. That doesn't mean Hakeem doesn't also have the side to him that Fran writes about here, or has been mentioned before. People are not all solid gold angels, or complete jerks. They have more sides than that to them. We know Hakeem had an illegitimate child, and did his share of fighting, etc. He also underwent a rededication to Islam, and a lot of that stuff changed. Hold on to only half the story though if it makes you feel better
Uh, that's true, so how is that a 'dump,' meaning **** on us? That has nothing to do with his relationship with the fans, only with how the Rockets were two faced in their negotiations with Dream. Can someone put one of those 'we've discussed this 'here' and 'here' and 'here' posts up. I don't know how to do it. The difference between Houston and Toronto is that Toronto told Hakeem they wanted him for his experience, leadership, and defense. And they made a solid offer to him because they really wanted him on the team, not to avoid a PR disaster. Houston didn't. Big difference even if the minutes are the same. And I'm willing to bet he plays a lot more in the playoffs, when it counts, which is normal for an older player (unless you're Jerry Rice).
Originally posted by TheFreak Do you have a problem when anyone else decides to change jobs? Of course I want that, but what I want doesn't matter. The player in this case deserves to leave on his own terms. Would you rather we eliminate free agency? Do you want to work in the same place your entire career? -------------------------------------- No, I don't have a problem with a most players leaving. Only those who play the bulk of their career in the same city, make millions, win championships then leave to play a couple more meaningless years in a different country. Maybe "legit" to you. How do you define "try"? All you know is what you hear through the media. You have no idea what the Rockets' intentions were. Nor do you. Anyway, let's say their offer was legit and they did try. That means he chose to leave. Why is that such a horrible thing? I'm still waiting for you to explain how Hakeem took a dump on me. Should he seek your counsel before his next big career decision? No, Dream doesn't need my counsel. I'm sure he's happy playing in the snow with his children. Good for him. Be warned, when the Raptors are in town you probably don't want to stomp on the burning brown paper bag left on your doorstep...it might just be a present left by Hakeem for you. OS
It will be odd for the Dream Jan. 16, 2002. 12:31 AM Olajuwon to play against Houston for the first time Doug Smith Sports Reporter AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Hakeem Olajuwon has played more than 1,300 professional basketball games, about 100 more as a collegian and tonight he'll do something he's never done before: Play against a team from Houston. "It will be strange to see the guys and play against them, just to be in the other uniform will be strange," Olajuwon said here last night before the Raptors beat the Pistons. "It will be (harder) in the Summit, that will be the big one, but (tonight) will be difficult also." Olajuwon's legacy in Houston basketball circles rivals that of any player who ever suited up in the Lone Star State. Arriving there as a teenager from Lagos, Nigeria, Olajuwon starred first at the University of Houston and then with the Rockets in a career that spanned more than two decades. He led the Cougars to three straight NCAA Final Fours, albeit without winning one, and he was named the Southwest Conference player of the decade for the 1980s. His success didn't change much when he turned pro, either, after being selected first in the 1984 college draft, two picks ahead of a guy named Michael Jordan from North Carolina. Olajuwon, in his 17 seasons with the Rockets, became the franchise's all-time leader in years played, games, points, overall rebounds, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, steals, blocked shots, free throws made and attempted, field goals made and attempted and minutes played. He also established several mosques for his fellow Muslims in the Houston area and became known as much for his philanthropy as his basketball skills. Get the picture? This guy was the Rockets and led them to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. But his departure came with some bitterness, as is often the case when an aging veteran is cut adrift by the only franchise he's ever played for. Earlier this season, he suggested both Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich and general manager Carroll Dawson were disingenuous with their public pronouncements that they wanted Olajuwon to remain in Houston until his career ended. Tomjanovich, as strident a supporter of Olajuwon's as anyone in the world, was particularly hurt by the charges and continues to say he didn't want Olajuwon to leave. "That will be nice, to see Rudy and to let him know it's all been for the best," said Olajuwon. "I'm very, very happy in Toronto and there are no hard feelings. The time was right (to leave) and I came to the right situation for me. It's been a wonderful experience coming to Toronto and I feel I can do much more in the rest of the season." And it's been a wonderful experience to be on a team that at least will be in the playoffs come April. The Rockets suffered through a 15-game losing streak earlier this season, the worst in franchise history, and are buried in the Western Conference. Even the return of Steve Francis, the guard to whom the mantle of leadership was passed somewhat reluctantly by Olajuwon, has done little to revitalize the group. After last night's loss in Philadelphia, the Rockets are 12-25. Olajuwon, meanwhile, is working himself back into shape after missing nine games with an infected toe. In the four games since he's returned, he's averaged nine points and 6.2 rebounds.
My God! Some people here need to get off of Hakeem. Move on damn it!! Houston DID NOT buy Hakeem. The man was a free agent, he had the right to leave, and he left. End of story. Basketball is just like any other business. If you feel that you have better opportunities elsewhere, you follw those opportunities. I honestly feel that Hakeem felt that he wasn't getting any respect here. I don't think it is a question about being the focal point, otherwise he would not have gone to Vince Carter's team. He feels that he is now respected and I am happy for him.
That was partially the main reason for my post. He has always slobbered over Hakeem and come down hard on others. He didn't go out of his way to get both sides of the Hakeem bashing Rudy/Les and the Rockets story. OS
Maybe if there was a positive aspect of the Rockets, Fran would write about it. About the only thing I can think of is the rise of Eddie Griffin, and Fran did write about that.
