Actually, it was almost exactly one year ago when he retired in Houston. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/rox/1653164
Dream always liked to throw around the word honor, but when it came to money he was just as greedy as an ambulance chasing lawyer. He also like to talk about character, but through out his career, even toward the end, whenever he didn't get his way, he whined or pouted. A person's true character is only tested when they don't get their way. Dream was a better center than David Robinson, but the Spurs had the classier player in my opinion. Raven
Now that Hakeem is *officially* off Toronto's payroll, let's sign him to assist. coach or a desk job.
if he was money grubbing dont u think he would have had a mulit million dollar deal with nike/reebok and not PAY LESS ( or wateva brand they make)
Yeah, Hakeem was greedy. Thats why he was only making $5 MIL per year during the championship years. Thats why he negotiated an extension that payed him less per year than a young Shaquille O'Neal, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo. In fact, David Robinson was making double what Hakeem was for a couple of seasons, including the year we won our 2nd title. Thats why, despite being in his prime still, he accepted $11 MIL per year when Jordan was making $25 MIL. It was only during Hakeem's last 5 years with the Rockets that he was making even close to what other star caliber players were. Thats why when Hakeem signed with Spalding, his line was alot more afordable than others. BTW, Hakeem went to Toronto for a chance to win one last time, not for the money. (we offered him 3 years/13MIL guaranteed while Toronto offered him 3 years/17MIL; I hardly think Hakeem wanted to uproot his family and business and move to another country over $1.3 MIL/year).
Excellent post, Codell. Hakeem has a lot of pride, but he isn't as greedy as some make him out to be.
It was more ego - Hakeem's ego - than the money. RudyT tried to get him to see that it was time to go but Hakeem was too pigheaded and proud to listen to reason. Then he signs with Toronto and blasts RudyT and the Rockets for "pushing" him out. I made a point of watching Toronto on DirectV - Hakeem was a shadow of the player he once was. In the end, he was no different from all of the other great ones who didn't know it was time to quit the game.
Really? I could have sworn back in 1990 or 1991 there was a contract fiasco between Hakeem and Management where Hakeem felt he wasn't being treated (paid) like the other stars in the league. He almost left and I remember fans being all too happy to see him go. I remember one article in the paper (Maybe the Post at the time?) berating Hakeem for the dispute and listing amenities that could be added to the Summit instead of paying Hakeem. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/hakeem_olajuwon/bio.html
Do you expect Hakeem to play for nothing while other guys make gadzillions? Add up his lifetime's salary, I bet he is worth every dime for the 2 rings he brought to Houston. There are countless others who took in much more with nothing to show for! Honor? Next time you apply at McDonald's, tell them you are an honorable man, you will work for free !
That's part of my point. Don't tell me Hakeem wasn't about money when money played a big factor in many of his decisions.
Dream was wise to the fact that a retooling team would not make the playoffs, and he went to a team that needed a center with his skill level and veteran leadership at the time. He went to try and get a ring with Carter. $1.3 Million per year more was just a.... as said for other reasons.... "formality." Les should have honored the man that gave him international marketability in '94 -'95 by paying him to retire a one team man. Saying Dream is greedy is about as shortsighted as saying Les is just frugal.
I believe it is based on when you actually played your last game, not when you officially retired. I think it is 5 years from the end of the season that he played his last game in 2001-2002. Of course, I could be wrong and it might be based on when the player officially retires from the NBA, which Hakeem hasn't formally done yet.
There is nothing wrong with money playing a part of someone's decisions. There is a problem with being greedy. Hakeem wasn't so greedy, but he did want money and to be payed what he thought was fair according to the market. Hakeem turning down the Nike shoe contract deal which would have paid him much more than any other contract he had, and would have included commercials, and a greater potential to market himself further to other companies shows that he did value some things more than money. Because he negotiated contracts or wasn't always happy with what he was being paid doesn't make him greedy or only concerned with money.
