Consider me just telling a Rocket's story about Barkley. And you are right...I have no human interest stories about Akeem or Hakeem. I consider him to be the best basketball player ever. I do. And I don't care to argue that point with anyone. Hakeem is the best basketball player ever. I'm sorry that I mentioned something about Barkley to add a story about Hakeem that likely never would have been mentioned.
This is easily my favorite article on Hakeem that I found previously when digging through the Sports Illustrated archives http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1121540/1/index.htm Seems like the webpage is down for me, but you can hunt for it through the google cache if you're motivated enough. Page 1 below. http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...zine/MAG1121540/index.htm+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk
Quote: Originally Posted by Invisible Fan Ramadan started yesterday? Olajuwon Slakes His Thirst By Dominating the Bulls Published: January 20, 1997 A depleted Hakeem Olajuwon was still enough to lead the Houston Rockets over the Chicago Bulls. Olajuwon, who didn't drink liquids during the game because of his religious fast, had 32 points and 16 rebounds as the Houston Rockets finished with a 19-2 run to defeat the Bulls by 102-86 today. The victory snapped Chicago's nine-game winning streak, as well as Houston's four-game losing streak against the Bulls, dating to 1994. Olajuwon, a Muslim, is observing Ramadan, a period of fasting that includes no liquids between sunrise and sundown. ''I had some rice and also chicken and hoped that would stay with me,'' Olajuwon said. ''The hunger was not there, it was the thirst. I tried not to think about it. The thing is to control your desire.'' Olajuwon's fast didn't slow him down against the Bulls. Olajuwon played the entire third quarter and after taking a brief rest, returned to help put down Chicago's final charge. He played 39 minutes. ''We have a team that can beat them, but you have to pay the price,'' Olajuwon said. ''This is just one game but this is satisfying. We knew we could play with them. This is character-building for this team.'' Clyde Drexler had 17 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for his 23d career triple-double. Michael Jordan, who had 26 points, gave the Bulls their first lead since early in the first quarter when he drove for the basket with 7 minutes 12 seconds to play and drew a foul from Sam Mack. Jordan sank both free throws and a technical foul called on Rockets Coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who thought Jordan should have received the foul. That gave Chicago an 84-83 lead, but Olajuwon made four straight free throws to start the Rockets' charge in the last six minutes. ''That technical really fired us up,'' Drexler said. ''That happens in games sometimes. You never know what's going to set a team off. That certainly did for us.'' flu game part 2. Man, I had that game recorded on VHS...lol. Crowd went NUTS on the Jordan/Mack call. Sam was clearly set and it was definitely a charge on MJ. I remember Phil Jackson kinda' shoving the camera away with one hand as he was walking off the court, clearly disgusted. That 19-2 run to end the game was so awesome to watch!!
Here's an interesting summary of a chapter I read in the book I've been reading off and on... Hakeem first went to NY and showed up ill prepared for the weather and decided to skip it because it was too cold and went straight to Houston to talk about Scholarships. The coaches out fitted him with shoes and he was shocked to actually have shoes that fit! Then going out to play pick up with the UH ballers, no one picked him until the coaches forced them to. After one game of beasting on the blocks everyone knew what was up with this kid. The coaches went ahead and convinced him to stay UH and that was that. Well, almost. Apart from dealing with culture shock, which was nice because Hakeem found a new love of ice cream and put on 50 plus pounds from his initial weight... he had to deal with getting into UH and on the team. In order to get in school he needed a guardian to help him out with things so Coach T at UH took on that role. Opting to redshirt his first year, Hakeem was screwed out of a year because he participated in what he said was "one practice" with the team, though it's likely that's the official story to this date. Drexler was there as well apparently and had an affinity for Polo shirts which was the cool thing to wear at the time. Hakeem said Drex swears he taught Hakeem how to dress while the Dream mocks him for not even knowing who armani was. Hakeem would further his abilities on the court at the Fonde Rec Center in the summertime as well, playing against Moses Malone who would show up with other NBA players to practice. Malone dominated Hakeem, but taught him valuabe lessons in the process. (This has been covered in a lot of good pieces of journalism) Later on Moses gave Hakeem a handful of suits (they were the same size) and a very generous $500, telling him to ask if he ever needed anything. Seemed like Moses really admired the kid.
I was maybe about 6 or 7 years old and was the biggest Hakeem fan ever. My sister at the time was going to Clements Highschool. Hakeem Olajuwon came to give a speech. We were in the main gym. During the MIDDLE of Hakeem's speech...I RAN up to him and gave him a hug...the whole crowd started cheering. Security then came and guided me back. But it was amazing. Hakeem had a great smile on his face. It was a moment I will never forget in my life.
Another cool story bro - Mattress Mac announced Hakeem would be at his store signing autographs and we showed up and he wasn't there at the time said... maybe a bad ad? Anywho Mac gave us some free pizza coupons and said sorry. Ultimate disappointment as a child but hey Mac's a good guy. Supports the Rockets at least.
