The rest of this we basically knew, but this is interesting. Of course, it's from Vescey, so always take it with a grain of salt. www.nypost.com/sports/48903.htm DREAM'S OVER: HAKEEM RETIRING By PETER VECSEY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 8, 2002 -- UNOFFICIALLY, Hakeem Olajuwon's NBA career is Ramadone. According to those in the know, The African Dream plans to announce his retirement when the Raptors, who became his step-team last season after 17 with the Rockets, engage Houston in its home opener Nov. 2. Rather than undergo back surgery, which would've incapacitated the Top 50 player nine to 11 months, Hakeem is seizing the valid excuse to withdraw gracefully from a league he conquered in '94 and '95 - winning two titles and one MVP - and the paint he practically dominated throughout the '90s. As a Rocket, Hakeem earned acclaim in many sewing circles as the league's fourth-greatest center of all time behind Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain (Moses Malone's retort at 11). A 12-time All-Star and 20-plus scorer, he was voted all-defensive first- or second-team on nine occasions and led the NBA in snuffs in '90, '91 and '93. His brief Toronto tour was the pits. Lacking his featured dexterity and suppleness, Hakeem consistently got exposed. During a 45-second sequence late in the season against Washington, I distinctly recall (as I recoiled in grief) his jumper being blocked, him getting devoured on defense, and a perfect pass squirting through his hands. Hakeem's numbers plunged to 7.1 points and six boards. Not coincidentally, the Raptors' playoff push corresponded to their dinosaur's deletion from the starting lineup. Not that Lenny Wilkens and Hakeem were getting along all that well prior to that decision. The tension between the two had been simmering, I'm told, since the '96 Atlanta Olympics; the profoundly proud player felt disrespected when Wilkens under-used him. Team sources strongly suggested to me last April that every attempt would be made during the offseason to buy out the two remaining years of Hakeem's contract. His fractured back conveniently allows Olajuwon to save face and the Raptors to save money; medical insurance will assume near 80 percent of the $12M obligation. Until further notice, Jelani McCoy is manning the middle. Well, at least the Maple Leafs are set at center. How good was Hakeem? So good no one could ever ridicule the Rockets for taking him No. 1, the way we poked fun at Portland for selecting Sam Bowie ahead of Michael Jordan at No. 3. So good that no one except Phil Jackson could devalue his championship success while Jordan was lunging for curveballs. As for Hakeem's immediate future, look for him to join the Wizards as an assistant coach. * I'm glad my stomach was empty or else I'd have tossed my tollhouse cookies. When I heard about the 250G fine the Knicks belatedly levied on Late-rell Sprewell, who was also ordered to take his dinghy and disappear until he can make a positive contribution. To his credit, Sprewell promised to report any future nautical naughtiness without "Dele" to Gavin MacLeod. Lest we forget, this is the same righteous regimen that docked their delinquent half that figure after he snored through a shoot-around in Miami last season. All but $2,500 of that penalty was rescinded, of course, accompanied by a Wiz gift certificate from the dense Dolan family. Having seen how Camp Cablevision contorts backward in such matters, I've gotta believe this latest juxtaposed jurisprudence has no chance of being executed, despite the drivel to the contrary by GM Scott Layden and Garden president (Steve) General Mills. That is, unless Sprewell figures out how to pay the fine by tapping into Jordan's bank account. With all due disrespect to those who feel it applies, I've got an unoriginal idea: Drop Sprewell from the Knick roster and replace him with Frank Lautenberg.[/i]
Any self respecting Rockets fan knows that Peter Vecsey is a bona fide idiot. Over the years, this guys just makes up rumors on his own, hoping some GM in the league will say "ya know, that sounds like a good idea, lets do it!". The majority of his "inside information" never comes to fruition. At best, hes a rogue journalist and at worst, hes an arm-chair GM, that has not more inside information than any of us do. As Chuck would say, hes just a knuckle-head. Vecsey just cements his reputation as an idiot by saying that Hakeem is "Ramadone". How lame and borderline offensive. I cant see Hakeem coaching, not to say he wont. As private of an individual he is, hes not a pub hound like Clyde is (no offense). Hakeem has always sought wealth rather than fame. I agree with the previous post that he will live the rest of his life in investments and you will rarely hear from him. And Washington? I never knew Hakeem and Jordan were that close?!?!?!
Didn't Patrick Ewing already sign as a Wizards assistant? (And please, spare us the Hakeem is a better coach than Ewing because of blah, blah, blah & blah - what Hakeem team is not very coachable...almost all natural ability).
Hard to come to grips with............. Tuesday, October 8 Olajuwon reportedly plans to retire Nov. 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESPN.com news services Rather than undergo back surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation, Hakeem Olajuwon plans to announce his retirement at the Toronto Raptors home opener Nov. 2 against the Houston Rockets, the New York Post reported Tuesday. Retirement can be painful in its own way. But back surgery would require Olajuwon, who won two NBA titles in his 17 seasons with Houston before joining the Raptors last season, to be incapacitated for 9 to 11 months, according to the Post's report. "Hakeem's a warrior, and I think his love for basketball is almost overpowering," his agent, Dan Fagan, said last week. "However, he's a realist, and if his back injury is what's been described to us, and we believe it is, the possibility of a retirement due to his injury is something we are going to discuss." Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald said last week that he didn't expect Olajuwon to play this season. Olajuwon is in Houston and has been excused from the Raptors' training camp. Olajuwon is thought to be among the greatest centers of all time, just outside the famed circle of Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. Olajuwon is a 12-time All-Star, a 20-points-plus per-game scorer and an all-defensive first- or second-team selection nine times. He also led the league in blocked shots in 1990, '91 and '93. Olajuwon made only 37 starts last season for the Raptors, averaging 22.3 minutes, 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds. Late in the season, when the Raptors were pushing for a playoff spot, Olajuwon was pulled from the starting lineup. Olajuwon, who has two years remaining on his contract, went to the Raptors in August 2001 after turning down a three-year, $13 million contract offer to stay in Houston. He signed a three-year, $18 million contract with Toronto. According to the Post, the Wizards may consider adding Olajuwon as an assistant coach. Patrick Ewing retired last month and joined the Wizards' staff the next day. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
and then you just had to post something that makes Vescey look like he might actually know something... AAArrrrgggg! sorry Col Crap, someone had to say it..
Well, I think we all knew Hakeem had played his last game. I give Vecsey no credit! All he can take credit for is saying Hakeem is going to be an assistant to the Wizards.
3 Biggest Non-Stories in the NBA in the last 2 years: 1) "Dream Retires" 2) "Rashard Signs w/ Sonics" 3) "Jordan Comes Back to the Wiz" None of those were shockers.
The Dream over Nov. 2 from espn.com... Rather than undergo back surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation, Hakeem Olajuwon of the Raptors plans to announce his retirement on Nov. 2 when Toronto visits the Houston Rockets, the New York Post reported Tuesday. Retirement can be painful in its own way. But back surgery would require Olajuwon, who won two NBA titles in his 17 seasons with Houston before joining the Raptors last season, to be incapacitated for 9 to 11 months, according to the Post's report. "Hakeem's a warrior, and I think his love for basketball is almost overpowering," his agent, Dan Fagan, said last week. "However, he's a realist, and if his back injury is what's been described to us, and we believe it is, the possibility of a retirement due to his injury is something we are going to discuss." Toronto general manager Glen Grunwald said last week that he didn't expect Olajuwon to play this season. Olajuwon is in Houston and has been excused from the Raptors' training camp. Olajuwon is thought to be among the greatest centers of all time, just outside the famed circle of Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. Olajuwon is a 12-time All-Star, a 20-points-plus per-game scorer and an all-defensive first- or second-team selection nine times. He also led the league in blocked shots in 1990, '91 and '93. Olajuwon made only 37 starts last season for the Raptors, averaging 22.3 minutes, 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds. Late in the season, when the Raptors were pushing for a playoff spot, Olajuwon was pulled from the starting lineup. Olajuwon, who has two years remaining on his contract, went to the Raptors in August 2001 after turning down a three-year, $13 million contract offer to stay in Houston. He signed a three-year, $18 million contract with Toronto. According to the Post, the Wizards may consider adding Olajuwon as an assistant coach. Patrick Ewing retired last month and joined the Wizards' staff the next day.
Umm, I don't want this to come out the wrong way, because I am as big an Hakeem fan as anyone.. But does he now just totally HATE Houston or something? Has he even set foot back in this city since he left (other than playing the one game as a Raptor I mean) ? For a guy who spent so much of his life here, and, frankly, owes this city a debt of (at least) gratitude for over 20 years of support, he has been conspicuously absent from the public eye here since he signed with Toronto. And now he is supposedly going to go be a coach for the Wiz? I don't get it. Maybe I missed something, I dunno. It just seems like he could have and should have been more active in this city publicly. The example that still bothers me is this: after the events of last year, Sept. 11, before the NBA season started (or even training camp, for that matter), the most famous Muslim in this city's history - and we are after all talking about a city of 5 million-plus - *should* have been front and center, telling us all how 'true Muslims' were totally against that kind of thing, how 'true Islam' condemns terrorism, etc etc. But not only did he not do that, as far as I have ever seen, there has not been a single peep from him on the subject. For a man who wore his Muslim identity like a badge through most of his years here - remember all that fretting over Ramadan every year? - he has been pointedly invisible here since he left. Maybe nobody thought to ask for his wisdom following those events, I dunno. It has always just seemed strange to me. However, it all combines to make me wonder if Hakeem now feels more contempt for Houston than anything else.. almost like he has said 'good riddance', and never looked back. I would hate for that to be the case. Someone please tell me why I am dead wrong about my perception on this issue..
Dream ,Welcome by Wizard It was said on ESPN, That since Dream will announced on the opening game in Toronto which they're hosting the Rockets that he will retire as a player and quote,"Wizards may consider making Dream as an assistant coach". I would like dream to be with the Rocks management and perhaps he can trained Ming, EG, Cato and the rest of the rosters to be a better arsenal player.
Not neccesarily. In the ESPN article it says the <b>Post</b> reports Hakeem is considering a job for the Wizards. At first I thought they meant the Washington Post (which is funny because I subscribe and never saw anything like that), but then I realized Vescey writes for the NY Post. My guess is ESPN misunderstood Vescey's joke as an actual report...but I could be wrong.
DCKid, wouldnt that be funny? Hakeem and Ewing as assitants on the Wizards always yelling "throw the ball into the big man and spot up on the perimeter for the 3 point shot". On a team with no real center nonetheless. I can see Stack and Jordan rolling their eyes. lol
You are dead wrong He did speak out against the terrorist acts and said that true muslims were peace loving and didn't condone such actions. Just added the link: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/87/story_8779_1.html Also, a clutchcity.net poster saw him in Houston this summer. He still lives in houston and will continue to do so. Maybe Rudy T. and Dawson hasn't offered him a position because he would make a terrible coach. I also doubt the wizards offered him the position. The rumor was started by Peter Vescey who isn't the most reliable source. Does that make you feel better Nero???
Good point DC. I didnt even think about it that way. That would be funny if Vescey makes ESPN look stupid for following his made up report/speculation. and for the record, I'm sayin *if* ....just a bit of speculation on my part.
I think they're doing it to be sneaky. When Brenda gets hurt, they're going to have Hakeem and Patrick right there ready and willing to jump in with ten-day contracts.
Well, I know this. They should make Nov. 2 Hakeem's night. They should retire his # right then and there. When will there ever be a better opportunity? Maybe Clyde, Chuck, Moses and OT can show up. It would be a great opportunity to pass the Rocket bigman torch from Hakeem to Yao. What a great photo op that will be eh?
