The Summit should be packed every night to see this man play possibly his last season in Houston. Instead, the Rockets have some of the worst attendance in the league. Even while Hakeem is on the IR, the team is .500 in the first year of a rebuilding project, their most experienced starter in his 4th season. Good to know Houston appreciates the fact that "their" team has been rescued from the death sentence most teams get after their glory days are over (Pistons, Celtics, Bulls). It's no wonder Hakeem doesn't want to stick around. After all he's done for the sorry city of Houston, they can't even go out and see him play his last season with the team. Most seem to forget, Hakeem is the Rockets. He gave the city 2 championships. He gave Rudy job security. If he doesn't like his role on the team, he can say so. If he wants to be traded or waived, he can say so. He is the Rockets. If you realized this, you wouldn't be raking him over the coals at every turn. If he wants to leave the team he made, give him what he wants. Releasing him doesn't hurt the team. I doubt the city of Houston will even realize he's gone. ------------------ "I have to say, I don't understand why these Rockets' fans are booing Scottie." -Calvin Murphy
Give me a break, no one man is bigger then ANYTHING! Yeah Houston is grateful he was a big part of them winning a championship but they shouldn't give in to his every whim! Last I checked Dream didn't own the Houston Rockets, the Rockets have to worry about the FRANCHISE and the TEAM, not constantly reward a man OVER AND OVER by giving him everything that he wants! Dream gave him this, Dream gave them that, Dream didn't give them anything it was a TEAM effort! If Elie doesn't hit that 3 in the corner against Phoenix you're not in here talking about this likely. If Cassell and Horry doesn't mature we're not talking about this. If the Rockets are unable to trade for Drexler we're not talking about this. There is a reason Dream didn't win a championship until after 10 years in the league, and there is a reason he didn't win anymore afterwards. It takes team effort, chemistry, talent and a TON of luck! It is a TEAM game, you can't just reward the guy OVER AND OVER for something he did! Dream came out with the demands, now he has to deal with the consequences! ------------------ If Megatron can become Galvatron, why can't Rocks2001 become RocksMillenium? [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited January 18, 2001).]
Great post Freak. Glad to hear you weigh in. I agree that the Summit should be packed every game. I agree that Hakeem has the right to say whatever he wants to, including asking for a trade or b****ing and moaning about his role. I agree that very few outside of this board and the few thousand season-ticket holders will care, or notice. But to me Olajuwon - that is the new, religious Hakeem who emerged around 1993 or so - was above this kind of stuff. For him to seek another contract after this year, or try to force the Rockets into a trade or waiver (if that is what he is trying to do, as some allege), well that diminishes his image in my mind. ------------------ "Thirty-seven?" -Randall, Clerks www.clutchtown.com
I agree Sam! Nobody is saying that Dream wasn't a great player, he was a MAJOR reason for winning the championship. But to basically say he was the ONLY reason is not right. And to say, basically, that Dream is beyond reproach and blame EVERYTHING on Houston management when Dream is the one that came out with the statement is just not right either. ------------------ If Megatron can become Galvatron, why can't Rocks2001 become RocksMillenium?
Dream hasn't played enough this season to fill the stands all the time. Furthermore, this most likely won't be his last season, just his last with the Rockets. We can all goto the game, but if it's to see him sitting in street clothes, I'll pass. Attendance is down and that's bad, but Houston not *deserving* Olajuwon is kindof harsh, all things considered. ------------------ "Any answer that can't be questioned is no answer at all. It's gibberish. It's the jabbering of startled monkeys flinging dung at the moon" -- Scott Christensen -- www.ewav.com
Freakazoid....please remember that we are talking about H-town. We have to be the most fickle fans in the land, IMHO. When our teams win, we come out (last year at Enron Field not withstanding). When our teams lose, we b**** about ticket prices and player salaries. That's the way it has aloways been around here, and it probably is the way it will always be. ------------------ "Blues is a Healer" --John Lee Hooker
Houston fans suck! I've said it for years and still feel just as stong about it as when I first said it. Hell the majority of them aren't even fans...they are simply spectators. It takes us being down 3 games to 1 or a 20 point deficit for the people to make any friggin noise!! It's utterly embarassing when we're on national TV and the crowd could pass for a library because it's so quiet. It took us losing a pro football team to realize what we had. Unfortunately people still haven't realized how fortunate we are to have the Rockets and the Astros. ------------------ "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Gandhi
Olajuwon=Pippen w/o the name calling, and Pippen had a point. I want him gone, I want him gone as soon as possible. If he can't check his ego and realize that he shouldn't be the focus of the offense, then he is doing nothing but hurting his team.
I'll agree witht he first part of this post-that is to say, Houston fans should be more appreciative of Hakeem and the Rockets in general. But to say that Hakeem somehow merits a carte blanche right to say whatever he wants to the detriment of the team? That's excessive. Yes, Hakeem was certainly led the Rockets to a couple of championships... but it was the TEAM that won those titles. Hakeem played FOR the Rockets. The Rockets front office had the talent to surround him with talent to help accomplish his goals through good drafting and skillful trades (Cassell and Drexler, for example). There have been many great players that have NEVER won a championship. To me, loyalty is a two way concept. Yes, the Rockets owe Hakeem loyalty in return for his magnificent past service... but he also owes them loyalty after playing for them so long. A player, no matter how important to the history of a franchise, does not have the right to remain the focus of a team after he is no longer suited to that role. To me, Hakeem's inappropriate actions are self-defeating. By vocalizing his discontent , he is diminishing the amount of loyalty that the Rockets DO owe to him. After all, loyalty is a product of mutual respect, trust, and benevolence. RECIPROCITY seems to be the key here. I've been saddened to see the twilight of Hakeem's career. I understand that he's unhappy with his current role. If he doesn't want to ride gracefully out into the twilight... well, that's his right. But he should at least have the decency to show courtesy to a team that he's been with for so long by waiting until the summer. Perhaps he has every right to make a trade request in private... but in public? I don't think so. Perhaps it would be MORE understandable (if not justifiable) if Hakeem really WAS the best player on the team, and Houston was moving away from him SOLELY for the future. This is clearly not the case. Francis has very obviously already surpassed him. ------------------ Shandon Anderson rocks. The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001. [This message has been edited by haven (edited January 18, 2001).]
I don't think any thing could be any further from the truth. We,as a city,have had our hearts ripped out over the years over and over,while coming soooo close to winning the big one in all sports......until Dream put this team on his back and finally got it done and then again with the help of Clyde.These teams were loaded with role players but he was the work horse. I harken back to the Oilers year after year....always filling up the dome...experiencing the frustration of losing to a football dynasty in the playoffs(Steelers)..For a number of years we were the second best team in all of football and most likely would have won a Superbowl if not for them.The Renfro catch in the endzone,etc....Remember those pep rallies after losing to the Steelers!!!Even later,good God don't strike me down!,but the Buffalo debacle will forever be a dagger in our collective hearts. The stands were always full(except for our lame duck season).Winning eleven games in a row only to be shocked by the same guy that came back and pulled a rabbit out of a hat against the Coogs in the Cotton Bowl...He did that to a lot of people so I guess we shouldn't feel too bad,but most of us do. The Astros have taken us to the brink too.Look back on the series with the Phillies in 80....without a BS call on a play which should have been a triple play we would have beaten the Phillies and gone to the series....In probably the most dramatic NLCS of all time the stros lose in a marathon classic that would have left Mike Scott to finish off,yes,the eventual WS champs again...We were there for all that too...talk about pain! Then along comes this 7 footer who gets on a plane from his native Lagos,stops on the coast,feels the cold,and jumps right on another to our fair city......The truth is so amazing,oh forget it....anyways hopping in a cab.......he ends up at Guy V's office and unfolds from the cab and crashes on a couch of the assisstant coach for a week...I remember the first time I saw him.It was at halftime of a UH game ,he and another guy came in at the half and everyone was thinking who is that.....Akeeem couldn't even dunk when he got on campus and watching him grow as we all did(Gypsy that was an incredible post ,but i've been quiet on this issue and yes,you said all the things I wanted to say and more,but...)was a pleasure.Going to the final four three years in a row and watching PHISLAMMAJAMMA is still one of the most exciting experiences of my life.......I had the luck of being in the PIT watching the Coogs destroy Louisville in what I still consider to be the most exciting colege hoops game I have ever watched .........We were ALL there though...and yes on that Monday night when as a 18 year old,I cried like a baby when NC state upset us.We all felt like this....man When the Rockets took Dream I was ecstatic and the man led us to the 86 finals,only once again to lose to a dynasty.We put up a good fight though and yeah afterwords I was still devastated...After, the Dream continued to grow as a basketball player and as a person......until that epiphany which was the first title....and once again.This has been a mutually symbiotic relationship between the city and the big man.I feel he has conducted himelf with a modicum of class and grace that we should all strive for.Yes,he has his moments,but don't all of us.He deserves us and we deserve him.......Hakeem IS forever part of Houston and we are part of him,wherever he plays...........All these teams I talked about weren't always winning....those were just the GOOD times ,but we stuck with them...So don't tell me Houston doesn't deserve Dream.He is a Houston institution and I'm proud of him and proud to be a Houstonian. ------------------ [This message has been edited by hardwood (edited January 18, 2001).]
Initially, I was disappointed in Houston fans for not going to the games but after taking a closer look at the situation I am a bit more sympathetic. I agree 100% that Houston is full of some of the most fairweather fans Ive seen. I hear comments all the time like "Why do you watch the Rockets? They are losing" or "Why do you waste your time going to games, they're going to lose in any case". A major reason I have seen (Jeff please correct me if Im off on this guess) as a reason for the attendance dropping is the overpriced ticket costs. When you factor in that attending a Rockets game is low on the priority list of many in Houston along with the fact that ticket prices are ridiculously high, the end result is horrible attendance. Ticket prices have consistently risen every single season since Les Alexander has taken over the team whether or not the team has played well the preceding season. Center court lower prom seats are a ridiculous $112 a piece, the next price tier is roughly $85, thats ridiculous and significantly higher than it used to be. Not sure what the next price tier is but my guess is $60-70. For an average family that values other luxuries higher than attending a Rockets game, most of these seats are completely priced out of their range aside from possibly the back two rows at Compaq Center that are price controlled by the league. Watching a Rockets game is high on my priority list so I am willing to pay to attend the games however not many are like the diehard fans in this forum. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
"Olajuwon=Pippen w/o the name calling" Rocketman, I am in full agreement and was thinking the same thing but just didnt feel like bringing it up b/c I fully expected a full scale firestorm from the ZRB led Hakeem police that I was in no mood to fight off right now. The only real difference between the two is that Pippen was a name caller and had no legacy in this city. However, the nature of their complaints and the way of comporting themselves was identical. This is a big part of the reason why I dont get on this loyalty kick that hardcore Hakeem fans love to do. I was in the minority in support of moving Hakeem to Toronto b/c I seriously dont think there is much loyalty left in sports. Its all about winning which I am completely ok with. Forget legacy and past glories lets count up how many championships rings we can bring to Houston. Championship parades in June are a whole lot sweeter than remembering what was and used to be. ------------------ Check out the Best Source for Draft Info Draftsource.net
Francis' post-draft comments and behavior were worse than anything Pippen or Olajuwon said. Francis = Pippen without the ability to speak Canadian. Let's get him out of here too--that is if we want to be consistent. Oh, and Hakeem is not only the Rockets, he's all of Houston professional sports. He put the pathetic city on the map of professional sports. ------------------ "I have to say, I don't understand why these Rockets' fans are booing Scottie." -Calvin Murphy
No one man is all sports! Dream doesn't OWN the franchise! He did a lot for the franchise, but you act like Houston owes the Dream everything that he wants! How does giving in to Dream help the franchises' future? The "pathetic" city huh? Hakeem isn't god and he isn't king of Houston, at least the way you claim. And I didn't hear Francis asking to be traded or waived from the Rockets. ------------------ If Megatron can become Galvatron, why can't Rocks2001 become RocksMillenium? [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited January 18, 2001).]
Francis never asked to be waived. Francis never asked to leave the Rockets. What's the worst thing Francis ever said about the Rockets? The Rockets knew Dream was unhappy. They knew Dream was going to go public. They were trying to move Dream. Dream's going public serves only to reduce his trade value. Just like Pippen's going public reduced his trade value. Dream is trying to force us to trade him. It's outrageous. He's trying to strong-arm the team. Even mentioning the possibility of waiving him is outrageous. No other team can claim him off waivers. (No team has $16M cap space). If we waive him, we pay his $16M and let some other team pick him up for the minium. Why should we do that? We should allow Dream to strong-arm us? Dream reduced his trade value by going public. Dream made an outrageous request to be waived. Dream is being selfish. His going public does nothing but hurt the team. Only current superstars can be allowed to be so selfish.
Someone made an interesting point on the radio last night. We (Houstonians) are (mostly) willing to overlook Dream's $16M salary. We know this is money he earned four, five, and six years ago. The question is, assuming Dream does start anew next year, are *those* fans going to understand? Even with a drastic pay cut, are they going to think he is "worth" $5M a year player? $2M a year? In short, to those who think there is disrespect going on now...wait'll next year! ------------------
Dream isn't trying to to hamstring the team or backstab them.I'll admit there has been some denial in the past,but he is still a valuable asset.He could put several teams over the hump and into the finals in the East.He still alters shots and drills the j.This is PR....the "announcement of Dream being open to being dealt or waived,Aldridge's report of Dream"being given permission to talk to other teams".......We've heard and analyzed this over and over for awhile.This is purely for the rest of the public's consumption.Dream knows about the cap,he doesn't need CD to explain it to him.Everyone is just being prepped for his departure....Miami,New York(even though it's cold),Indy,Milwaukee,Charlotte.........or of course Dallas.The deal is already done...whether they are waitng on Cato or whatever,I believe it's all over but the talk. ------------------
You make a great point...The City of Houston and the Rockets have shown loyalties to Hakeem, why can't he do the same for us?????? he's a sellout my book, why are some of you still trying to defend his actions? ------------------
