Hakeem once said it is hard to watch the games without being able to play, he just can't handle it. Now I understand why he is so pissed, that is what he has been doing all season long. ------------------
Dream isn't complaining because of playing time, he is complaining because he wants the ball, he wants to be the focus of the offense and that just isn't going to work. Bottomline, Hakeem is a role player now, and people have to accept that, especially Dream himself! ------------------ Rocket fans UNITE to bring Pig Miller back home! WE NEED PIG! OINK! OINK! OINK!
To me that is no excuse though. If you are collecting a 16.5 million dollar check you need to at least be out there supporting your team. ------------------ Shane "Save Our Rockets" "Life without basketball in Houston........without an arena that is what it will be"
Let's face it y'all . . it's too bad it had to be this way, but we must realize what this is -- Hakeem Olajuwon is displaying the same selfish, whining and disloyal behavior that we (the fans) have found so disappointing in sports today. Hakeem is showing himself to be the same as all the other multi-million dollar crybabies and we are in denial about it. It's disappointing the situation came to this. And let's stop trying to blind ourself of reason by saying "Dream only wanted to play more" and "Dream wants what's best for the team" . . . that's BS -- Dream wanted to be the man again and he can't be . . . I can remember from 3 years ago, Dream said he's in the best shape of his career and he'll be a huge force in the NBA and we'll win a championship again -- Dream was injured much of the season and looked less than stellar. The following season -- same story, he's injured and not the Dream of old. And now, he's injured again, he can't play all the time because of his breathing condition and yet he still complains. I was as big a Hakeem Olajuwon fan as anyone. I'm looking at a poster of him right now, and I've read "Living the Dream". But I feel betrayed by him. The Rockets should feel betrayed by him. The Rockets organization has done everything he has wanted, short of giving him the ball every play and he still feels the need to complain. We can sit and say that his complaints are just, but that is mere glossing over a difficult situation for nostalgia's sake. Face it, Dream was good, he was the man, and no matter what, he's never going to return. But he thinks he will, and he's sacrificed his relationship with Houston for that. Goodbye Dream. It's too bad it had to end this way. ------------------ "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
I am simply stunned at how disloyal you guys are to Hakeem. You talk about Hakeem being disloyal?? Please. The man single-handedly gave Houston its ONLY pro sports titles, and as soon as he does one little thing you don't like, he is suddenly the next Scottie Pippen. I don't think Hakeem is the one that is disloyal. That title belongs to the fans on this board who consistensly assume things about a player you obviously know little about. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
For what it's worth though, none of the things that people are complaining about are things that are speculation -- they are all things that Hakeem has said . . . wanting more touches, disappointment with his lower role, desire to be traded -- it's not as if this is fabricated, it's straight from his mouth. Dream did help bring Houston two championships, but not single-handedly. Without his supporting cast, and especially Rudy T, Dream gets nowhere. It's just like how Jordan never won anything until Pippen and Jackson arrived. No one player is above a team, an organization, or a city. Hakeem has been disloyal in his most fragile times. He is at the end of his career. He could have finished it dignified, as he did everything else. Instead, he became another stereotypical athelete. It's too bad ------------------ "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
I have posted this before, so bear with me, but i think it belongs in this tread. Barkley accepted the veteran´s minimum to get Pippen here. That didn´t work out. The year after that, Pippen left, blasted Barkley, and suddenly he was left with an injury prone Dream and a rookie as his teammates. He had an offer on the table from the Lakers. The same team that had beaten the Rockets in the playoffs. The same team he fought with the bigger heart i have ever seen a player display, aside from Jordan´s performance against the Jazz when you could see that the flu was eating him from the inside. I´ll never forget Chuck´s game 3 of that series. Yet, he refused the Lakers offer. He refused the chance to get the ring he had seeking so long. And make no mistake: he knew he had a better chance with the Lakers. Everyone did. As much as i hate the Lakers part of me WANTED Barkley to accept their offer and get his ring. But he didn´t. WHY? Loyalty. He liked the Rockets. He liked the city of Houston. He wanted to end his carrer here. he has made his share of mistakes. But in the end, he was loyal. Why is it that some of you find acceptable that Dream doesn´t diplay the same character that Charles did? Because he won two championships here, and Barkley never won none? If anything, those championships should have made the city of Houston and the Rockets mean EVEN MORE to him. Why dream could co-exist with Charles and Pippen (1/3 of the offense) and he can´t co-exist with Francis, Cuttino, Mo and Shandon? You know why? Pride. He doesn´t respect them. He sees himself as the Dream and the other guys on the team as a bunch of kids that should defer to him. You know what? His attitude is in some ways WORSE than Pippen´s. Pippen never owed anything to Houston. He didn´t have a history. he was a newcomer. It didn´t work, he wanted out. Of course, the means he used to achieve that are greatly questionable, but i see his reasons for doing so as being a helluva lot more understandable than Dream´s. Everyone has pointed out at one time or another how Dream had lost his fire. How he no longer seemed to care for the game. How he wouldn´t get mad when he got a bad call. And that goes a good couple of years back. When the Rockets actually HAD a shot at the title. So what´s with the sudden desire to win again? He´s behaving like a spoiled child who isn´t getting the attention he deserves. The older brother who is jealous of the attention his younger brothers are getting. Its not winning or losing. It´s PRIDE. And that is truly pitiful. When all this mess started i actually entertained the idea of watching Dream in Miami, side by side with Grant and Mason. Or maybe in LA, playing the 4 next to Shaq. But the truth is, right now, i have nothing but despise for him. The dream has turned into a nightmare. Jordan chose to retire instead of seeing his team broken up and wear another uniform. He felt that if the Jerry´s didn´t deserve such loyalty, at least his fans were deserving. Why Hakeem? Why? CD, Les and Rudy ALWAYS took care of you and your needs. You were always treated with respect and was rewarded for the years you were underpaid. Why this now? He doesn´t deserve to get his wish. Don´t waive him. Sit him the entire season if needed. Trade him only if it is greatly to our advantage. That´s what he deserves. if he comes to his senses, he should receive all the accolades and have a game in his honor, just like Charles did. But this Dream, who is no longer a dream, but again Akeem, deserves nothing. He has no honor. And someone who has no honor deserves no respect. ------------------ "Dream another dream, this dream is over... Dream another dream, this dream is over... Dream another dream..." - from the Van Halen song, "Dream Another Dream". Fitting, isn´t it? [This message has been edited by Thanos (edited January 20, 2001).]
In an age where sports is dominated by big corporate money and ticket prices flying through the roof,the fans are the ones that are hurt the most.Jamcracker was right when he said you can always walk up and find tickets around the summit.(and some hellacious deals at that)My friends and I have a whole list of ways for getting in for games we want to see.It might take some ingenuity.....connections,walk up,etc....By the way, when I told you ,Freak,that I am humbled...that goes for my buddies,and presumably, all the other fans that have come out in the past and the ones who might not have money coming out of their a**.I'm not poor,but I resent what big money is doing(and has done to pro sports)to all sports in general.I know there are many positives,but,in my mind the negatives outweigh those by a mile.It has a trickle down effect all the way into the college game and even high school.With the addition of cable(digital,which is awesome watching the league pass),sattelite systems,and ticket prices going through the roof,I understand the hesitancy of the average fan to run out and shell out a ton for his family or himself.If you really try though most of the time,one can get it done.It is not only sad to see Dream go,but also with him the time where a guy plays in a city all or most of his career.Houston is a town made up of transplants from the boom and once again is on the move,bringing with it people from all over....thus a perceived apathy on the part of a lot of people.While we might not be a St.Louis or a Chicago,the people that are dedicated are fanatical.(obviously...huhuh)It pains me that most of these really hardcore fans can't or won't get a sniff of many tickets anymore.I honestly believe we get the raw end of the deal in a lot of ways,including public perception. As far as Dream is concerned,I think some of the people on this board should wait and watch how this shakes out.Yes,he was naive,very proud(and always will be,sometimes to a fault),and did some incredibly audacious things early in his career.We are talking about a human being who is a walking enterprise,in addition to that Houston ICON I spoke of.He still retains some of that unorthodox approach off the court,that made him develop into such a great player on the court.The Rockets are handling this just fine and so is Dream.I still believe that saying he wants out( or something similiar) is just priming the wheels of the fans for a deal that is done.I don't think this thing is getting messy and when it is over(being dealt or ...POSSIBLY even released),I hope all the same people that have hammered him will step up,eat a little crow,swallow some pride(much the way I believe Dream is doing now), and speak out.Whether it's 2 days,2 months,or two years all of this moaning will probably be replaced with only fond memories. The Rockets are a team on the rise in a hurry and I think he sees this and understands that the young team is almost ready to contend with a few additions.He doesn't want to stand in the way of the developement of certain players now or later.I believe he has a genuine respect and love for this organization that most don't seem to comprehend.......Now,That sounds like a mix of PR and the truth to me. He also loves the game,the chance to play in crunch time,and yes,he likes the money too. I really believe that he feels in his mind also that he can help another team where he would be more of an integral part(the way he wants to be) in their winning. GREAT TO SEE YOU MADE THE FRONT PAGE,MAN,CONGRATULATIONS! ------------------ [This message has been edited by hardwood (edited January 20, 2001).]
If you don't see why Dream wants out there is no reason to explain it cause you will never understand. ------------------
Hey Rockeem, I think there MAY be much more to IT than you think..You say he wants to play and you are right ,but there are A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS at work here.One of the many that I didn't mention in my post is Cato.I know most people think he is an overpaid dog,but if you were living in that gigantic shadow and had Cato's psychological makeup,don't you think it is within the realm of possibility that once Dream is gone we'll see the madman he was before he signed the contract.Remember what CD said about him needing some love.In the future,if I UNDERSTAND what you say right , cut out the condescending crap.If I misunderstood,sorry,.....otherwise.......ahhh screw it...Peace anyway!...We all do want the same thing....more titles!.....HH ------------------ [This message has been edited by hardwood (edited January 20, 2001).]
I am tired of people using the argument that Hakeem should be given whatever he wants because he brought Houston 2 championships. Granted, that was a great thing, and I enjoyed both of them as much as anyone else, but the fact is, SO DID HAKEEM! It's not as if Hakeem gave of himself and brought the championships here with great sacrifices, and him getting no benefits. Quite simply, Hakeem enjoyed the championships and accolades more than the fans, and he got payed millions of dollars to boot! How can anyone say that we owe him because he did something that benefitted himself so greatly? You shouldn't. We owe Hakeem nothing. He has been rewarded <u>greatly</u> for his contribution to the championships, and now he needs to realize that Houston has no obligation to him other to reward his current accomplishments (yeah, there are so many, he has more bench ass-splinters than any $16 million player), and honor his current contract. I will lose so much respect for the Rockets organization if they give in to Hakeem's demands. ------------------ "Of course, everything looks bad if you remember it!" Homer Simpson [This message has been edited by RunninRaven (edited January 20, 2001).]
stop the hate, don't hate on Dream, don't hate, don't hate, don't hate, don't hate.. late ------------------ against all odds
stop the hate.., don't hate the Dream.. don't hate.. don't hate.. don't hate.. don't hate.. late ------------------ against all odds
Hakeem has always been my favorite. If he retires as a Rocket , a Knick, a Laker, or a Heat, it doesn't matter that much anymore. I will not feel that bad about it though, that's for sure. At least he didn't have to go down like the Chuckster did- Playing like a man possessed, and then a career ending injury, with no rings to boot. Good luck to Dream RocKs ------------------
yup.. true, you gotta hate the way chuck went out, Hakeem's very lucky, wherever he goes, God bless.. peace ------------------ against all odds
