[Jonathan Feigen] NBA honors Rockets legends

freemaniam · Feb 17, 2013

NBA honors Rockets legends
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 3:26 pm by Jonathan Feigen in All-Star 2013, General, Houston Rockets, Rockets

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2013/02/nba-honors-rockets-legends/#more-14927

The annual National Basketball Retired Players Legends Brunch on Sunday honored a long list of Houston legends, beginning with Legend of the Year Hakeem Olajuwon, and including Dikembe Mutombo, Yao Ming, Calvin Murphy, Rudy Tomjanovich, Robert Horry and Clyde Drexler.

NBA commissioner David Stern introduced Olajuwon, saying they will “always be married by that first draft” that Stern conducted as commissioner in 1984.

“I see that same smile, perhaps not as innocent as it was then, wiser I would say,” Stern said. “It was great.”

Stern noted that “it was quite a draft,” pretending to forget the name of the third selection, Michael Jordan.

“He’s getting old and a little bit beefy, too,” Stern said. “He would be upset if he knew I was saying that. Magic (Johnson), what are you laughing about.”

Olajuwon spoke for 15 minutes, thanking coaches and teammates and citing his first exposure to the NBA.

“I was in Nigeria,” he said. “My first NBA contact was in Sports Illustrated that I saw with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic. They just won the championship. I think that was the coolest thing. I didn’t realize five years from that time period I was on the same court with Magic and Jabbar in 1986 … playing against them. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I was so blessed in my career.

“Houston is a great city. I was talking to the owner, Les Alexander, yesterday. I said I was so surprised the All Star game came back to Houston in a very short period of time. He said because we did such a good job the first time, it’s easy to get a second time. We are blessed to have the All Star game in Houston again and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Yao, who was introduced by Jeremy Lin as the Ambassador of the Year, also pointed to his first look at the NBA, the 1994 Finals matchup of Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing, when his friends were Knicks fans and he chose to be the Rockets fan.

“Almost 20 years ago was my first time watching the NBA game live on TV in China,” Yao said. “That was the series between the Houston Rockets against the Knicks in the 94 Finals. That was my first time watching the NBA life. After a couple years I was drafted by the Rockets. I feel that’s almost like a destiny for me. From that moment, I felt I should never leave this town, particularly after I got here. I felt welcomed by the Houstonians until I became one. Don’t believe my agent saying ‘Maybe he will leave after his first contract.” Don’t believe that. I was just bluffing. I love this town.”

Mutombo received the humanitarian award and said, “I always encourage everyone use your gift that God give you to try to go out and make the world a better place for the next generation. That’s the reason why I built this hospital in the memory of my mom.

He thanked Olajuwon for “opening doors for the young Africans that came after you. You made us believe this stage is for everyone. Yao, I love you. I will always love you, my brother.”

Tomjanovich described speaking with Olajuwon moments before Olajuwon’s Hall of Fame induction as “one of the greatest moments of my life.

“I was a coach who saw the positive in my players. I know they had shortcomings, but I tried to bring the good out of them.”

Horry, honored for his work with the Texas Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and the formation of the Ashlyn Horry Foundation, spoke of the championship seasons with the Rockets, but also added, “Thank you for all the love and support the City of Houston and the NBA showed after my daughter Ashlyn passed away.

“If I start crying, you have to excuse me,” he said. “It’s just so emotional for me to be up here.”

With his turn at the podium, Murphy was less emotional, but cited his return to the Rockets broadcasts for a comment no less heartfelt.

“The Houston Rockets saw fit to bring me back home,” he said. “I’m complete once again.”
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I know I shouldn't post the full article, but I don't want anyone to miss any quotes from the Rockets Legends in this great event, which IMHO, is bigger than tonight's All-Star game. I wish there are more coverages for this event, videos and photos.

RocketsRed14 · Feb 17, 2013

Watched this earlier on nba tv. Was really heartwarming and makes you proud to be a rockets fan. Very humble guys.

freemaniam · Feb 17, 2013

Found the videos from nba.com

David Stern's introduction

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/allstar/2013/02/17/20130217-legends-sternv2.nba

Rudy Tomjanovich

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/allstar/2013/02/17/20130217-legends-rudyt.nba

Robert Horry

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/allstar/2013/02/17/20130217-legends-horry.nba

Dikembe Mutombo

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/allstar/2013/02/17/20130216-legends-mutombo.nba

Hakeem Olajuwon

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/allstar/2013/02/17/20130217-legends-hakeem.nba

Yao Ming

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/allstar/2013/02/17/20130217-legends-yao.nba

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[Jonathan Feigen] NBA honors Rockets legends

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