Mario Elie on Hakeem Olajuwon:" Hakeem was an amazing leader."

Mario Elie is the f@#*&^ man. That is all.

 

great stuff - isn't this about 5 years old though?

 

Regurgitating old articles just for the sake of posting.

 

How do I give you rep for this post?

 

He mentions Sharif abdur-rahim.... So my guess is it is much older.

 

You can never get enough Hakeem

 

I'm about as big of a Hakeem fan there is going back to his UH days. Guy is an amazing leader. But not when he was 23 or 24. He was a kid.

I don't see how the poll really connects. I mean, you can't expect Harden or Lin to be leaders just yet. They are themselves figuring out their games and struggling with growing. They don't have much experience. Leaders are not born, they are made - with time. It's not just about heart, it's about knowledge and compassion too. It's waaaayyyyyy too early to be asking for leadership from these kids. Right now, they need mentorship and to be lead first.

But nice article, I enjoyed reading it.

 

Good points, that is why say what you want about Mchale, but I think he is the perfect person to mentor this young group. He may lack some in the X's and O'x department but I think his leadership has impacted this team.

Just look at that last Utah game. That game was over early, but even when the bench was in everybody was still hustling and executing to the very end. To the tune of a historic defeat for the Jazz. I think that Mchale has a lot to do with that! IMO he's a no nonsense, outwork, outplay, outsmart everyone if you want to win kind of guy. No excuses.

 

I remember Elie telling the story about how he would put on 5-7 pairs of socks just so he could fit in his brother's shoes and go play basketball when he was a kid.

 

I have to disagree a little bit with the part I bolded. When Hakeem was 23, he was battling the Celtics with Sampson and the gang for the NBA title. While he had a hell of a temper, the guy was already showing strong leadership qualities, working his arse off in practice and in games. He had quickly become the main guy the opposing team needed to contain and didn't do that by looking around for someone to tell him what to do.

 

I wouldn't say dominating the game meant he was a leader though. A lot of his teammates say he really became a lead after he embraced his religion.

 

leader*

 

Oh, I know he changed tremendously, but I still think he was being a team leader by being such an incredibly hard worker and producing, already, at an All Star level. Later, he became a far different, and better, leader for the Rocks. No doubt about it.

Man, Elie is a prince among men.

 

next thing you're going to tell me is that hakeem was an amazing player.

where is the tom brady sideline gif at?

But like bob marley sang to me, in this great future you can't forget your past.
Over the weekend I took a look at my sports illustrated twice is nice issue, and the memories of having to go to taco cabana to view the home playoffs game rushed through my head.

 

i dont think any of our guys are AMAZING. but harden and parsons are probably the top.

 

Whenever I see Mario Elie's name I always think of the Kiss of Death play.