http://http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Catching_up_with_Rafer_Alston-281951-34.html HOUSTON - The draft is done. The free agent frenzy and Olympics are, too. Preseason is still more than a month away. Yep, we've officially entered hoops hibernation. So to get you through the basketball void, Rockets.com will spend the next few weeks catching up with various members of the team to find out what they've been up to this summer. The tour continues today as we chat with Rafer Alston. JCF: How’s your summer been? RA: It’s been good. I’ve had a chance to relax coming off surgery for my ankle; it’s been good to let my body rest and heal. I stayed around basketball, running around and traveling with my AAU team that I sponsor and coach at the same time. I’ve had a blast with that. JCF: How’s the ankle doing? RA: It’s doing well. I was able to go in there [to the practice court] today – it was the first day – and do some things that I thought I’d have trouble doing, but I was able to cut, run and jump and do some things that I’m normally capable of, so it was a productive day. JCF: Now you haven’t actually been cleared to participate in games yet, right? RA: Right. But today I was able to do more than what everyone thought I’d be able to do, and even more than what I thought I’d be able to do, so you never know, I could probably get cleared sooner than we think. It just depends how it responds after each workout. JCF: But I guess you have to be patient, too, right? Just to avoid any sort of setback? RA: Indeed. But the good thing is that I allowed it a chance to heal. They told me to rest and not do anything until September, so I waited and did some light jogging. Then I was able to come in today – at the appropriate time that they said to come on in – and got on the court and tried some things, so everything worked out well. JCF: Now how about off the court? Are you a movie or video game guy? RA: Oh man, off the court I’m a big bowling guy and I like going to movies – I’m a big moviegoer. I’m always going to the theater and watching movies at my house. I play video games here and there, it just depends who comes over and who likes to play. JCF: So what do you play? RA: Madden and some NBA Live. JCF: Oh no, another Live guy. Why not 2K? RA: I haven’t tried the 2K. People like it, though; they say it’s good. JCF: You gotta try it, man. It’s the best. I’m trying to convert D.J. Strawberry, too. But anyway, what are some of the best movies you’ve seen this summer? RA: I saw Street Kings. Vantage Point was good. Dark Knight was great. Step Brothers was funny… JCF: Chuck really liked Tropic Thunder. RA: I saw that, it was cool. But, you know, it seemed like you already knew what was going to happen. JCF: Did it change your opinion of Tom Cruise at all? RA: (laughs) No, he was cool. JCF: But still crazy… RA: (laughs) Yeah. Anyway, I think I’m going to try and see the new Nicolas Cage movie Bangkok today or tomorrow… JCF: Oh geez, speaking of crazy... Anyway, I know this is the world’s worst segue, but do you feel like there anything left to say about your DWI arrest last month? RA: Anything that I’ve done, I’ve always been a man and stood up and apologized. So I’ve apologized to the team, our GM and Mr. Alexander. I told my teammates I’m sorry and that I won’t let anything hinder what we’re trying to accomplish as a team and what I’m trying to accomplish as an individual. JCF: Speaking of team goals, this club already has huge expectations being placed upon it and you’re a big part of that. It’s interesting, because I’ll never forget media day last year when there was so much speculation about your future with the team and you stood up to the rumors and sent notice that as long as you were here you were going to prove that you were the best guy to go out and run this team and you did it. Do you feel as if you’re the kind of guy who plays better when he has a chip on his shoulder? RA: (laughs) Yeah, I would say so. Whenever your back is against the wall, you feel like you have something to prove. But the good thing with me is that I don’t let that overshadow what we’re trying to accomplish as a team. I’ve always been able to put things in perspective in that I know I have to show that I belong in this league, I belong on this team and I’m the guy to run the show, but at the same time I understand that we have to win games and fight tooth and nail to make the playoffs and hopefully win a series. But I’ve always had to show and prove that I can get the job done.
