Rockets look for good, healthy NBA hoops season The Houston Rockets traveling show came to the Webster Business Alliance luncheon as Rockets owner Les Alexander is flanked by the Rockets Power Dancers along with team mascot Clutch. The City of Webster treated its Business Alliance partners to an Outback Steakhouse lunch and a guest appearance by Houston Rockets owner Les Alexander last Tuesday at the Webster Civic Center. Alexander, accompanied by Rockets' forwards Juan Howard and Chuck Hayes, broadcaster Bill Worrell and the Rockets Power Dancers, spoke to Webster's business community about the disappointments of last season and hopes for next year. Alexander's first words were of encouragement. He asked the audience to keep in mind that the Rockets' young, talented core of players was decimated by injury, saying Yao Ming "has become the dominate force" NBA scouts thought he would someday be and emphasizing the superstar status of Tracy McGrath, when he's healthy, of course. In light of the poor product featured on the courts this season, Alexander and his marketing team promised not to raise ticket prices next season. Worrell said the Rockets organization was keeping its fingers crossed as Americans, especially those in Webster and the Bay Area, anticipated NASA's launch of STS-121. "(The STS-121 mission is) a key launch for NASA...some people are saying it's a make or break situation for the space program," he said. "We feel like this is a make or break year for the Rockets." Hinting that the organization's return to greatness may hinge on the health of two players, Worrell said the Rockets won championships in 1994 and 1995 because they built around a superstar named Hakim Olajuwon. "Now we have two superstars to build around," he said. "I'd like to report to you Tracy (McGrady) says he's feeling better than he's ever felt, and Yao Ming just took the cast of his broken foot. It doesn't look like the Chinese Basketball Federation is going to play him in the world championship; they're going to let him heal, so we'll get him back healthy." The audience welcomed Worrell's good news with smiles and nods and erupted into applause once he introduced NBA players Howard and Hayes. Before the NBA pair participated in an audience question and answer session, Howard apologized for letting the city down and vowed next season would give fans a reason to return to the stands. Most of the audiences' questions seemed centered around the draft, free agency and possible trades, but the players refrained from blurting out any names. Alexander and Worrell interceded on most questions, saying the team will hunt the free-agent market for a shooting guard and approach the draft with a win-now strategy. The Rockets ended up drafting Rudy Gay from the University of Connecticut with the eighth pick, only to trade him to the Memphis Grizzlies for defensive specialist Shane Battier, who was the consensus National Player of the Year in 2001, a first team All-American and the sixth pick in the draft. "Once again, Webster has illustrated that it cares a great deal about its commercial constituents," said Dr. Betsy Giusto, economic director. "The Webster Business Alliance was created to forge strong bonds."
Man, some of these Power Dances shouldn't have close-up shots. Couldn't they have some of the other PD's to pose?? No offense, though.
I whole-heartedly endorse this statement. The Rockets Power Dancers must take care not to sacrifice acceptable facial appearance for dancing skill.
Sheesh I was just gonna say the same stuff, but you guys beat me to it.. Can't they at least comb some strip clubs for dancers like the other cities do, so they can find dancers who don't need bags over their heads?? That one on the left looks like a homeless person. And during the telecasts too, man.. the producer must be on love with that blonde chick with the flat nose. Always makes me jealous when we play away games and see the girls the other teams employ. No comparison. But that 'School Girls' routine ours did last year, I do give that an A+ though.. hehehe
The author of the article is some dude named Phillip David Yates. It's clear that PDY is not a big hoops fan, and has no clue who the players are. Reminds me of the time I was visiting grandparents out in West Texas during the summer many many moons ago, the summer that The Empire Strikes Back was released.. the local paper had a review of the movie by some blue-haired old lady.. the only things I remember from the review were references to 'Yohan Solo' and a little green man named Yodo.
Hey, hey, hey! I used to work for HCN and you need to shut..... ok, wait. Yea, you're right. They are a joke! Man, I'm glad I got out of there years ago.
Don't knock Philip David Yates...actually Philip David Yates III. There's no one better to have a conversation with about the world's best yachters over a watercress sandwich at the country club. Tracy McGrath and Juan Howard indeed. Psshaaawww. The peasants.
