Why?? How long was he here? Two, three years? Rudy T is a Rocket. Calvin Murphy is a Rocket. Elvin Hayes is a Rocket. Clyde Drexler is a Trail Blazer, and had his greatest years there. Hanging his jersey up after a short Rocket stay because of one ring only demeans the other retired jerseys. Based on this, perhaps we should retire Charles Jones' jersey. Or Robert Horry's. Yeah, Clyde was a great guy and a model citizen and a native Houstonian, but this seems like more of a publicity ploy for Arena Vote II than an honor for a deserving longtime member of the Rockets organization. MrB
The Big E's best years and championships were with the Washington Bullets. The Rocks have not retired his number, but maybe they should if the Bullets have not already. We retired Mo Malones number yet he played the majority of his NBA years not in a Rockets uni. He also won his championship with 76ers. I think one of the reason Mo's number got retired was that after being traded he retained strong ties to the Houston community (and maybe since the 76ers were going to retire his number???) Drexler should have his number retired by either the Blazers or the Rockets, which ever is his choice.
Drexler is a Houstonian. His jersey is being retired as a celebration of his contribution to Houston basketball-- not simply his contribution to the Rockets. It's a unusual move, sure-- but it's also a classy move, and to me that is justification in and of itself.
"Based on this, perhaps we should retire Charles Jones' jersey. Or Robert Horry's. " Good point. We should retire their numbers. Hell number 11 needs to be up on the wall too as far as I'm concerned. The Glyde is a Houston gem, Portland traded him. He was appreciated in H-town.
I feel good about Clyde having his jersey retired. I feel that his addition basically delivered the championship in 95. Hell I love Chuck so much I'd have no problem with retiring his jersey.
Retiring Clyde's jersey in the right thing to do. Didn't the Rockets had a chance to draft Clyde? So in retrospect, the homeboy deserve to retire in his hometown.
