So why did the Rockets not take into consideration things like this? Royce has been dealing with anxiety his entire life. You expect me to believe that he wasn't aware that he would need some special accommodation. Likely the Rockets have been blowing it off or been less than accommodating.
You're assuming they didn't take it into consideration. I don't think they're that stupid. I don't think they could have assumed..or even should have assumed...that he'd just not show up to media day or training camp when he had ample time to get there by any means of transportation he wished to arrive by.
anyone knew of other athletes facing similar issue?the only one i can recall is a soccer player called bergkamp and he does miss out some long distance games
He specifically said he wants it in writing. It is better he comes into camp comfortable than in a compromised state. The rockets had to have known all of this. I don't believe this whole the rockets were blindsided bit. Good organizations like the rockets that do there due diligence are never blindsided.
So you believe the Rockets knew it and intentionally ignored it, leading to this situation? It's all on the Rockets, huh? No responsibility at all for Royce to get his ass to training camp by bus, car, train, etc., huh? If Royce wanted this in writing, Royce and his agent should have damn well opened up the negotiations on it when he signed his contract. They could have made it very clear to the Rockets that they were not going to attend training camp at all if this accomodation wasn't taken care of before then. If that had happened, Royce would be saying so right now while everyone is questioning his absence. He's not.
I just think it is funny that the majority of posters blame royce and nobody holds the rockets accountable. I am not completely exonerating royce but i refuse to jump off the bandwagon when at SL people on this board were high on this guy. Fans are crazy fickle and i refuse to be like that. What if Royce's people had been trying to negotiate things like this & the rockets were holding out? Your last paragraph could very well be what happened.
No one has a problem with his game, roxxy. Everyone likes what he shows on the court in SL and in college. Not the issue.
Maybe because Royce and his doctor only came up with this demand "a couple of days before training camp was to start." Watch the video where he says so himself: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8459655/royce-white-absent-houston-rockets-cites-mental-health
Because the Rockets have no reason to hold out? They are paying his salary regardless. You think the Rockets want to pay his salary for him to miss camp?
He can't get it in writing due to the CBA!! It's an unfair advantage to other players and teams.. now everybody going to want to BUS IT! honestly this is far beyond Royce White and the Rockets! Boy You better suck it up and stop worrying about plane trips when you have Crack Babies and Toddlers with Cancer and people who has it a million times worse than you! At least he has an opportunity and money to seek help and face your fears dammit! Stop being Selfish and work through your madness!
When he was drafted he was giving every indication that flying was something he could and would do.He even tweeted this picture during the time leading up to the draft,so yea I'd say the Rocket's may be a little blindsided by these demands.
Is there any advantage for Royce to not show up to camp? that's what is bugging me, and others apparently, the most. It feels like he's using his absence to force the team to sign off on his "list" or whatever it is. The contract has been signed. What is he gaining from this? And i agree he just needs to keep quiet now. No one is going to like the fact that he downplayed the disability to get drafted as high as possible and now wants it to be taken more seriously. Just figure something out with the team and get to camp. The reason people don't blame the team (i actually did put some blame on them and so did others) is because it's on roy'ce and his team to let the team knows what Royce and and can't deal with. There isn't just one checklist for everyone who deals with anxiety. Only Royce knows what he feels and it's up to him, and his doctor, to let the team know what that is and how it will affect him being in the NBA. the Rockets can't just assume worst-case scenario and give him anything and everything from the the start.
I was on the fence before but this "bus alternative" gave him away, at least to me. How can Royce explain that he CAN fly the long distance and NOT the short distance? It's the same plane :grin: It cannot fall under we "cannot read his mind". If he can somehow explain that rationally, maybe I can understand his mind.
Talk about starting your first day a work on the wrong foot.. He should have taken a bus to McAllen Texas and met up with his team...he really showed lack of planning...he knew what he needed in order for his illness to be dealt with. He did not find out yesterday that he has a fear of flight...Like any normal employee with disablilities would ask his employer for assistance or accommodation...Royce should have approached Mchale and Morey directly...or via his agent...
That is just it... "you cant rationalize" mental health...and RW approached this situation terribly...
This doesn't make sense Royce would rather be on no flights. If he can afford flights as much as possible he would rather do that. Clearly he can't bus across country for games. So if some locations are close and he can avoid taking flights I do not blame him for seeking that.
he hasn't received an NBA paycheck during voluntary team training and summer league, is this accurate? he stated in his skype interview that everything up to this point was voluntary. I was also under this impression- that an NBA player doesn't get paid until training camp...
