Rudy impressed with Tierre Brown

Here's a nice article about Brown. It just goes to prove, that taking a little initiative can go a long way.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/1258407

Rockets find a lot to like about newcomer Brown
By NEIL HOHLFELD
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle


At first glance, there doesn't seem to be much of a connection between the careers of Steve Francis and Tierre Brown.

Francis is the Rockets' All-Star guard, a celebrated first-round draft pick, a guy whose nickname is "Franchise." Brown played at McNeese State, wasn't drafted and, after being kicked out of the team's practice facility at the Westside Tennis Club a few times last summer, made the team against all odds during training camp.

But each time Francis has one of his debilitating migraines, the door opens slightly wider for Brown, a rookie whose hard work and aggressiveness have impressed coach Rudy Tomjanovich.

Brown, 22, has played in 23 games this season; Francis has missed 21 games because of injury and illness. Do the math. When Francis is out, Moochie Norris starts at point guard, and Brown moves to the backup role. When Francis plays, Norris is the backup, and Brown is an anchor at the end of the bench.

Lately, Francis has been sidelined more frequently by the migraine symptoms, missing four games in the last month. Francis was back at practice Friday after sitting out two days of practice and the Rockets' previous game Tuesday, but Brown will be on the alert tonight when the Orlando Magic comes to Compaq Center.

"I think about it all the time," Brown said. "I'm always ready, but the thing I have to keep reminding myself is that when I come in, I can't expect to fill his shoes."

What Brown gives the Rockets is a burst of energy. In Tuesday's victory over Memphis, he played seven minutes and hit his only two shots. Brown ran the offense while Norris got a rest. For the season, Brown averages 10.4 minutes, 3.3 points and 1.7 assists.

"Tierre is an energy guy," Tomjanovich said. "That's what we're looking for -- more energy on both ends of the floor. He fits the way we want to play. He's a penetrating, fearless guy, like Steve and like Moochie. Plus, he's such a good kid. I really like the way he approaches everything we've asked him to do."

Fearless is an apt description. After a career at McNeese State in which he was among the nation's top 25 scorers in both his junior and senior years, Brown literally walked on to the Rockets. He was undrafted but undaunted.

After his junior year, Brown played in a summer league with some NBA players at Fonde Recreation Center in Houston. He caught the eye of Rockets assistant coach Melvin Hunt, who tipped off general manager Carol Dawson and Tomjanovich.

After his senior year, Brown returned to Houston and tried out for the Rockets' entry in the Rocky Mountain summer league. After suffering a shoulder injury that prevented him from making that team, Brown went to the Westside practice center, hoping to hook up with the various NBA types who work out there during the summer.

Instead, he got the heave-ho and was threatened on at least one occasion with something more serious if he didn't leave.

"I just started going there, and I got kicked out a few times," Brown said. "They didn't know me. I was mad, but I kept coming. They would have had to kick me out every day to keep me away."

Brown was invited to training camp, but Tomjanovich admits now he didn't see much chance for Brown to make the team.

"We had played a couple of exhibition games, and I don't think Tierre had gotten into any of them," Tomjanovich said. "I'm sitting in my (hotel) room about 9 o'clock one night, and there's a knock on the door. I thought it was the turndown service, so I holler, `No, I'm fine!' I hear a voice say, `It's Tierre. Can we talk?'

"I know he was wondering what the situation was. I told him the truth. I said the chances were very small he was going to make this team. But I told him I had seen crazier things happen."

As the exhibition season continued, Tomjanovich started seeing more to like about Brown. Plus, he couldn't forget the knock on his door that night during training camp.

"I go back to that conversation," Tomjanovich said. "I'm thinking, `How many guys would do that, go knock on the coach's door and see what he's doing?' I learned something from that, too. I was honest with him, telling him I didn't think there was a chance. He just went out and did what the coaching staff wanted him to do -- give it his all -- and good things happened."

Brown understands a number of things have gone his way during this surprising season. The next step will be maintaining a roster spot next year.

"That's going to be another stressful thing," he said. "After this season, it starts all over again. I'll play a lot of pickup games and try to learn whatever I can to come into the next training camp. But I won't be discouraged about it. I've never been discouraged about anything."