I was the next to last caller on the Rudy T. show tonight and after telling him that I respect him for what he has done, asked him if would consider stepping down if the Rockets miss the playoffs again. In no uncertain terms Rudy said not just no, but hell no!! He said that he talks with Les after each season and says "If you don't have faith that I'm the guy to lead this team, then you need to go out and find someone else to do the job" (I'm not sure if that quote is word for word, but it's close). He also said that this has been the most painful season he has ever had as a coach and insinuated that if he was let go he would likely go coach elsewhere. Unfortunately, he also said that he thought the Rockets were doing a good job on defense, so I still don't know how much of a grasp he has on reality. Sorry, but I don't know how to do the link for the radio show.
CAN someoe get the link. I love the show. BTW congrats on getting through. More of us should call and voice our opinions.
Did you tell him that you started a really stupid-ass petition to get him fired, too? I'm sure your answer to that is not just "no," but "hell no" you gutless weasle.
HeyP STFU. Make lots of people happy and just STFU. Yeah, we should all feel bad for a guy whos making 4 million a season, if someone thinks they should be replaced. Reality................................get a grasp on it.
Boy you guys are demanding. Two hours and you go into withdrawl. A guy can't even go out and get stinking drunk in that amount of time
HeyP - You're continuous need to be malicious and treat others as somehow inferior to you is not only sad but repugnant. However, I suspect that your capable of being decent. We just do not agree about Rudy, and I took an obviously controversial step to act on my thoughts and feelings. I get that you don't / didn't like it. That's cool. What I would appreciate is if you could just move on. thanks. RRU
I think we have folks with way inflated expectations hanging about. We're kidding ourselves if we think that our team should be in leagues of the elite this or even next season. Calling for Rudy's removal is plain crazy. I also give props to Rudy for how the team is coming along. All good things like wine need time to mature.
Agreed. RRU asked a fair question. The fans pay for Rudy's salary. We can all disagree but there is no need to get into personal attacks. Leave that to the ESPN boards.
Dude, I respect the guts it took to ask that right at Rudy. For some reason though, and as much as I've criticized Rudy myself this year, I feel really sorry for him now. Read my post of the Chronicle article. You can tell that they're trying to do the right things but it's going to take time.
Rockets-R-US, Way to go!! That took a lot of guts to ask Rudy that question. After listening to the mp3, it seems Rudy is so predictable with his answers. You could ask him about Francis's 1-10 night, or his 0 assist (until the last minute) night, and we would find a way to make it sound positive.
Rudy shouldn't step down. There is no reason for him to. He has the second youngest team in the NBA fighting for a playoff spot in the dominate west. You people need to hone down your expectations and get a grip on reality yourselves. When Ming becomes a dominating player down low, Rudy will be the perfect coach for this team.
although i don't agree with heypartner's quite tasteless and offensive comments, i think he (tries to) get to a point... i wouldn't have had a problem had you ended with the petition. but why are you so damn adamant about this? you say on the show that you have great respect for the man and just pose him stepping down as a question....but would you have ever told him ??? not only do i find it very hard to do, but i also find it very hypocritical that you would have respect for the guy but you want him booted out ASAP (followed by 10 exclamation marks). and then you have to let us know that "Rudy won't step down!" as if you're frustrated by what he said?? sheesh man. at least wait till the END of the season and then let us know you want him out. hey...i have tremendous respect for you too as a bbs member. but it's starting to really stink around here. well, Rockets-R-Us has to go!!!!!!!!!! please don't take any offense. i'm just trying to make a point
Personally, HP makes me giggle with glee. He states his points, and doesn't euphemize the majority of what he says. As far as the whole Rudy T. stepping down thing, I pretty much agree with what Possum said. Teams often take several years to gel. Problems don't get fixed over night. Before you scrap this team, give the players more than sixty games to get used to each other.
Visagial / barbourdg - thanks for the props. Possum - I have said repeatedly that IF the Rox make the playoffs, I would put on hold my call for Rudy to move upstairs. And I do believe that once the Rockets players (other than Cat and Steve) mature some more, he will once again do a decent job as coach. But we don't know how long the "maturation process" will take. And, for the team we have RIGHT NOW, I just don't think Rudy is able to glean the most out of what we have. And I'm afraid that it's going to take too long for him to get us where we want to be. Having said all that, I will also say that If Rudy takes this team past the second round of the playoffs by the end of next season, and to a title in 3-4 years, then I will consider myself completely wrong and will have no problem admitting that on this board and to whomever wants to say to me "I told you so!!" RRU
It's easy to be a "good" coach once Yao Ming becomes dominant. Hell, anyone would be a "perfect" coach for the team if Yao starts putting up 30/15/5/3blks...
Just wanted to say that this was an EXCELLENT question posed by the caller. All the Rudy supporters out there fail to address the issues posed by not only fans but coaches, analysts and even his own players at times. Here are the hard facts: 1. Rockets are 28th in assists. This is more of a reflection of the coaching than the players. Disorganized, undisciplined play and more. 2. His team has been out of the playoffs for 3 years in a row , with the 4th year coming soon despite having 2 all stars. 3. Analysts around the league are questioning his strategies, subsitutions and his plain basketball logic. Every broadcast from the opposing team always has something that questions this. These people are not stupid - most are former players or coaches. When they start to doubt the coach to the extent he's be questioned this year, you have to wonder. This is a business. He's getting paid a lot of money, fans are paying a lot of money for results. For you softies who are in luv with Rudy but are willing to sacrifice real and hard results just to see him stay - you are in the minority. From the tone of his voice you can sense the pressure is on Rudy. He knows it himself that if he doesn't deliver he could be out. 4 years despite having 3 lottery picks in 4 years is inexcusable. I'm also sick of the excuses he's constantly making: 1. Team is too young 2. Takes time to train players to post up 3. Must be patient with a new team and on and on. Excuses are for losers and those out there who think Rudy should stay should join that ship out of here! Facts are facts - get him out now. Start another fire-rudy petition this time at the stadium, not this frickin board.
