So who still believes that Rudy wasn't forced out?

so you're saying we should hire Jimmy Johnson?

 

Of course Rudy was forced out.

 

I'm saying cry baby fans should move on. Rudy was a good coach when this was a veteran team. This team needs dicipline, whether Rudy wanted to stay or not.

As far as your response to my post, its called an analogy, if you missed it in your English classes.

 

I think he was forced out, but they didn't want the press to view it as rudy being fired.

- one, because the owner didn't want to have the stigma of firing rudy t.

- and two, rudy didn't want to have the stigma of being a coach that was fired.

Basically, the owner thought it was time to move on, which is his perogative. And he tried to end the relationship in the most amiable way possible. But that story he told about Rudy approaching him is flat out bull****. I don't think anyone in the rocks organization cares about what they say to the reporters though, truth or fib, as long as they think it makes them look good and classy.

 

Again, the winner is Batman Jones. Bingo.

I still think, however, that Van Gundy should coach this team, Larry Brown be damned. I don't get why his stock has sunk so low of late. And I don't get why Brown's was that high. Larry Brown's situation is like when REM left IRS Records to sign with Warner. They signed after they peaked. Same with Larry Brown. He's getting old, arrogant, and the Pistons are going to learn that Aesops Fable lesson about the dog who gets greedy and tries to grab the bone in the water reflection, but loses the one he has -- alot of the reson they are as close as they are is because of Carlisle. Now, they're going to rebuild their whole system... bad idea. Larry Brown belongs there. Screw him.

Van Gundy has ALWAYS been the best choice. Most creative, most enthusiastic, most hungry, most skilled, most flexible... Most freaking crazy and apt to take on a challenge like Yao. ANd, Van Gundy drvies a Honda.

To recap: Rudy was forced out, and he was bought off and guilted off. Les's consicuous non-endorsement after the season ended was enough to show that.

But, if they get Van Gundy, it's not all for naught.

They'll probably get Dunleavy, though. I am not psyched. Anyone have Rodney McCray's Phone number? No Alonzo Bradley? What about Kevin Kunnert? Have they reviewed Allen Leavell's application? Is Tom Henderson's phone disconnected? Is Calvin Garrett unwilling to let CD call the shots? Was Kermit Washington not available? Mike Dunleavy? Please.

This team is a perfect match for a coach, by the way. You could put some total drip like Chris Ford at the front of the bench right now, and the placebo effect would be enough to get them in the damned playoffs. They're close, an undervalued commodity. But Les is notoriously arrogant, slightly cheap, and not particularly political or affable -- how could he make this a less attractive job than the Pistons? You can run people off from coaching Yao Freaking Ming? Welcome to the New Rockets, I suppose.

Speaking of dogs grabbing at a second bone and losing the one they already have, the Rockets minus Coach Rudy Tomjanovich are not nearly as classy an organization as they were before. Rudy and pre-meltdown Hakeem were the likable ones, the ones who turned us into a desirable franchise to work for. But with Napoleon Alexander as the new face of the team, the story is different. Get used to this until they get someone with some face-value integrity in there.

Like Tim McDougall, for instance.

sincerely,
CBFC

 

Rick Carlisle had 2 outstanding years and got kicked out.

Rudy had at least 4 mediocre years and got moved upstairs.

 

oh, are they?

and in a related grammar note, it's "it's" when you want to use a contraction for "it is", not "its".

ie. "its called an analogy".

but good try at the Grammar Police angle, smart guy.

and to put this thread back on track, "F Judas!"

 

Maybe they were trying to save face with Rudy. Rudy is a proud person so I would assume they would want to let everyone think it was rudy's decision. Maybe that's the way rudy wanted it.

All this griping still doesn't change things. We didn't hire LB and Rudy's gone. We have to have a little faith that things will work out in the end. I think there's more to the story than what's been said. Maybe there's an ace up CD's sleeve but you guys are relentless. If you hate this team so much, then why keep harping on it? I love the Rockets and have to keep the faith.

 

You have convinced me, BGM. I know I argued against you for a while about whether or not Les was really forcing Rudy out, or whether or not he was a bad guy for doing it and claiming not to...but I don't care about that now. The guy forced Rudy out, lied about it, and then proceeded to screw the franchise over in the coach hunt. Well done, Les. We might as well have kept Rudy if we have to settle for freaking Dunleavy.

On a side note, you freaking rule, CBFC. You need to write columns for CC.net or something (didn't you used to do that regularly?).

 

I understand your frustration but other teams are taking longer than the Rockets to hire a coach. Look at Washington, they knew they were going to fire Collins, yet that was delayed for over a month.

Toronto has been searching for about 2 months with no result yet. The Clippers are always looking for replacements. We've been fortunate to have had Rudy as our coach for 12 yrs. Other franchises do this every 2-3 yrs. Ask LB's former teams.

LB is trying to set a record for the most franchises coached in a lifetime. By current age estimates, he could coach for another 12 yrs. Assuming his life expectancy is 75 yrs old. He's on to the 7th franchise I believe and he could squeeze at least another 5-6 teams in before all is said and done.

The correct decision is not always the most obvious one. No one would ever have imagined Rudy's success when we hired him. We will have a coach before too long. No sense in dredging something that clearly can't be changed.

I enjoy reading the posts but when every thread is about the same thing it really is getting old. I would much rather argue/discuss the merits of the other candidates than complain that Les didn't fork over money to a vagabond. Les is a businessman who made a decision. Only he and CD had all the parameters.

 

other teams may be taking longer. . . but then again, other teams didn't just fire the best coach/most loyal employee/best loved personality that they've had for, oh, approx. 35 years.

all for the honor of getting left with Jeff Van Gundy when the music stops on the musical chairs.

some people are fond of saying, "you're not a fan. you don't really love the Rockets. go root for another team."

and to them I say, "if you really loved the Rockets, you would be livid about what Judas is doing to them."

 

IMHO,

Rudy is forced out, here's the evidence:

1. Rudy is recovering well from cancer. He looks really healthy last reported, and say he has no problem even making love

2. Yao & Francis voiced their support for Rudy. All indications from Rudy is he's coming back strong & healthy next season.

3. Rox folded at the end of season, the team is looking for scapegoat, and Rudy being a nice guy, is the easiest target

4. Fan supports let go Rudy. I'll say it's about 60% to 40% support Rudy go and Rudy stay

Here's some things to consider:

1. Rudy Leaving brings about this mess of coaching carousal. It's pretty clear that the Rox is sending signal to Larry Brown even before Rudy is let go. Right after Rudy is resign from coaching, Larry Brown decide to resign from the sixers. Coincidence? I don't think so

2. For some reasons, I doubt it's about money, Larry Brown takes a 360 turn around and takes a sh!tty job in Detroit. CD & Les is left high & dry without a coach. They're fools to toy with Larry Brown. As far as Larry Brown is concern, he's making a good choice to get back to final because it's easier in the East.

3. One day we're going to find out the whole truth about Rudy resign, probably in Rudy's biography maybe 10 years later.

4. If we hire Mike Dunlevy, I think we'll be sorry that we let Rudy go.

 

I've been fascinated by your posts all day. Rudy was probably forced out with all the best intentions. I don't blame anyone necessarily for that decision. But to suggest we're where the Wizards are, in any form or fashion is beyond ridiculous.

First of all , even as poorly as the Rockets performed last season we probably would have been the 3-5 seed had we played in the Eastern Conference, and that's not even a stretch. Secondly the Wizards are the current poster franchise for dysfunctionalism, and if anything the Rockets internally were as stable as a franchise can be until Rudy was forced out.

The results weren't there, so Rudy taking the fall is in the natural course of things. But for that decision to have been made, Alexander should have been clear about what he wanted to do. I'm not upset with CD, I think he's going to get who he wants. And no one can make me believe CD wanted Rudy gone.

So now it's being suggesting we're in the same boat as the Wizards: Jordan fiasco, management current and recently ousted, scrambling and pointing fingers. I'm glad you're apparently in New Jersey.

As disappointed as I am in the development in Steve, Cat and Eddie, I'm more disappointed with Alexander and a lot of Rocket fans.

 

I'm leaning toward 'nudged'.

Either way, it was time. And who know if the 'settlement' wasn't merely payment to Rudy for the years he did put in. No way to know.

 

I was upset from the beginning because it seemed pretty obvious that Rudy was kicked to the curb (at least he landed softly with about 12 mill in his back pockets), but the fact that we might end up with a mediocre coach makes the decision to fire Rudy even worse than it already was in my eyes. I'm under the impression that any yahoo can take this team to the post season, we need a guy who can get them to the finals in the next 4 years. I think it could have happened with Rudy. Now I wonder if we are doomed to be bridesmaids until Yao and Steve get traded, leave, or retire.

 

i use to think it was all les..and rudy was fired...but after reading the entire transcript from his press conference...and les statement about rudy approaching him.....

ive changed my mind...im thinking les suggested leaving for his health...and rudy reading between the lines and thinking about himself and family decided to step down...my feeling is if rudy pushed les to stay he may have been given the opportunity..

here's the link to transcript:
http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Rudy_T_Steps_Down-76227-34.html

 

Interviewer:
"Do you have any concern that you will be coaching next season for the Rockets?"

Rudy T:
"I'm not concerned at all, I have a piece of paper that says I am"

on 610AM
1 week prior to the firing.

Let the organization know what you think...

fanear@rocketball.com

 

I didn't compare the Wizards to the Rockets in terms of players, mgmt or anything except the search for a coach. You need to read more carefully. All I said was that other teams are taking even longer to fill the vacancies or are dragging their feet even more.