We sure get kicked around a lot when we are down. Rockets told to back off All-Star Game bid becomes too aggressive for Stern By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle The Rockets' aggressive quest to lure an NBA All-Star weekend to Houston received a jolt from NBA commissioner David Stern who last week positioned the proposed bid as a longshot until the team's new arena is built and running. Though bidding has not officially begun, Rockets chief operating officer George Postolos has been so assertive that Stern said that he told Postolos to "back off." "George Postolos is all over me to line him up for an All-Star bid. I know he's interested," Stern said. "I told him to back off. But they have expressed their interest. I understand. Now they just have to back off." Stern sounded more amused than agitated by the enthusiasm. Before Postolos joined the Rockets in 1998 on Stern's recommendation, he had been Special Assistant to the NBA Commissioner for two seasons, serving as one of Stern's primary advisers on daily league business. Postolos, however, said he will not give up the pursuit of an All-Star weekend in 2005, 2006 or 2007 because of Stern's comments. Denver is considered a heavy favorite to land the All-Star weekend in 2005, and Los Angeles is expected to vie for an All-Star weekend. Postolos said he could not wait until the Rockets' new arena opens for the 2003-2004 season to begin pursuing an All-Star weekend because by then the event could be awarded through 2007. "He didn't discourage me from bidding," Postolos said on Monday, after hearing about Stern's comments made last week in Seattle. "He knows we want the All-Star Weekend. It likely will have to be based on making a better bid. "Houston was probably not expected to be a finalist for the (2012) Olympics. But the USOC looked at the bid and with all the facilities it has built this season it was very tough to match. There is a reason our city is getting these great events, the Super Bowl, the (Major League Baseball) All-Star Game. But we will need to put together a very aggressive bid. "We're going to put a great bid together. We're going to work together with the city to do that. It is one of the premier events in sports. We will have to work for it to win it. We will open a great new arena, a new convention center hotel, an expanded convention center. We will have had the (Major League Baseball) All-Star Game and Super Bowl. To have so many great things going on creates momentum for our city. "This event allows you to put on a really great show. It is something we would love to do." Stern did not express any misgivings about Houston as a potential host for the All-Star weekend, an event that has grown to involve so many guests and events that he has compared it to his league's Super Bowl. But he said the timing of the opening of the Rockets' new arena could put Houston at a competitive disadvantage in winning the event. "We'd like an arena to be opened before we feel its ready for a bid," Stern said. "But clearly, it's great to have arenas going on-line and to see that interest in having the NBA All-Star Game. "I'm sure the next experience in Houston will be a lot more intimate than the last one (in 1989), which I do remember fondly ... in the Astrodome. We had Willie Nelson and Jay Leno for entertainment and it was a fun weekend." Next season's game will be in Atlanta. The 2004 site will be announced within four months, Stern said, and the 2005 site in six to nine months. But in his visit to Denver last week, Stern strongly hinted that he expects Denver to land the 2005 game. "I don't want to give it away, but I have a place in sort of a community that isn't that far," Stern said. "A short hop by plane. If nothing else, I can ski before or after. This is very attractive. I assure you, there are strong professional and personal (reasons) that favor Denver as ultimately an All-Star site. "I have a warm spot in my heart for Denver," Stern said. "In 1984, we brought back the slam dunk contest as a tribute to our friends at the ABA. As the All-Star Weekend and the clock ticked midnight, I became the commissioner of the NBA. And we all showed up in the office the following day and said, "Now what do we do?' " Stern said he has spoken with Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke on "more than one occasion" about hosting the game. Houston would seem to have the necessary facilities for the event. Portland and Sacramento have expressed interest in the past, but do not have the necessary hotel rooms. Dallas owner Mark Cuban said he is not interested in bringing the event to Dallas because too few tickets are made available (approximately 5,000, depending on the size of the arena) for the home team's season-ticket holders. Philadelphia 76ers owner Ed Snider complained that hosting the event this season was more trouble than it was worth because of the large number of season-ticket holders that were disappointed. But Stern and deputy commissioner Russ Granik said the weekend is a boon for host cities and most cities to have hosted the event hope to get it again. "Historically, the All-Star Game is for the city," Stern said during the All-Star weekend. "With apologies to the season-ticket holders, (it is) not for the season-ticket holders. We take care of our season-ticket holders by making sure that in the Finals and the playoffs that they don't get displaced; that they get their tickets and they get their seats -- unlike the Super Bowl and the World Series. ... "
Oops...Jeff, The Poster of The Year beat me to it: http://bbs.clutchcity.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31004 I guess that's why he earned it! os
