Toughness was the key, you don't go down 3-1 and turn it around to win 2 championships if you aren't tough. There was only 1 Mario Elie and 1 Clutch City (2 chapters) and he was tough. Real Rockets fans who love Clutch City love Mario Elie. They know about the Buck Johnsons and Dave Jamersons and Winston Garlands before him. Thank you Mario. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JbamGd8Io9o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JbamGd8Io9o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/J3YHjvpgZIQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
As usual, you read your own meaning into other people's words. I didn't say they weren't tough. But it wouldn't matter how "tough" they were if they didn't have the TRUE KEY to the championship - Hakeem Olajuwon. All your rambling is nothing but nonsense.
How many years did dream play in the NBA? how times did he make the finals? Name me the players on the teams he made the finals with and the teams he didn't. And Hakeem was TOUGH. TOUGH is used to describe a noun. Hakeem is a noun. go hit the SAT books.
people don't need to throw players under the bus to make Hakeem look good, that's a Tracy McGrady attitude. Hakeem's accomplishments speak for himself. And I know Hakeem loves Mario Elie. Here's a story from Mario about Dream. http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/5321/mario-elie-on-hakeem-olajuwon
Seriously Tinman - that guy is just here to rile folks up - and generally has nothing to contribute in a basketball sense in any way. DD
I draw the line when they start dissing Clutch City. It's great to see the community rise up against this heresy though! Cause we know, that Dream loves Mario.
The other Texas team doesn't get their first without Mario 2 brilliant performances against sprewell.
This memory is implanted in the DNA of all Rockets fans, even ones who weren't even born <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZUVz3wd3XLc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
For those who are not familiar with his history, Mario was drafted on the 7th round for the 160th pick. After being drafted, he played in Ireland, Argentina, Portugal and the CBA (D-League) before playing a single game in the NBA. Doesn't his history remind you of a current Rocket player who also shows toughness when playing?
Mario Elie was a consummate professional and I hope he retires as a Rocket. But... Here was the real energy guy: "Houston was in desperate need of a spark and that's exactly what they found"
Always loved Mario. First noticed him on the Portland roster, and was ecstatic when we got him. Clutch City would not have been had it not been for the likes of Mario, Mad Max, and OT. I don't think OT ever gets enough credit here, as most of Clutchfans were probably too young to appreciate what OT meant to the Rockets 1st championship. Though he had limited range, he was a tremendous pick and roll player and a great rebounder. He was probably the 2nd best pnr player in the league at the time behind Malone, and would consistently average double figure in rebound even playing along side Hakeem. He was a 20/10 guy with the Kings, and i thought we fleeced the Kings when we got him for McCray and Peterson. Mad Max was also another great pick up. We had very little backcourt to speak of at the time, and I remember Max giving us some really tough time while playing for the Spurs with his defense and 3 pointers. Best of all, we basically got him for nothing. It was cash consideration and maybe another second rounder thrown in or something. They were the heart and soul of that team and played their "role" extremely well. Come to think of it, who was the GM at the time to pull off these moves? was it Steve Patterson, who later got run out of town in Portland, and now the AD at Texas?
