Yes it's weird to see that. Really weird. But has anyone noticed Vince Carter is like everywhere Dream is? Why do I have to look at carter everytime there is a story on dream? Ah, who gives a crap. It's over...I'm happy for dream...let's move on..Toronto is still a slightly better than average team which, I predict, will not make the finals this year either. I'd rather concentrate on the Houston Rockets! woooooooohoooooooo!!!
Thanks for nothing, Clutch! The picture makes me sick! arrr ... not you Clutch, not you ... It is Hakeem ... who made me sad ......
This isn't exclusive to the Hakeem situation, I have always felt this way...Who the hell are we to tell someone else when they should retire? Are we willing to give others that perogative in our lives? I have felt that several players have played beyond the point where they could do what they once did, but that in know way enpowers me with the right to decide someone else's life...And that goes doulble when you're not just suggesting that an older player retire rather than occupy an otherwise needed spot on your current team's roster...when you're suggesting that an older player should have ended his career, stopped doing what he probably loves to do more than most things in his life, and something that we'd all love to do, just so you'd not have to see him on another team, so you could feel better!?!?!? I agree that it's, well, a little disapointing that Hakeem won't be a career Rocket...I'm a 49ers fan, and I've seen far too many legends eke out the end of their careers on other teams for my comfort, but it's hardly my place to say that they should have chucked it in a few years earlier so that my picture of their career would be more to my taste...
To all that wish to show no emotions or rationalize the loss of Hakeem, I have to say the following: This is ClutchCity.net, a Rocket's fan site (THE Rocket's fan site). When one thinks of the Hakeem Olajuwon, they think of the Rocket's. When Hakeem Olajuwon gets inducted into the Hall, it will be as a Rocket. Therefore, if certain or most Rocket Fans at this site wish to express their emotions at the loss of the GREATEST ROCKET ever to play the game, they have every right to do so, and this is the place to do it. You are not bringing any new flashes of information to the loss, so please just get out of the way, and let us mourn, reflect, and reminisce the loss of our dear friend who will be missed in the family of the Rockets. This will help us heal, and God Willing, we will be ready to start a new page and a new season come October.
Excerpt taken from the movie "The Flamingo Kid"... Matt Dillon: I think I'm gonna be sick friend: Don't do it on my shirt Matt Dillon: It's your shirt that's makin me sick! You can substitute "NJRocket" for Matt Dillon and "Hakeem Olajuwon" for friend
We apologize for failing to bring new information to your show of emotion. If you don't want to read opinions different from yours, don't come to a BBS.
All of you people who seem to be going down the path that it was time for Dream to retire but instead he chose to leave.... who the hell are you to tell Dream when it's time for him to retire? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Everyone has a reason why Dream should have retired....everyone except Dream and he is the only one who counts. Sure, he had some injuries and did not play in as many games as we would have liked. Dream may have been slowed by injuries but he's obviously heard enough naysaying about how age has deteriorated his skills and this appears to be one of the main reasons he left Houston...to prove "us" wrong. Now, whether he got that from some criticial fans, Rockets management, or the media....I have no idea...probably a combination of all. Who his definition of "us" is....I have no idea. Maybe it's the entire United States since he opted out to Canada for a fresh perspective? Now, this man is on a mission and I hope he rubs all of our faces into a big pile of dogcrap to prove just how much he has left. He says he was taken for granted...I tend to agree. Everyone is so used to Dream being Dream that anything he does do is "typical" Dream and anything he doesn't do is "old age" Dream. Dream is still one of the better centers in the league with a lot of skills left. He hasn't always been healthy and felt wanted...those things have more to do with his play than the age factor. If I were Dream, then I wouldn't retire, either. And, if I felt I could make another championship run in Toronto, then I would go for it as well....especially with my hometown team lowballing my arse with weak offers like he isn't worth it. We will see how this plays out with Dream. I hope he kicks some serious butt for Toronto. I have a feeling that Hakeem will have a resurgence...kind of like Nolan Ryan had when he went to Texas. Why a man with so much enthusiasm for the game and so many skills left should retire is a question I have never pondered? The man retires when he wants to retire...not when someone else says he should retire. Nobody can say retiring is the right thing to do for Dream! Like Dream says, with the right training, his age is not a factor. Being in shape and working hard is a factor and Dream knows what it takes to start fresh in Toronto and regain some appreciation he lost here. If he gets hurt, then everyone can always blame age and spout that Dream should retire. But, Dream feels good and knows he still has what it takes...that is enough for anyone to put off retirement. That and now he is on a mission to prove to everyone he's not old. Injuries are a part of this game and they are not always do to age. Someone older may be more prone to injury but that, in itself, means nothing. Surf
Break a Leg Old man. Or get a clot or whatever you do... Is it me or do all the players in Raptors Uniforms look like thugs? I think Charles Oakley gave me that impression...
I know there are a bunch of people praying that Hakeem shows up the Rockets and does well and "rubs it in people's" faces, but nobody saying that Dream better retire. I think he should have retired a year or 2 ago, but I'm not saying he BETTER retire. What people are saying is that they were set on him retiring because HE SAID SO! He SAID when his contract runs out he is retiring. The bottomline, if Dream goes up to Toronto and plays great ball he isn't going to be "proven us wrong", he's just going to prove that he wasn't as motivated as he used to be. It isn't a case of people wanting him to retire, it's just a case of Dream not fitting in with this team anymore.
RocksMillenium, If your were responding to my post, then I will respond. If not, then ignore and have a nice day . I didn't say anyone said Dream better retire....I just said some say he should have retired rather than go to Toronto. Dream fit in with our team. He only ceased to fit in when Rudy didn't play him the first half, the squabbling started, and then he was lowballed by management with that $4.1 mill embarrassment of an offer. At that point and with Toronto sweet talking him and offering him a better contract, he "apparently" decided to give up on the Rockets and reject any other offers. Plus, he wanted a better chance to win a championship. Of course, it was probably a combination of all those factors...not sure which one weighed in the most. But, in the end, Dream feels he has to prove somebody wrong and that he can still play. I wish I knew what the hell he was talking about and who he was referring to. The guy likes to put his foot in his mouth alot. If he plays well, he is going to prove somebody wrong....he just won't tell us who the hell he is talking about . You know who you are . Surf
Ever since being slapped with sanctions for supporting Dream, I don't post much on the topic. But, here's my $.02. It's nice to see the big man happy. Had he retired a Rocket, the Rockets would've been my team for life. As it stands.... I'm not so sure. My evil side keeps hoping that the Rockets don't sign any of their FAs (Damn that Mo Taylor) and become the new millenium Clippers. My more realistic side no longer has the same connection to the team I've followed the past 17 years. Am I a Raptor fan? I'm not sure. I still am the world's biggest Hakeem Olajuwon fan (ZRB & TheFreak don't come close). But, I'm not sure I'm an actual Raptor fan. I guess, if the Rockets and Raptors play, I will want Dream to do well. I don't really know if I care which team wins. If they meet in the Finals (HA!), I think I'd root for the Raptors though. My beef is that the Rockets COULD afford to pay Hakeem 5 to 6 million per year and still sign their key free agents. They chose not to. And, Hakeem chose not to take a Nolan Ryan-esque pay cut.
The pic is a nightmare to us now but it may be a nightmare to The Raptors a year form now when they still owe an over the hill former superstar a boatload of cash. And why didn't they go ahead and put him the Barney suit? At least we could laugh through our tears.
