Geeeeeez, it sucks that I'll be flying to China tomorrow morning, and probably will not be able to report and post promptly all photos relating to the unveiling ceremony of Hakeem Olajuwon's statue in front of the Toyota Centre prior to the game with the Phoenix Suns. http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2008-04-11/08543590013.shtml According to the above article from sina.com, the run-down of tomorrow's ceremony will be as follows: April 11 (Friday) 18:00 pm ~ 18:30 pm Unveiling Ceremony of the Statue 18:30 pm ~ 18:45 pm Hakeem Olajuwon Meeting With the Press 19:30 pm ~ 19:30 pm Celebration during half-time intermission Well, let's hope the Rockets won't spoil the joyous occasion, and beat the hell out of the Phoenix Suns tomorrow. Then that will be double happiness !!! Go Go Rockets !! Let's do it for the Dream !! And you guys might have to wait for 3 to 4 hours before I can feed you all with tons of photos of the event after I arrive my destination city.
You sure it's a statue and not a plaque? Hakeem is Muslim, and that could be against his religion to have a statue of him.
good work pryuen, well turn you into a pure rockets fan soon. still waiting on your ralph sampson and otis thorpe posts
In Tuesday's Chronicle there was an ad congratulating Dream on the HOF selection. I'm hoping the statue is like the picture they used. It was Dream on one leg leaning in to either finger-roll (shot) or pluck the ball out of the air with his fingertips (rebound). The photo really captured Dream's grace. I was wondering why there wasn't a thread about this.
I am guessing that the statue is actually his #34 Rockets jersey and maybe a small picture of him engraved in the statue? It couldn't be his whole body as the statue itself?
this has been discussed a lot...there will be a statue, but it won't be "of" Hakeem as that would violate his religious views. It'll be some kind of homage to him without using his likeness
from the interview with Bill Worrell it sounds like the statue/plague thing is an abstract sort of statue rather than in Hakeem's likeness. Which is acceptable in the Muslim religion (from what I understand). The thing that is not allow is idol's in a person's likeness.
yea...hopefully its sculpted on a wall on one side of tc. that would be awesome, with lots of abstract images of his hurge moments. that would be artsy and meaningful and respectful to his culture
the statue will be an artistic representation of the Dream focusing on his jersey# I believe. read more about Honoring Hakeem and you will see he can't have a statue of himself, as it is against his Muslim Faith
