I know I'm living in the past, but I thought it'd be interesting to get a pulse of the people on this subject. Rudy T has always insisted that it was his decision alone to step down from coaching. But, seemingly everyone assumes this is double-speak and he was forced out by Les Alexander. Does no one believe it is possible that Rudy T is actually telling the truth?
Why I'm not voting. But, seriously, either Les fired Rudy and Rudy is a liar or he really is telling the truth. I'm trying to figure out why Rudy would consistently over time say that he stepped down voluntarily when he was really forced out. He has always been a straightforward guy who didn't really bull**** the media. There are obviously conflicting reports, but I personally believe the guy. But, whatever happened happened and it's over now.
Rudy didn't get a clean bill of health till well into last season. So perhaps he is telling the truth?
I imagine the truth is somewhere in the middle. My guess is that although things between Leslie Alexander (not a true Houston boy) and Rudy T (a hometown icon) never became the least bit contentious, I'm sure conversations were starting to become more suggestive that "something" would need to be done to improve ticket sales if the team didn't start winning some games and getting back to the playoffs. Surely Rudy was at least made to feel less comfortable in his role, and surely he wasn't given a pat on the back for continued playoff misses. The cancer incident just provided an easy exit that delayed the inevitable—thereby maintaining the integrity of both parties. It’s a win-win situation all around. Regardless of what people perceive, Rudy either looks like a guy who was pushed out but has taken the high road in explaining it away, or he was not pushed out and simply left to take care of himself. Leslie was either a guy who pushed out a Houston hero, but did it in such a nice manner that the hero speaks highly of him, or Leslie is the guy who kept the hometown hero on the payroll for perhaps a bit too long. It’s all good however you look at it……with the possible exception that Rudy is no longer here—and maybe our issues were more personnel related rather than coaching related. edit: I know Rudy is not truly a Houston native--but he is somewhat of a hero to the city.
Everything happens behind the scenes. I think Les "nudged" Rudy into the direction and Rudy had no choice but to accept and move on. It seems to have worked out nicely for both parties so I'm not really concerned about the aftermath...
I think most people just prefer it when Les is the lying, vindictive owner. He's an easy target. I'm certainly no fan of his either. (cue Kayman to tell everyone how I love to kiss his ass...) But, Rudy had the longest tenure of any current coach other than Jerry Sloan when he left. He had a good run, but it was just time for a change. I got to know Rudy during the arena campaign. There are few guys more likeable or genuine than Rudy T. It was just time.
I voted option 3. I agree with Pole, it's some where around the middle. The tone or attitude (perhaps even involuntarily) from Les must've suggested something to Rudy and he decided to step down.
Rudy was quoted in the paper a few weeks before it went down saying his health was better, he was coming back and he was looking forward to it. A man claiming to be a neighbor and close friend of Rudy and his family called 610 the day after it went down to say he'd heard it was coming from Rudy, that he (the friend) was furious about it because Rudy had been looking forward to returning, had been guaranteed he'd be invited back and was forced out at the last minute. He said that Rudy was a company man and would never say anything to bad mouth the organization -- that he would say whatever he was asked to say and that he'd probably be mad that the neighbor was calling in but that he was just so mad he felt he had to. He was incredibly believable and when he got of the line the hosts (Rich and Charlie, I think) said listeners could decide for themselves whether or not to believe him but that personally they both did. I also personally ran into Jim Boylen at Tien Ren (formerly Wonderful Vegetarian Restaurant) about two weeks before it all happened and asked how Rudy was. He said Rudy'd just been given a clean bill of health that day, that they'd just got off the phone with each other a couple hours before. I asked if Rudy'd be coming back the next year and he said Les had recently told him he would -- that it was a done deal. I asked him if he'd be back and he said the whole staff would be. I will go to my grave believing Rudy was not only fired but fired in an incredibly disrespectful manner. I actually thought it was probably time for a coaching change, but the way it was handled left a permanently bitter taste in my mouth. I wish Rudy all the best in LA. And I'll be rooting for him.
Cancer takes awhile to deal with...longer than an offseason. People can think whatever they want, but the point is that regardless of what Rudy and his fans wanted, he was not fit to coach and would've had to undergo many tests, therapies, and checkups during the preseason and regular season. These put a tremendous strain on someone mentally and physically...there was no way to determine how he would've reacted to the stress of coaching and cancer. It only made sense for Rudy to step down. You don't go into a crueling regular season wondering how many days Larry Smith is going to have to fill for Rudy. It isn't fair for the players or the fans.
There is more to it than just wins and losses. This was about Rudy's health and about how the team responded to him. I know you are still really pissed about it (just like the uniform colors), but this isn't 1994. It's 2004 and things sometimes need to change top to bottom to get things right. He isn't our coach anymore. I hope he does well with the Lakers, but I also hope we beat the crap out of them, no offense to Rudy.
Even if you believe this problems were personnel related, he was still responsible for those decisions.
Seems more to me he was pretty much told to step down and the cancel thing was a nice cover up. He was becoming too nice a coach to tell the players what to do(and we know who they are) so he let them run the team to the ground and probably run Yao out of town.
I think it was both. Rudy loved the franchise too much to step down, so it took a nudge from Les and a serious health crisis to pull him away.
I remember Barkely yapping on TNT about Rudy stepping down at the time it all went down. He kept saying that what was going down in Houston was "foul" and those people in Houston who stabbed Rudy in the back ought to be ashamed of themselves. For a while there I really wanted to know what the heck Barkley was talking about. Now I just don't care.
Basically, I agree. Lateral moves work all of the time in sports. There are so few coaches that can be successful with a team over an extended period of time. Coaching is just one of many variables.
I was going to vote for option 3, but Batman makes a strong case. It very well may have been time for a change, although I wanted Rudy to get another season before taking what most of us would agree was a drastic, and heartbreaking, step. And I most definitely believe that Rudy would say the things he's said in public if he was forced out. It's just the kind of guy he is. A class act, who wouldn't want to badmouth the organization he literally gave his life to. Hell, I'm just not going to vote.
I agree with those who say Rudy will not criticize the organization publicly and thus will say what is best for the organization. I don't see why his firing was disrespectful. If Les thought it was time to fire him, what was he supposed to do?
