We owe this guy NOTHING. He has gotten paid millions to play a sport. Teachers get paid a hundredth of that to do something that actually effects the world. The guy is everything any of us would want to be. And he gets paid, while we go to our jobs, and have no fun and all and get paid nothing compared to what he is making. Poor famous icon/millionare. As far as Im concerned, he can walk. ------------------ I do not believe in god. And it is nice to know that I am going to hell with Hitler, and McVeigh. Although I do not know why.
We'd all be alot better off if Dan Fegan's plane went down somewhere over the arctic circle... The whole world would be better off, not to mention a good portion of the NBA. But seriously, I agree. Hakeem has already been paid more than any Nigerian could hope for - and not just with cash. How many people can say that an entire city loves them? Enough bullscheist. Make a deal or walk, Feg - I mean, Hakeem. ------------------
"Teachers get paid a hundredth of that to do something that actually effects the world. " -I hate it when people use this absolutely irrelevant and asinine comparison. Teachers are underpaid and ALL ATHLETES are overpaid. That's the way society is. Compare Hakeem to big men salary wise in the NBA today and you can see his salary demands are not nearly as out of whack as you seem to believe. "But seriously, I agree. Hakeem has already been paid more than any NIGERIAN could hope for - and not just with cash" -What the hell does being a Nigerian have to do with anything? Hakeem has gotten paid, but he's earned every penny he's received. Don't ever forget or try to deny that. And if you don't want to come across as an ignorant racist, choose your words a little more carefully. ------------------ Get Cato out of there...
I thought someone might try to read more into that statement than what it said... He IS Nigerian, isn't he? How many Nigerians do you know who made $16 mil last year? Aside from the current president? And aside from the oil magnates who ruled while the military junta was in power? Sometimes statements are meant to be taken literally. When are people going to be able to say a truthful statement and not be labeled racist for saying it??? This would be easier if he was from the Congo... I can spell Congolese ------------------
"When are people going to be able to say a truthful statement and not be labeled racist for saying it??? This would be easier if he was from the Congo... I can spell Congolese" -Fair enough. I wasn't sure why you brought up his origin but now I see you didn't mean anything malicious. I wish this ordeal could be resolved with concrete factual information one way or another, not all kinds of speculation on what Hakeem is sitting his home thinking on how he can screw over the Rockets. ------------------ Get Cato out of there...
Good deal. Someone needs to invent a new keyboard with sarcasm buttons, literal buttons, etc... ------------------
I think Hakeem's been paid more than ANYONE could imagine, I'm with the Bum in seeing no relevance in Dream being a Nigerian. I trust the Rockets will know when to abandon contract talks with Dream, I'm not worried about him. Also I don't know why everyone's got all of this hatred for Fegan as if Dream was this great guy that would do anything the Rockets asked before Fegan came along. If Dream didn't want the money, he could just fire the agent and work out a deal with a lawyer. I just know if Dream does go to another team, those fans won't be so understanding when they see Dream play for no more than 40 or 50 games next year... ------------------ This post contains no smilies, you must judge my seriousness on your own...
Guys, the only reason I mentioned he was Nigerian was to point out that he came from Nowherefuk, Earth, and he's making millions now. His home country just happens to have a bad word in it. Mobster: I'm not sure Hakeem even knows what's going on. He's effectively hired a lawyer to handle his case, and anyone who's ever hired a lawyer knows that at that second you lose control of what happens in the courtroom. Who are we really talking to now, the agent or Hakeem? When the agent says something, no matter what he says, the client says "Yes, OK. That sounds good." because whatever comes out of that forked tongue will sound good. That's why you hired the guy in the first place. His demonic tongue will make whatever deal passes through his lips sound good to the other guy, only problem is he's gonna pull the same crap on his client. He can't help it if he's good at what he does... Hakeem may not know what's going on. ------------------
I'm pretty sure Hakeem knows that the Rockets keep trying to contact him, unless you think his agent's able to intercept calls to Dream's house before he gets them. It's not like he's oblivious to what's going on, if he really cared about the franchise first, his salary second, then I'm sure he'd maybe call back CD or Rudy instead of just avoid them. Some of you guys are being a little to nice to Dream in thinking that his agent is the only one responsible for what's going on, whatever that is. If Fegan disappeared tomorrow, Dream would just hire another agent to get him his money. Anyway, I'm sure within a couple days, there will be a new rumor/topic that will be kicked around ad nauseam. That appears to be the trend... 1st Eddie Griffin 2nd Mo Taylor vs Chris Webber 3rd Shandon Anderson 4th David Robinson 5th Dream 6th ? Who knows what will be next during this slow painful offseason... ------------------ This post contains no smilies, you must judge my seriousness on your own... [This message has been edited by Pete Rose Mobster (edited July 11, 2001).]
Mobster: His agent can tell him not to call anyone important. If Fegan is a damn good agent (and we all know he is one of the best - we've dealt with him before) then he will instruct Dream to be quiet. The first thing any decent lawyer communicates to the client is: Shut Up and let Me handle this. This does not seem in character with Hakeem. I have to assume that the agent/lawyer is pulling strings. Hakeem has always been an honorable man. I must attribute questionable behavior, especially that of a sudden and coincidental nature, to his agent. Who is, by association, a liar by implication. I cannot believe that Dream would act like a w**** of his own accord. ------------------
i guess if hakeem was a white american, him being greedy would be more acceptable huh? truthful statement doesn't make you a racist, but making an argument that since he's making so much more than any other nigerian he should be content already? the truthful fact could be most nigerians are poor, not he shouldn't demand anything because he could've been one of the many poor nigerians. ------------------
Guys, let's move away from posts with racial comments or overtones....not a lot of wins there. What do we owe Hakeem? He has earned the right for Rockets to negotiate with him in good faith. We have apparently attempted to work something out with him FIRST, but his non-availability or non-responsiveness (aka agent) may put the team in jeopardy with respect to all the other negotiations and commitments that need to occur. He is asking us to negotiate in series...with him first, rather than in parallel. To the extent that his delaying tactics and strategies imperil what is best for the team overall, then all bets are off. And I believe he knows EXACTLY what he is doing! Don't confuse the legacy of Dream as a player with what's going on now.
I think the fact that the rockets are waiting to talk to him before anyone else says leaps and bounds about who has more loyalty to who at this point. The rockets are giving him more then he is owed. The last contract he had was supposed to be his big thank you. IF that wasnt thank you enough, he should have bargained for more then. This is a business league now. Too many of us are getting attached to emotions. Hakeem is the dealer. I dont know how anyone else here buys cars, ... but the best way is to always make the dealer give a price first, and the Dealer always gives you an inflated number. In free agency you have to deal with dates and times also. If i was hakeem. in a business market, i would wait till at least the 18th. That way you dont say you are talking to other teams, AND at the same time you are saying you are open to other teams. Also with Mutombo, Patrick, David, on the open market, what better bargaining tool then too look at the other inflated contracts that each of these guys (except for mutombo IMO) is going to get. ------------------ ...The OTHER Dark Meat
Considering Lagos has 2-4 times the population of Houston... Besides, I'm sure there are quite a few people with less than $16 million running around in the US, too. So I guess you could've said he's making more money than any American can hope for, too. Does it? Wow. ------------------ "I'll tell you this, the older I get, the less I trust people. It's true. It's damn true." -- gr8-1 going through some growing pains. [This message has been edited by Dr of Dunk (edited July 11, 2001).]
This is getting frustrating because all the other free agents are talking to teams, and Houston has to wait for Dream. Deals are being done well before July 18th. As for Dream and his agent, all the decisions are made by Dream, a 17 year NBA veteran. He's been around the block he knows, and he hired Fegan, Fegan didn't hire him, so Fegan can't make him do something he doesn't want to do. ------------------ "Instruments are like women: After a while, you want to make love to another." - Nicolas Godin of the musical duo Air
we owe him NOTHING.. the last few years he's been paid lots of cash and been injuried most the time and not been too much help. he got his payback for the championship years over the last 3 years or so.. now it's time to start even.. we owe him nothing ------------------ Shane "Save Our Rockets" "Life without basketball in Houston........without an arena that is what it will be"
Obviously a teacher is more significant to most of us, than watching an athlete on tv, but athletes are paid so well, because they generate all that money. The athlete's salaries rose at the same rate as the market(That the athletes created)grew. They make the money for their employer, and so of course they receive a large chunk of the profit. ------------------ The title will come to ClutchCity once again.
