You know, what with all these wildly fluctuating and varied prognostications from alleged sports 'experts' (ie columnists) from all over the map, placing the Rockets anywhere from 4th to 12th in the Western Conference, something occurred to me. Very few of these so-called experts actually know what the heck they are talking about. If they are talking about a team other than their hometown's, then they quite clearly are simply regurgitating what they have heard other 'experts' say. That's one of the reasons for the wide variety of opinions about the Rockets. Some of these guys actually do their homework, but most of them don't. And yet it all gets passed around among them, back and forth, until you just have so much static and mud that no one *really* knows what to expect. And since the most powerful and long-lasting impression people have about a player is the *first* impression they get, mere reality can take a long time to infiltrate some of these peoples' awareness. Think about what some of the major impressions likely are about many of the Rockets' current players. Steve Francis? Selfish, me-first attitude -because of the way he got himeself out of Vancouver. Eddie Griffin? Selfish, me-first attitude -because of the well- publicized troubles he got into at Seton Hall. Mo Taylor? Selfish, me-first attitude -because of the way he complained his way out of Clipper Hell. Yao Ming? Slow, lethargic, unskilled -because of that encyclopaedic, all-encompassing bit of video from Chicago. Cuttino Mobley? Selfish, me-first attitude -because of the way he would always dribble too much and jack up a last- second shot last year. Moochie Norris? Funny hair, dribbles way too much, just a gimmick. Glen Rice? Old, fat, broken down -because of the way he was a virtual non-factor on the Lakers, then the Knicks, then out for most of the year for us last season. Kenny Thomas? Too small, too fat, but plays hard. And this list could go on in this fashion from the top to the bottom of the roster, with either totally erroneous or at least outdated opinions about most of our players. Since we follow our team closely, and love them dearly, we know that most of those 'expert opinions' are simply a load of hogwash. Anyone who has actually been paying attention to this team is aware of how much our players have grown and improved, but those people who only have a passing interest in the team (such as a Los Angeles semi-sports writer, for example) will know nada about the real situation. And yet, with all these 'experts' out there being treated as though their opinions are worth any more than any other guys' off the street, I am starting to get the feeling that the Rockets might actually sneak up on the league this year. I think a lot of opposing teams and coaches are going to be underestimating this team this year, and it will not surprise me to see the Rockets come down to the end of the season and actually be fighting for home-court in the first round of the playoffs. Anyone else starting to feel that kind of vibration, or did I just have some bad cheese on my nachos for lunch today? Ciao