You guys are right about there not being one thing that stands out. I love the way he played defense. If you are a center in this league there is no one better around. Hakeem can block any shot, from 3pt shots to slam dunks. The ones I remember are the many times Shawn Kemp, while in Seattle, always challenged the Dream and lost always!!! Blocking Duncan last season in the post on Duncan's little hook shot. Blocking Kevin Johnson from behind. You name a person whom he played against for the last 5 years and yeah, he blocked that shot too. He was and is the Man in Houston. He is a huge reason why I'm a true basketball fan and true Houston Rocket fan, no doubt about that. A top 5 center of all time. Take that to the bank. ------------------
Seeing Hakkem at the airport in 95. He was walking w/ his daughter and Nanny. I politely said hello and thanks him for his service to Houston. I also said, I remember exactly, "You are my hero, not just for what you do on the court. The way you handle yourselve and act like a role model for people like myself. When I get older and you no longer play in the NBA, you will still be my hero." He replied thankyou and, "Basketball if for now, but life is forever." A few years later I moved to a condo next to one he ownes(where?), though I hated living so close to so many baptists. When I would see him he was always so nice. After reminding him of our previous meeting, he recalled it and was alway very nice to me, recognizing me at games.. Hakeem represents a class act all around. Sometimes good things happen to good guys. Favorite play, the spin on Robinson in the playoffs, followed by Robinson, "I honestly thought I played the guys well, he just played better than anyone I've seen in a long, long time. Snif, snif, gotta get a tissue... ------------------ "Chucky who? I thought we were talking about basketball?" Charles Barkley
Not the top 5. You ask me THE best center of all time. I can't believe people even compare todays centers to him. No one faced the defense he faced night in and night out. Douoble, triple, and quadruple teams. Jordan never got defended like that-position has a lot to do with it. Now people wonder why he is so banged up! I have had thos signature ever since i started posting here, but He Is the greatest ever. ------------------ HAKEEM... the best ever!
not exactly the "best" memories, but i'll never forget the years at UH. and i'll never forget that tragic loss with the shot that never should have made it in Akeem's senior year. but that's when i started being a fanatatic for Olajuwan. i've got to agree with the many, that series against Robinson was classic. unbelievable. i loved that rockets team, but you have to admit that Olajuwan carried everyone on his shoulders and he did it with grace. one man won those championships and his name is Hakeem. ------------------
Fromo - that's ridiculous, you were like 19, not 14. put down the crack pipe, work on your math, and get working on your column for the fan club webpage 14, sheesh CFBC ------------------
Did anyone list Dream's quadrauple-double!?!? If so, what was his stat line for that night? ------------------
This is from a write up of a game in 1997. The Rockets whipped the Bulls 102-86 Olajuwon shot 14-of-25 from the field and added five blocks and four steals. He played the entire game without drinking any water, which is forbidden during daylight hours of the extended Muslim holiday of Ramadan. "I'm very happy with the way it came out," Olajuwon said. "When you play against the champions, you've got to come out and play well. The team was focused in the locker room before the game. It was a war out there." "What Mr. Olajuwon did today -- to play that well without drinking a drop of water during the game -- was the most amazing thing I've ever seen in my life," Barkley said afterwards. ------------------ In order to be a success in life, you need 2 things: 1. Don't tell everything you know.
My fave Hakeem moment was the moment the Rockets won their first championship and he was sitting on the side quietly soaking up the enormity of the team's accomplishment. As for the top five dreamshakes: 1. Hakeem's on the Admiral in 95 West finals where he toys with the so-called "MVP" 2. Hakeem's on Shook (Shaq) in the 4th quarter of G4 95 NBA finals 3. Hakeem's cross-over version on Joe Kleine 94 West semi-finals 4. Hakeem on Chris Dudley where he just caught the entry pass and straightaway faded in the baseline and ended up out of bounds (almost)Ist rd v Portland 94 5. Hakeem on Ewing where he made him look like the statue of liberty 94 NBA finals and just spun so quickly and had a clear path to the basket Hakeem is Houston. ------------------
This is so tough, Hakeem is my alltime favorite player. The high five with Clyde and his blocks on Strickland and KJ in the playoffs are right there though ------------------
One of my favorite Hakeem memories is when he swatted a what looked to be wide open dunk atempt by Kevin Johnson. Hakeem swatted the ball so hard that KJ fell to the ground. That was simply amazing. I am going to miss the big guy! ------------------ Stevie Wonder says "they call him FRANCHISE because his dunks are for sale at an arena near you."
Tough call...so many moments, so many clutch plays, so many big shots. My 2nd favorite was the tip dunk off a missed free throw in the 94 finals against the Knicks. I cannot remember what game it was off hand, but if you were watching, you remember the play!! His freakin' arm pit was at rim level. My favorite moment was meeting Hakeem at Sportstown, while working. He was there to sign autographs and came well before the store opened. He was doing some promo thing for Etonic. A very nice, quiet, humble man who did not shy away from any questions by us. What an awe-inspiring figure he was!! ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
My favorite Dream moment was the night he recieved his MVP award, after he was handed the thophy he called his teammates around him to share in the moment. I was there in the upper level looking down on the whole scene, seeing dream, feeling the roar of the crowd, i'll tell you I havent had goosebumps like that in a long time... ------------------
In March 1999, they played a game at Portland, which they lost by approximately 40 points. I was at the game, and in about the 3rd quarter the Blazers were really rubbing it in. They were running the Rockets out of the building, and about that time up on the big screen the blazer people played a couple of skits that seriously insulted both the Rockets and the city of Houston. The fans were on their feet cheering, and about that time the Rockets got the ball and went down to Olajuwon, who put a serious shake on Rasheed Wallace, and hit the fadeaway. That building went quiet so fast you could hear a pin drop. Wallace was just standing there with his jaw open. Despite the fact we were getting blown out, I thought it was hilarious. P.S., You heard it here first: Blazer fans are the next generation of Jazzholes. ------------------ The Rockets never lose, they just get outscored occasionally
CBFC, look dude, I'm 22, it is now the year 2000. The Rockets did things like beat the Chicago Bulls Every Single Time they Played in the early nineties. So, I figure I saw that game in 92 or 93. That was at least 7 years ago. 22-7 = 15 years old at the most. I remember that game in particular because it was the only MJ I ever saw. I will not be putting the crack pipe down, thank you. ------------------
I have been a Rockets fan for as long as I can remember but there are 3 moments that stay in my mind that Dream did and said that will always be with me. They are as follows 1. Obviously the series with the Spurs in 95 2. The "spin move on Patrick Ewing" in game 3 of the 94 finals as my jaw was open for at least 10 minutes. 3. when he was asked some time ago by a reporter why he would not sign with nike for a shoe endorsement? Olajuwon looked at the reporter and said "because I don't want any children getting killed over my shoes" that should be in the dictionary under CLASS!! One more thing that has been killing me for a long time. People still talk about the 97 western conference series with the Jazz. As all of us Rockets fans know the Jazz get away with a lot of ****. The thing that eats me though is that the jazz didn't beat us we beat ourselves because of ONE THING Clyde shot the ball tooo early!!!!!!! If anyone watched the game you will know what I am talking about. I didn't because after Clyde missed I turned the T.V off because I had a gut feeling that it was over that's why I wasn't shocked when I turned it on 5 minutes later and saw Stockton hitting that three. But you know what? It should of never came down to that. That is why you use the clock to your advantage. Later to all my fellow fanatics. Rick ------------------
Duce Rings In my book, that is the best opening appearance on this board since I've been here. Cheers to Clutch for inspiring it, and for your inspiring post. Truly a pleasure to read! thanks
It's easy to point to the obvious winning moments where Hakeem may have given you your greatest memories. I, on the other hand, recognize Hakeem's efforts in losing causes against Seattle in the playoffs. These were his greatest games in my opinion. He schooled Seattle like no other. This was back when they had Cage and Ellis among others. In these games, he made some of his best shots ever. Baseline jumpers from almost near the 3 point line behind the backboard, spin moves that left opponents standing in cement, scoring at will with double, triple, even quadruple teams, and playing so hard that he let us and himself know that he had given everything he had to try to win. His heart, desire, and determination were unmatched. The man could have played the game blindfolded. His patented baseline jumper was the best it had ever been and has been ever since. Unfortunately, the rest of the Rockets were not up to the task of matching their competition. So, although from a fan standpoint these losses to Seattle in the playoffs were the most heartbreaking for us, these were the most memorable games showcasing Hakeem's utter domination and sheer will in my opinion. The one that stands out was a double or triple overtime loss where he was a one man wrecking machine. Unfortunately, he could not do it all by himself, we lost the game, and the series. But, man oh man...was he a sight to behold. I will never forget. Surf ------------------
-When he threw all four of the the Quadruple teaming Virginia Cavaliers to the Floor, raised up, and hit a little jumper in the lane to take a noname UH team into the NCAA Finals. 49-47. -When Hakeem Blocked the Celtics 5 times in Game 5, as a rookie, and used his grace underneath the basket to battle against a powerful Celtic Front line. -Hakeems (back to back) quadruple double. Hakeem notched the League's third ever quadruple double when he scored 18 points, pulled down 16 boards, blocked 11 shots and dished 10 assists. -When he dazzled David. An amazing player who continues to defy the restrictions of size. He also inspires other 7-footers to trip over their shoelaces while trying to emulate his moves. Truly one of the greatest ever. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
