From: Houston, TX. Age: 26 Fan since: I want to say 91.. just when I first started getting into basketball. Became a Rocket fan How: I loved the game of basketball and the Rockets were the hometown team. Obvious fit. First Rocket Jersey: I don't know if I've ever bought a Rockets jersey to be honest. Wait, I lied -- I have a Chase Budinger jersey in my closet right now that my GF bought. eek. For some reference, it's hanging next to my Sage Rosenfels Texans jersey; I like jokes. I'd say my favorite Rockets item is a snaphat I have of the old logo that's signed by Matt Bullard and Carl Herrera. Most Memorable Rocket Moment: Game 7. 1994. NBA Finals. Greatest experience of my life and I'll never forget it. That whole playoff run was incredible. I got to go to Game 3 of the 1995 NBA Finals, but it wasn't the same crazy party atmosphere afterward. Aside from Hakeem, favorite Rocket player: Hakeem is the best Rocket in history, but he was never my favorite. I always had a soft spot for the role players. I'd say my favorite Rocket of all-time is Vernon Maxwell. I just loved everything he brought to the table for us. First live Rockets game: I can't remember the first game I went to; we used to park under the freeway and walk the bridge over to the Summit. The 94 playoffs were some of the best games I've ever been to.
It was. My mom sent me to bed, but my dad woke me up and told me to come downstairs to see what had happened. Remember when the NBA Finals were going on and school wasn't out yet?? And the games would be on during the day. I recall watching part of Game 1 of the Finals in '86 in my Language Arts class in junior high.
From: League City, TX Age: 23 Fan since: Always liked the Rockets, but I started following them during the 2001-2002 Became a Rocket fan How: Basketball was the sport I was best at, and the Rockets were the local team. First Rocket Jersey: Pretty sure it was Yao's jersey when we switched to the current style. Most Memorable Rocket Moment: Yao's first game against Shaq and the Lakers. Yao showed him up and Francis went for 44! Aside from Hakeem, favorite Rocket player: Scola. I attempt a few scoop shots in all my rec league games because of him. First live Rockets game: Last home game of 2000-2001 season.
From: Spring, TX, but currently transplanted to Indiana for school Age: 21 Fan since: My first memory of the team was the '95 finals. '98 was when I became an actual fan, I suppose. Became a Rocket fan How: Raised in Houston in a basketball-loving family...couldn't have ended any other way! First Rocket Jersey: Probably Francis, but I can't recall exactly. Most Memorable Rocket Moment: I was live at the 13 in 35 game (and stayed for it, haha). (being live at the Nachbar-Malone game was another fine memory) Aside from Hakeem, favorite Rocket player: Despite his short stay on the team, Bob Sura was the ****ing man. First live Rockets game: I believe it was against the Mavs during that sad-sack year before Yao was drafted.
From: Houston Age: 23 Fan since: 1993 (6 years old) Became a Rocket fan How: Just watched alot of sports growing up. Rockets were big in the household. Also for a year or two, Hakeem's brother or cousin lived five houses or so down from my mine when I was wee' lad. First Rocket Jersey: Drexler's 22 as a kid, though the first one I bought was 07' T-Mac All-Star jersey. (what a waste of 2 bills) Most Memorable Rocket Moment: 13 in 33 Aside from Hakeem, favorite Rocket player(s): Calvin Murphy and The Franchise First live Rockets game: Too young to remember the summit days.
From: Houston, TX Age: 26 Fan since: I guess 89-90 Became a Rocket fan How: My father and brothers watched it and they brought me into the sport First Rocket Jersey: Drexler (yellow/red) Most Memorable Rocket Moment: In my hotel with my dad in south padre watching the rockets play the spurs and the dream going to town on them (playoff series) Aside from Hakeem, favorite Rocket player(s): It was always OT, but sam c came in a close second. First live Rockets game: Not sure the exact game but I remember it was at the summit. Rockets for life lol.
From: Sydney, Australia Age: 23 Fan since: 2003ish Became a Rocket fan How: Not going to lie i was a Tracy McGrady fan so i followed Orlando. My older brother was a Rockets fan so i always had a vested interest in Houston. When McGrady came to Houston they became the only team i followed. And since then i've turned into a fan of the team instead of a fan of an individual player First Rocket Jersey: Olajuwon championship jersey Most Memorable Rocket Moment: Seeing replayed: T-Mac's 13 in 35. Live: Nothing special at all. But seeing PPat's putback dunk against Toronto on New Years. Was one of the first games i've gone to and this was the first game i think Pat was getting some minutes. Aside from Hakeem, favorite Rocket player(s): Kyle Lowry First live Rockets game: Against the Washington Wizards on the 27th of December this season.
From: Houston, TX; go to school in Norman, OK Age: 21 Fan Since: as long as I can remember, but got seriously into the rockets around 2005 Became a Rocket fan: my dad and I would watch games together when I was small, and I gotta represent the H First Rocket Jersey: Hakeem blue pinstripe, my brother had a Horry ketchup and mustard that I would "borrow" Aside From Hakeem, favorite Rocket: oh man, I would have to say Maloney, but Bud is up there as well (I like the white underdog) First live Rockets game: don't really remember, but I did go to quite a few in the Summit, now I go to a game every trip that I go home Still waiting for a championship that I will be old enough to enjoy
From: Sydney, Australia Age: 16 Fan since: 2005 Became a Rocket fan How: Yao Ming, from China, Tracy McGrady going to Houston from Orlando First Houston Jersey: Sadly, I dont have one yet Most Memorable Rocket Moment: Winning 22 in a Row Aside From Hakeem, favorite Rocket(s): was AB, now Kyle Lowry, Deke, Yao, Scola, First Live game: Havent been to USA yet
From: Dubai. Moved here when I was 7 in 1991. Age: 27 Fan since: 92-93 season. Was devasted when Hakeem missed that 3 in game 7. Became a Rocket fan How: Was natural to me. They showed games here and my friends loved the Rockets. First Rocket Jersey: Mcgrady - hardwood classic (72-73) Most Memorable Rocket Moment: The championships, of course. Aside from Hakeem, favorite Rocket player: Tough call. Horry stands out to me, but loved all of the players in the championship runs. After that era, Francis was a favorite of mine. So was Mcgrady and Yao. First live Rockets game: Yao's first game in SA (preseason). This was the game that Mobley referred to Ginobili as garbage afterwards.
from humble tx age 38 became a fan when i 1st saw the dream first jersey #34 fav player #22 1st game hm it's been so long i don't rember
From:Screwston, TX Age: 26 Fan since: Early 90s sometime. I hated the Jazz and Sonics I remember that. Became a Rocket fan How: My grandmother loved them. So did my friends. First Rocket Jersey: Cassell championship Most Memorable Rocket Moment: Sadly, being at game 7 against Dallas in 05 and losing by 40 after travelling back and forth between all games. Aside from Hakeem, favorite Rocket player: My dad, Aaron First live Rockets game: Summit sometime early 90s
From: Houston,TX. Age: 21 Fan since: i would say 97 when i was just old enough to figure out what basketball is about. Became a Rocket fan How: my aunt would always get free tickets from her job and give them to me. I went to my 1st rockets game in 1997 First Rocket Jersey: i don't remember i believe clyde drexler Most Memorable Rocket Moment: going to LA for game 7 in the semi finals Favorite Rocket player: carl landry First live Rockets game: sat in club seats at the compaq center in 1997.
From: China. now in Louisiana Age: 27 Fan since: 2002, actually not entirely b/c of Yao. more b/c entered college that year and had lots of time to watch ball. Became a Rocket fan How: Yao. it's obvious right? ~~~ first i was a YOF, but over past couple of years have really grown to love the team w/ or w/o Yao. First Rocket Jersey: Yao jersey. Most Memorable Rocket Moment: Yao's performance in 1st game vs Portland; 22 game streak. TMAC 13pt in 33 sec. First live Rockets game: 2007 vs Warriors I think. been to about 4 games since. Rockets have become an important part of life here, as I always try to watch as many games as possible. Cheer when they win, hurt when they lose (that's what being a fans mean right? ~)
From: Houston,TX. Age: early 30's Fan since: 1990, though I had been to a few games before then. Became a Rocket fan How: My best friend's dad was a huge fan and had season tickets. He would take us and it was always a lot of fun. First Rocket Jersey: Hakeem Most Memorable Rocket Moment: I have a few... 1. Beating NY to win the title: A few of us were at a friend's house (we were either in 8th grade or freshmen in high school). One of our friends was rooting for the Knicks and after we won I pinned him down on the floor while my other friend got red and yellow markers and marked up his face real good. He started crying while the rest of us ran up and down the street yelling. 2. 93-94 Playoffs : The whole city came together like nothing I'd seen before. Black/White/Hispanic/Asian folks all getting along for a common cause, Rockets memorabilia hanging in store windows, businesses, cars, etc..simply amazing 3. Not a specific moment, but this team has always brought my family closer together. We didn't really get along but we'd always watch the Rockets games and cheer together. While my dad was dying of cancer, he was able to sneak away from MD Anderson for a night and we all watched a game together. Honorable mentions: Kiss of death, Nick Anderson missing 4 free throws, "Clutch City", "Don't ever underestimate the heart of a Champion!" Favorite Rocket player: I never got to see him play, but my favorite Rocket of all time is Rudy T. Player, scout, coach. It took me three years of searching to finally get his jersey and now my quest is to get it signed (I have a huge space on a wall in my house reserved for that!). If anyone can help please let me know! First live Rockets game: against the Celtics in either 86 or 87. My friend's dad brought us and the two of us just walked around the Summit and played in the concourse the whole time rather than watch the game.
From: Sugar Land, TX Age: 21 Fan since: 1994 Became a Rocket fan How: Got introduced by my dad during the championship run. He always said i was into basketball but my first memory was of the first championship run First Rocket Jersey: Sam Cassell was my favorite player so my mom got it for me right after the first championship Most Memorable Rocket Moment: Eddie Johnson hitting that game 4 winner against the Jazz in the 1997 WCF. My dad and I were jumping all over the living room from the couch to the kitchen...i remember it like it was yesterday Aside from Hakeem, favorite Rocket player: Sam Cassell (check first rocket jersey post) haha First live Rockets game: In 05 when we played the New Orleans Hornets and Yao was out =( it hurt more that we lost by three due to Tmac passing it off to Jon Barry in the corner for an airball
from: Macon, Georgia Age:16 fan since: 09 became a rocket fan how: my friend called me and told me to turn to espn. the rockets were playing the blazers in the playoffs and thats the game where yao was like 9-9 from the field. i instantly just felt a connection to the team and I didn't even like basketball that much. after watching that game for some reason, i just fell in love with the game. first rocket jersey: ariza...lol most memorable rocket moment: when yao went down against the lakers and the rockets battled on to take it to 7. most teams would've just thrown in the towel. the rockets showed heart. and that's what made me an even bigger fan. first live rocket game: last season when they came to atl. josh smith had the put back dunk to win it.
From: Currently in Seattle by way of Los Angeles. Born and raised in Austin. Age: 25 Fan since: The whom. Became a Rocket fan How: I was doomed from the start. My dad is a Houston native, and refuses to support any non-Houston teams. The only sport I ever really fell in love with as a kid was basketball, so if I was going to watch some pro ball on t.v., it was going to be Rockets ball. First Rocket Jersey: No jersey's for me. Between my brother, father, and myself, there's plenty of other shirts, hats, posters, and other random memorabilia. Most Memorable Rocket Moment: There are quite a few, but as far as personal favorites go, I'd have to say it would be going to Game 2 in Los Angeles in 2004. I had just gotten into the University of Washington, and it was the first time since the folks split up that my dad was coming to L.A. to hang out with us before I had to leave in the fall. The Rockets lost the game pretty ugly, but Stevie was awesome and put on an absolute show. But really, it was just fun being with my dad watching the Rockets play live again after about four years. Aside from Hakeem, favorite Rocket player: Toss up between Rob and Stevie. First live Rockets game: Back in November of '94, when the Nuggets came to town. I can still remember seeing how big guys like Deke and and Dream really were for the first time. I remember being convinced that they weren't human. Pretty sure the Rockets were 10-0 to start the season after they won that game. Good times. Good memories.
I was a casual basketball fan in my early teens. I liked Dr. J but that wqas about it. I was doing yardwork for some neighbors during Game 3 of the playoff series in 80-81 between the Rockets and Mo Malone and the Lakers. The guy invited me in to watch the second half of the game and when the Rockets won I was hooked. I followed them through the playoffs that year- all the games weren't televised at the time, so I had to follow the score as they flashed it on the bottom of the screen during regular network TV coverage. Lots of highs and lows since then, but that's how it started.
From: Houston, TX Age: 36 Fan since: 1984 Became a Rocket fan How: My father had season tickets since the Calvin and Malone days. Went to almost every game from 86 finals and on until they moved from the Summit. First Rocket Jersey: Never got into Jersey's. Have a Hakeem one for the wall. Most Memorable Rocket Moment: Hakeem use to live close to my family and he came to one of my parents party's when I was a kid, and I goto meet him in person. Aside from Hakeem, favorite Rocket player(s): Drexler Clyde the Glide First live Rockets game: I was young, but the first one I remember was the 86 Finals when we played Boston. We had a poster with a pluck'd chicken doll hanging by its neck from a BB rim( 4 Larry Bird).
