When I saw this week's open-mic topic in my inbox, finding the inspiration to write something was a cinch.
Picking a player that encapsulates and represents the Houston Rockets' near 37-year history (I'm not counting the four-year stint in San Diego) was even easier.
Perhaps no image better enshrines and illustrates what Hakeem Olajuwon meant to the city of Houston better than him standing next to a statue outside the Toyota Center that will forever memorialize the gift that was his career.
Olajuwon spent his entire career in Houston, his few-month tenure in Toronto notwithstanding, and continues to serve as a hopeful beacon. Houston sports fans grip his image as proof that a sports team can in fact win a championship in this urban abyss.
The Houston Dynamo nabbed a second-straight MLS crown last season, but with no offense intended to a team I enjoy watching, the impact of those titles pales in comparison to what a Rockets, Astros, or Texans championship would mean.
Recalling the one they called "The Dream" means revisiting an important chunk of my youth. I still remember the vehement, paralyzing rivalry between the Rockets and the Jazz.
Taking a page from Michael Jordan's book of taunts, my mother and I would hang up signs on our front porch declaring "the Mailman doesn't deliver on Sundays" and "John Flopton needs an ambulance."
I will always remember: Stockton's horrific series-winning trey, Olajuwon stuffing a potential game-winning three from John Starks in Game Six of the 1994 NBA Finals, my years of despising Dikembe Mutombo and his "Chicken McNuggets," staying up late to watch the Rockets battle Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, and the Seattle Sonics, overcoming a 3-1 deficit against Charles Barkley's Phoenix Suns, and "How Sweep it is!"
Hakeem's presence made this all possible.
Even if he didn't, I likely would never have watched had not he not been there.
I still have a photo of me in my Cub Scouts uniform saluting the Olajuwon cake my mother and I made, carved in his shape, covered in white and brown icing with the No. 34.
We sent a picture of the cake to his foundation's office. It didn't look much like him, as I was not a young Pablo Picasso, but it was my attempt to show my favorite athlete that I admired him.
I knew little about basketball then, even though I played and was, as one coach put it, a "stalker-esque defender". I know a lot more now, and my respect for Olajuwon has grown with that knowledge.
I also reluctantly accept that Stockton and Malone are deserving Hall of Fame players and one of the greatest duos in league history.
Mutombo, in
9 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Ryan Droege 11 months ago
Because I don't follow the Rockets that closely, what kept McGrady off your list? Does he simply not stack up against Houston's past greats, or is he really not that great of a player?
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Robert Kleeman 11 months ago
I will spare you the myriad reasons I don't care for McGrady or why he did not earn a spot on this list.
I agree with one of the Houston Chronicle's basketball writers, Fran Blinebury, that McGrady is one of the five most talented players to ever wear a uniform. Talent means jack squat without performance and potential is negated for the same reason.
He is one the NBA's premiere playmakers, can score from any spot on the court, still has the lift to elevate and throw down a monster jam and can post up smaller twos in a one-on-one situation.
That does not explain why a self-proclaimed "shooter" makes only 69 percent of his free throw attempts. I'm also not too fond of his Toyota Center bashfest in which he blamed the height of the rims and the building's appearance for his better production on the road.
I don't know how to answer your question. Is he great? He should be and in many stretches of the regular season, he plays like a league MVP.
He was the easiest superstar to omit from this list, but with Artest joining the team, he has an opportunity to change my mind.
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Alexa Freed 11 months ago
T-MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Michael Whittenberg 11 months ago
Yao Ming over Ralph Sampson??? I would probably put him over Horry. And I would put Steve Francis over The Jet.
Francis was outstanding during his early Houston days. I know Kenny helped the Rockets win two rings, but Francis was a much better player in my opinion.
But other than that, good article.
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Robert Kleeman 11 months ago
Francis was a MUCH better player in his early days than Smith and I also think he has an undeserved bad rap. He was a good guy, even if he had some ego issues, and he wanted to win.
It was tough to leave some players off, but I think this list should show the rich pool from which a Rockets fan can select an all-time team. I left out Charles Barkley, a guy who played his ass off every night he wore a Rockets uniform. There's also no Rick Barry, who despite playing one season in Houston, developed the point-forward position in that short time.
I originally wanted to list 12 players, but I ran out of energy to write. I will probably edit this piece later today and add Mutombo and Sampson to the reserve list.
Consider this article an all-time greats list spliced with my trip down memory lane. That might explain why I admit that there were better point guards than the one I picked to start.
Thanks for the comments.
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yungCaucasoid ... 11 months ago
Rob,
good article. Especially you adding a friend of mine named--------Sam Cassell. And, John Lucas should definitely be there as well.
Plus, this; "...I still have a photo of me in my Cub Scouts uniform saluting the Olajuwon cake my mother and I made, carved in his shape, covered in white and brown icing with the No. 34..." and the Phi-Slamm-Jamma reference where noteworthy.
OH YEY:
glad to see I didn't turn your contributions here into *kryptonite* for you showing grace & style toward my computer challenges/posting my article...lil' disappointed that you changed that title I wanted, but...overall---------I'm more grateful than words can explain.
peace
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Robert Kleeman 11 months ago
I didn't change the title, an editor did. I meant to go back and change it. I also requested that no one edit your piece since you wrote it, not me. I guess they were confused and edited it anyway.
I'll fix that in a bit.
Thanks for the compliments. John Lucas is a guy I probably forgot mentally. He was great, but I will stand by this list.
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yungCaucasoid ... 11 months ago
If you didn't change the title, then...don't worry about. Leave it as is. I'm sure they were NOT confused, and it was strategically-intentional to change it, obviously.
But, you did what I asked, I'm glad you informed me of that. So, please...don't go changing it/pissing off the editors on behalf of someone who's viewed with so much disdain here.
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yungCaucasoid ... 11 months ago
oh yey:
since you're a houston rockets conneissuer, I would like to read your all-time squad, period. As in, all twelve active you would list on an active roster, plus including the three (3) all-timers you would put on IR for urgency purposes.
peace
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