Today, the greatest sports hero the city of Houston has ever had, Hakeem "The DREAM" Olajuwon, is to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Pro Basketball Hall Of Fame. (be forewarned, the basketball hall of fame website sucks ass)Hakeem began his basketball career at the University of Houston, as part of Phi Slamma Jamma, and leading U of H to three consecutive Final Four appearances. "DREAM" brought the first major championship to Houston since the days of the American Football League in the 50's/60's. He then proceeded to do it again the year after, giving us memories to carry for our entire lives. After the first championship, driving home after the game, seeing thousands upon thousands of people standing on the streets cheering and cars honking and crowds gathered outside of the Summit, the feeling was amazing. Getting to see it again the year after was just icing on the cake.
Fran Blinebury, of the Houston Chronicle, writes about Olajuwon's journey from Lagos in Nigeria to Houston, Texas.
Hakeem Olajuwon is the greatest center to play in the N.B.A. these last 25 years. The year the Rockets won their first championship Hakeem Olajuwon was awarded the League's Most Valuable Player award, the League's Defensive Player of The Year award, and the N.B.A. Finals' Most Valuable Player award, the ONLY MAN IN N.B.A. HISTORY TO DO SO. "Dream" retired with the record for most blocked shots, and 7th in all-time steals, as well as leading the Houston Rockets in nearly every offensive and defensive stat category.
Tonight he joins the man that beat him in the NCAA Championship, and whom he beat in the NBA Championship, Patrick Ewing, as inductees into the Pro Basketball Hall Of Fame. They came into the N.B.A. together and they enter the Hall of Fame together. It is only fitting.
Here are some videos for your pleasure, hand-chosen by -FUPPETS-.
The first is Hakeem Olajuwon's Top 10 Plays as chosen by ESPN.
Perhaps my fondest memory of "Dream" was when the Rockets were fighting the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs. Spurs center David Robinson was voted the NBA Most valuable Player, a year after Olajuwon had earned that award. Olajuwon, and many others, felt that the 1995 MVP trophy should have gone to him again. The MVP trophy was awarded to Robinson before the start of their series together. According to his teammates, Hakeem and them sat in their locker room, watching the NBA commissioner hand Robinson the award, and Hakeem said "That man has my trophy." For a soft-spoken man, this was as much as he was going to say about it. He would proceed to put on one of the greatest single-player efforts ever witnessed in the NBA playoffs, leading his Rockets to victory in the series against David Robinson, and effectively emphasizing who truly deserved to be named League MVP that year. Here is a short summary of that ass-kicking.
The Houston Rockets celebrated Hakeem Olajuwon's entry into the Hall of fame at Toyota Center, in front of the fans. Houston loves us some "Dream."
Congratulations Hakeem Olajuwon. You deserve all of it and more. Thank you for the memories.
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