Newspaper Page Text
Rockets push panic button
with Barkley trade @
Finally the worst-kept secret
in all of the NBA (except for
Shaq’s quick exodus to La-La
Land!) is “official.” Mega-star
Charles Barkley was granted his
wish of becoming a Rocket (Au
gust 19) after almost an entire
season of bickering back and forth
with Phoenix Suns owner Jerry
“Keep It In The Family”
Colangelo and head coach Cot
ton “Bad Mouth” Fitzsimmons.
Cotton, clearly a coach past his
prime, was once a Barkley fan
until the Auburn product began
to question his coaching style,
practice regime — and choice of
sports jackets, for that matter.
All this squabbling took place
directly in the public eye! The
Phoenix media believed Barkley
(who posted an average of 23
points and 11 rebounds per con
test last season) was up to the
same antics that set up the orig
inal trade that brought the 33-
year-old power forward from
Philadelphia to the valley of the
sun — after Chuckie grew tired
of another of owner Harold Katz’
infamous screw-ups.
All summer long “Sir Charles,”
a two-time gold medal Olympic
winner and original Dream Team
member, has been hinting at a
trade to H-Town. The Leeds, Al
abama native even joked around
with Houston’s all-star center,
Hakeem Olajuwan, during the
summer games when both were
teammates, asking if “The
Dream” had heard any news of
the trade yet! Quietly, the 7-
footer must have been praying
for any Barkley trade to fall
through because of the log jam it
would produce down low on the
blocks of the Rockets’ offensive
set. But, pray as he might,
Hakeem’s nightmare is indeed a
reality.
The 4-for-1 player trade sends
CSRA Classic is coming
on October 19!
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!Timqout
with Tony (! |
Rocket guard Sam Cassell and
forwards Robert Horry, Mark
Bryant and Chucky Brown to
the Suns in exchange for Barkley.
Onecan only wonder how Rocket
head coach Rudy Tomjanovich is
planning to handle Mr. Barkley
next season. “Rudy T.” had prob
lems dealing with the mood
swings of Robert Horry and
former Rocket Otis Thorpe.
What'’s he planning to do with
the undisputed king of bad mo
rale? Rocket fans, the outlook is
not good for next season’s team
chemistry in the summit.
Houston’s management group
has clearly panicked in an at
tempttosecure yet another world
championship. This former Rock
et team wasn’t too bad. After all,
Cassell —and the 6-foot-10 Horry
especially — are decent “young”
players who have come up with
some clutch performances for
Houston in the past. Why ship
your future to Phoenix for the
ultimate problem child in Mr.
Barkley?
The Suns are now younger and
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deeper as a unit while Houston
becomes older, slower and a de
fensive nightmare. All this hoop
la just to give Charles a shot at
the brass ring before he retires?
That’s what thistraderepresents
forthe aging superstar. A chance
to win the only professional mile
stone that has eluded him —the
NBA Championship.
Imagine the headache Rockets
guard Kenny Smith will have
deciding which “superstar” to
pass the pumpkin to this winter.
Will Clyde Drexler be willing to
take fewer shots in light of
Barkley’s arrival? Will Olajuwan
prove to be the unselfish one in
the mix, willing to give up points
and concentrate on defense and
rebounds? Who will be the man
to set the picks and do the dirty
work under the glass? Yes ... you
could say role identity, ego trips
and ball distribution could be a
few “small” problems in Houston
during the upcoming season. And
get this, hoop fans: Just when
you thought poor Tomjanovich
had enough headaches to worry
about, guess who’s coming to din
ner? Former Atlanta Hawk Kevin
“I wanna be the man” Willis.
Hawk supporters can well re
member the brooding ways of
Mr. Willis during his days pa
trolling the paint at the Omni.
Willis split playing time between
Miami and the Warriors last sea
son: That should give you a little
indication of the respect Willis
now commands in the pro ranks.
No doubt Houston is making
plans to hire a team of sports
psychologists to keep this team
afloat in the event of a cosmic
attitude meltdown. Any way you
slice this tomato, the Barkley
trade is one high-risk gamble for
the Rockets!
Tony Cornish Jr. isa free-lance
sports writer based in Augusta.
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August 22, 1996
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