What was expected to be a "bland media day" -- the Rockets'
first day of practice -- turned into a "passionate debate."
Members of the two-time NBA Champs spoke on the team's new
uniforms, with many feeling "the new duds are duds," according to
Eddie Sefko of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Hakeem Olajuwon: "I like
it. But we look like an expansion team. It's something we are
going to have to get used to." Mario Elie: "I don't like the
stripes. ... I think the road blue looks better than the home
uniform does." Robert Horry: "I don't like them, personally.
I'm not going to sit here and lie and try to be on the owner's
side or anything. ... It's just too much. You got rockets
shooting out at you, you got numbers on the front, numbers on the
back, logos here -- it's just too much, like they were trying to
attract business or something." More Horry: "These uniforms are
just a little too kiddish. ... I do like the 'R', though. I can
use that for Robert. I can do a lot of things with that." The
players would like to receive their championship rings on opening
night in their old uniforms, an idea which Rockets VP/Business
Ops John Thomas said has been under discussion (HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, 10/6).
