02-14-2008, 11:12 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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BRILLIANT!
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: My Own World - You're All Living In It
Age: 22
Posts: 16,866
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Rockets To Honor Olajuwon With Monument
Quote:
HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Rockets plan to unveil a monument honoring former star Hakeem Olajuwon on April 11 outside the team's arena.
Organizers said they worked hard to ensure that the monument complied with Olajuwon's Islamic beliefs. Rockets spokesman Nelson Luis told The Associated Press that details about the monument had not been released.
Houston television station KRIV reported that it would focus on his jersey and accomplishments, but in keeping with the tenets of his Muslim faith, it won't include a picture or likeness of him.
"It's a wonderful monument to the greatest player in the history, I think, of Houston sports, and one of the greatest players of all time in the NBA," Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said.
Olajuwon led the Rockets to two NBA championships and was the most valuable player of the finals both years.
"I am so grateful for their thoughtfulness to honor me," Olajuwon said. "It can't be any higher than that. I feel so humbled. I mean, like, 'Wow ... I mean that much."'
Olajuwon said a statue was not acceptable because it is against his faith.
Houston artist Eric Kaposta designed the monument.
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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html
I think it's well-deserved.
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“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never tasted victory or defeat.”
Bleeding purple & gold...
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