Two Words
By urbanhoustonian at May 11, 2009 | 3:19 PM | Print
I find myself in the enviable position of writing a better post than was originally planned. When I heard he had hurt himself in Game 3, and they were going to perform more tests and Yao stated he would, for sure, return for Game 4.
Two words, “Uh oh.”
I even told my dad Saturday afternoon, before the announcement, “Wait until the tests come back, this is exactly what happened last season before he went down.”
After my family finished watching Quantum of Solace, we caught the beginning of the 10 o’clock news. Two words were above Yao’s face on Channel 2, Breaking News. “The Rockets have announced that All-Star center Yao Ming is out for the season after discovering a hairline fracture in his left foot.”
Two words, “God dammit!”
I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry, I wanted to throw up. Why? Why? Why? What did the Houston Rockets do to deserve this continual punishment? Are we cursed? Are we paying some kind of debt to the basketball Gods for some transgression? (I do have two thoughts here to be mentioned later.)
As it was Mother’s Day, we did the MD routine of going out to Katy Mills (yes, a most un-Urban Houstonian venture) to buy my mom gifts. It was a nice outing with the kids. On the way back to my parents house in Sugar Land, my brother comments, “Ooh, we’ll be able to watch the Rockets game.”
Two words, “Oh joy!”
I check the score on the way home on my trusty Palm Centro. End of First Quarter Rockets 29 Lakers 16.
Huh.
They’re just playing with all the emotion you came to expect from them coming into this game. While I figured we had no shot at competing in this game, I did figure the Rockets would come out swinging. However, I also expected that emotional wave to ebb, allowing the Lakers to do what everyone expected them to do after the announcement of Yao’s injury, WIN BIG.
We ended up going out to dinner at Los Tios. I kept checking my phone, and the lead continued to grow. 18 points at halftime, 25 points midway through the third.
Two words, “Holy shit!”
We enjoy a wonderful lunch/dinner of Tex Mex, then head back home to catch the end of the game. As we turn on the TV, the lead had fallen under 20 points, and fell an additional 5 after we turned on the television. My brother said that maybe we should consider turning it off. I went upstairs to pack my things, and heard multiple exclamations from my sister downstairs. I smiled, the Rockets looked like they were going to pull this thing off.
Time wound down, the Lakers made a blowout appear to be respectable. However, the final point differential of 12 did not tell the story.
Two words, “Clutch City.”
Conventional wisdom will tell you the Rockets had no shot at this game after Yao went down. It’s simply inconceivable the Lakers would not capitalize one what was now a free pass into the Western Conference Finals. The Rockets came into this series as heavy underdogs. Even after they won Game 1 in L.A., the media still didn’t want to give the Rockets any credit. After Game 4, as they did after Game 1, the Lakers complained about how they let the game get away.
Two words, “Nice try.”
The Lakers were outplayed in Game 1, and they were outplayed in Game 4. What bothers me most is the Rockets accomplished something that was truly amazing yesterday, and they are not getting any of the attentionthey truly deserve. This game is one for the ages, a game where David slew the mighty Goliath. Not because Goliath was tired, but because Goliath didn’t give David the respect he deserved. I was interested to see what ESPN had to say about yesterday’s events this morning.
I dial up espn.com, and find the headline dedicated to Boston. All three Boston teams played and won yesterday. It’s a good day to be in Boston.
Two words, “Fuck you.”
I cheered when Kevin Garnett went down. I laughed when Manny Ramirez got suspended last Friday. I hate every team from Boston. Their storied histories have made their fans arrogant, self-centered and obnoxious. The Celtics returned to prominence last season because of a free agent boondoggle. They wanted to compare that team to the greatest teams of Bird and Russell. This was a grave insult to greatness. The team fell apart this season, and has no chance of winning another title. Although I will give them all the credit they deserve for the way they have played thus far. Of course, it’s clear to anyone who follows the NBA that the Orlando Magic does not appear to be quite as strong as they led us to believe. They clearly lack the killer instinct that separates the great teams from the also-rans. They are the Eastern Conference equivalent to the Phoenix Suns. Fun to watch during the regular season, terribly hard to watch in the playoffs.
Two words, “Screw Boston.”
Back to Rockets vs. Lakers. While I am fairly certain the Rockets will eventually lose this series, there is a part of me now that believes this series will now go 7 games.
Two reasons.
1. The Rockets know they can win in L.A.
2. The Rockets know they can win without Yao.
The NBA’s slogan for the playoffs this year is, “Where will amazing happen this year?”
Two words, “In Houston.”
