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'Dream' house Rockets' Olajuwon feels right at home
Posted: Tuesday May 16, 2000 11:39 PM
By Jim Huber, CNNSI.com HOUSTON -- He walks across his acreage gingerly, as though in a dream. It is a place he is proud to call home. "It's comfortable," he says as he strolls along a tree-shaded walkway on the property. "It's always very quiet." Since athletes tend to be creatures of habit, ruled by the calendar, perhaps it is simply the fact that Hakeem Olajuwon is not used to being at home this time of year. "It's a new experience," he said. "And that's part of the journey, to experience new experiences." For only the second time in his remarkable16-year career with the Rockets, he is not hard at work on another NBA championship. Instead, he is a long distance fan like the rest of us. "I can't watch the whole game, but (I) watch some part of the game and the last quarter. Olajuwon spent the final month of this season on the bench, a victim of what turned out to be asthma. And so he will return for one final season next winter, not to re-write this particular ending to give it more glitter as one would expect of a former champion and MVP, but instead to simply honor a commitment. Olajuwon has a year to go on his contract and he says there was never a question about returning in 2001. "I know I can still compete," he said. "It's not a question. It's just matter of getting myself in a position where I can breath comfortably. And have fun in my last year without any pressure." So coming back is then a done deal?
"That's the game plan now, unless things change." And what could change? "My last month (of the season), I couldn't breath. I've taken medication, it's improved, but I don't know how improved. Can I play?" With the retirements of the Michael Jordans, the Charles Barkley's and others, there's aren't many players left from his era. "You know, I can't look at Jordan, I can't look at Barkley. They are making individual decisions. I can't be praised by people who say I should retire now. If I should choose to retire, that's my choice. And I live with it comfortably and happy with my decision." And when asked if next year will be his last in the NBA, with no hesitation Olajuwon answers "Yes." With that being the case, what will he do after next season? Where will he shift his focus? "First of all, just to get that freedom," he says with a laugh. "Can you imagine, for the last 20 years, you've been scheduled where you have to be? And to just finally have that freedom, that you choose to do whatever you feel comfortable interests you. "Whatever I choose to do, it will not take me far away from my family. Where I can spend a lot of time raising my family, doing a lot of community work. And for me I look at it as a responsibility for people in our position who have influence with corporations, the media, the people to use that leverage, our superstardom to create avenues for all of us to benefit. It's a responsibility that if we don't, you feel irresponsible." Olajuwon’s responsibility to his family is seen in his sprawling home built four years ago in a Houston suburb. It follows the lines of Islamic architecture, pure white, many windows, high arches and a prayer mosque where Olajuwon visits five times daily. Out back near the lake he has a gift from Saudi prince, a huge desert tent. Olajuwon tells the story of visiting his friend in Saudi Arabia four summers ago where he saw the prince's rather large and exquisite tent. "He has a big one and I go, 'This is very nice.' He said, 'You like it? I'll send you one.' I thought he was kidding. Three weeks later, he sent it." This future Hall of Famer is not moving nearly as fast and furious this time of year as he did before. But there is good reason for that. Perhaps this is simply practice for the rest his life.
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