Hakeem

NBA games lost yesterday: 7.Total games missed: 149.Earliest estimated date that season can start: Dec. 22.Projected player salary losses (through Dec. 22): $298 million.Negotiations: The two sides met briefly and won't hold a full negotiating session until Saturday.Today's best canceled game: Houston at Minnesota. Timberwolves youngsters Stephon Marbury and Kevin Garnett square off against Rockets veterans Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley, if he returns to Houston.Pub Date: 11/24/98

HOUSTON -- Hakeem Olajuwon, the soft-spoken Nigerian emigre who led the Houston Rockets to two NBA championships, is becoming as celebrated in the city's real estate circles as he was on the basketball court. Following an unorthodox yet disciplined strategy, he has managed to make as much in real estate in the past 10 years as he did in 17 seasons playing professional basketball. "He buys high and sells higher," said David L. Cook, executive vice president with the commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, who has represented Olajuwon in several transactions.

ATLANTA -- Hakeem Olajuwon scored four points during a fourth-quarter run as the Houston Rockets pulled away for a 97-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks last night.After Atlanta had pulled even at 81 on a Grant Long jumper, the Rockets scored nine consecutive points over the next 2:50.Olajuwon finished with 31 points and Mario Elie added 20 for Houston, which has won two straight after a five-game losing streak.

When the Toronto Raptors signed Hakeem Olajuwon as a free agent last summer, the 38-year-old center was supposed to be the player who would put one of the league's most talented teams over the hump and into the Eastern Conference finals - if not into the NBA Finals. Olajuwon has held up his end of the bargain, giving the Raptors an inside presence to complement Antonio Davis and a good veteran role model for young stars such as Vince Carter, Alvin Williams and Morris Peterson to follow.

CHICAGO -- It was back in 1980 when 17-year-old, pencil-thin Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon got his first taste of international competition. For Olajuwon, it was as a member of the Nigerian junior national team. And though he later would be known widely as one of the best centers of all time, Olajuwon couldn't even help get his team past the semifinals."It's always a very competitive tournament, and we wound up losing to Central Africa," Olajuwon recalled. "It was just my second year playing basketball, and that was my first international competition."

It became unfashionable last season to refer to the Houston Rockets as "Team Hakeem" after the Rockets posted a 15-10 record while All-Star center Hakeem Olajuwon was sidelined with an eye injury.With backup center Larry Smith filling in admirably, the Rockets finished 52-30 and earned Don Chaney Coach of the Year honors.But the Rockets, who entertain the Washington Bullets tonight, discovered this season that Olajuwon really is indispensable.With Olajuwon healthy, the Rockets jumped out to a 7-2 start and suddenly were viewed as a legitimate title contender in the Western Conference.

People have been jumping on the Don Chaney bandwagon for Coach of the Year honors as his Houston Rockets have won 17 of 18 games to challenge the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz for the Midwest Division title.Chaney deserves the praise, particularly for making his team competitive despite the loss of All-National Basketball Association center Hakeem Olajuwon, who was sidelined for two months with an eye injury.But overlooked in monitoring the Rockets' dramatic turnaround has been the contribution of general manager Steve Patterson, who was responsible for making several key acquisitions.

Pro basketballOlajuwon undergoes surgery to repair inguinal herniaHouston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon, who last month became the first NBA player to get 2,000 blocks and 2,000 steals in his career, began an estimated 4-to-6-week recovery after undergoing surgery to repair an inguinal hernia.Team physician Dr. Walter Lowe said the 45-minute outpatient procedure to correct a gap in Olajuwon's abdominal wall should end the extreme pain and weakness initially attributed to a groin strain. Olajuwon left Friday night's game in the third quarter.

Orlando, Fla. -- It's a little more than seven hours until tip-off of the much anticipated meeting between the Orlando Magic and the Houston Rockets. And under the dimmed lights of the Orlando Arena -- void of the 15,291 screaming fans that will fill the stands this night, void of the officials, void of opponents challenging every movement -- the beauty of the game of basketball is being broken down.You could liken it to a dance lesson, with Houston's 10-year veteran Hakeem Olajuwon as the choreographer, and rookie center Eric Riley the student.

Rockets put Olajuwon on injured listHouston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon, hospitalized after suffering a fluttering heartbeat, was placed on the injured reserved list yesterday. "All of the doctors are optimistic about Hakeem's full recovery and early return to the lineup," Houston general manager Steve Patterson said in a statement.The all-star center, 28, won't be eligible to return until Dec. 5. Olajuwon can begin full physical activity again after outpatient diagnostic tests are performed in seven to 10 days, the team said.

Pro basketballOlajuwon undergoes surgery to repair inguinal herniaHouston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon, who last month became the first NBA player to get 2,000 blocks and 2,000 steals in his career, began an estimated 4-to-6-week recovery after undergoing surgery to repair an inguinal hernia.Team physician Dr. Walter Lowe said the 45-minute outpatient procedure to correct a gap in Olajuwon's abdominal wall should end the extreme pain and weakness initially attributed to a groin strain. Olajuwon left Friday night's game in the third quarter.

NBA games lost yesterday: 13.Total games missed: 373.dTC Earliest estimated date season can start: Jan. 22.Projected player salary losses (through Jan. 22): $480 million.Negotiations: David Stern and Billy Hunter did not meet yesterday, and nothing was scheduled for today.Today's best canceled game: Rockets vs. Lakers. The speed and fadeaway jumper of Houston center Hakeem Olajuwon meets the power of Los Angeles center Shaquille O'Neal.Pub Date: 12/27/98

Even with the disappointment of the off-season, the Miami Heat had become the league's biggest surprise and was nicely positioned for the postseason. With the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, the Heat figured it could have home-court advantage until a possible Eastern Conference final series against the Chicago Bulls.But with Alonzo Mourning out for perhaps 20 games after tearing the plantar fascia in his right foot last Friday, the seeding situation could change in the coming weeks.

CHICAGO -- It was back in 1980 when 17-year-old, pencil-thin Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon got his first taste of international competition. For Olajuwon, it was as a member of the Nigerian junior national team. And though he later would be known widely as one of the best centers of all time, Olajuwon couldn't even help get his team past the semifinals."It's always a very competitive tournament, and we wound up losing to Central Africa," Olajuwon recalled. "It was just my second year playing basketball, and that was my first international competition."

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The ugly Game 7 exit by the Indiana Pacers reminded me of coach Larry Brown's comment earlier in the NBA Eastern Conference finals. Talking about the modern player in general and his own Pacers in particular, Brown said, "I don't know where they're comin' from, and sometimes I don't know if they're showin' up."The Magic and Rockets are showin' up tomorrow night to start the NBA championship series, and here's some stuff to mull and ponder . . .* Brown did a great job getting his limited Pacers as far as he got 'em, but you wonder if Larry himself showed up Sunday night.

ATLANTA -- Hakeem Olajuwon scored four points during a fourth-quarter run as the Houston Rockets pulled away for a 97-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks last night.After Atlanta had pulled even at 81 on a Grant Long jumper, the Rockets scored nine consecutive points over the next 2:50.Olajuwon finished with 31 points and Mario Elie added 20 for Houston, which has won two straight after a five-game losing streak.