Hakeem Olajuwon

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.

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.

Topsy-turvy. Russia has joined NATO operations and we're going to aid North Korea.A lot of people are having to eat their words about Jimmy Carter. Most of them are in the administration.O.J. is hardly the first television hero not to bear scrutiny off camera.Hakeem Olajuwon for governor of Texas!

Baseball Cubs: Sent P Steve Rain outright to Triple-A Iowa. Sent OF Chris Hatcher to minor-league camp. Released P Greg McMichael. Dodgers: Designated 3B Kevin Orie and P Dan Naulty for assignment. Purchased contracts of former Orioles P Mike Fetters and IF Kevin Elster from Triple-A Albuquerque. Optioned P Jeff Williams to Albuquerque. Sent C Adam Melhuse to minor-league camp. Expos: Placed P Mike Thurman on 15-day DL. Indians: Assigned P Al Newman to minor-league camp. Padres: Acquired P Rodney Myers from Cubs for OF Gary Matthews Jr. Re-acquired P David Maurer from Giants per Rule 5 guidelines and assigned him to Triple-A Las Vegas.

NBA games lost yesterday: 8.Total games missed: 258.Earliest estimated date season can start: Jan. 15.Projected player salary losses (through Jan. 15): $430 million.Negotiations: Nothing scheduled. Union director Billy Hunter told agents during a conference call that he expects some of the season will be salvaged. Commissioner David Stern has refused to set a date after which all games will be canceled. Asked Tuesday, whether the season could begin in mid-February, he said, "No, I don't think so, but I am going to leave that to the Board of Governors."

Baseball Cubs: Sent P Steve Rain outright to Triple-A Iowa. Sent OF Chris Hatcher to minor-league camp. Released P Greg McMichael. Dodgers: Designated 3B Kevin Orie and P Dan Naulty for assignment. Purchased contracts of former Orioles P Mike Fetters and IF Kevin Elster from Triple-A Albuquerque. Optioned P Jeff Williams to Albuquerque. Sent C Adam Melhuse to minor-league camp. Expos: Placed P Mike Thurman on 15-day DL. Indians: Assigned P Al Newman to minor-league camp. Padres: Acquired P Rodney Myers from Cubs for OF Gary Matthews Jr. Re-acquired P David Maurer from Giants per Rule 5 guidelines and assigned him to Triple-A Las Vegas.

GALVESTON, Texas -- Hakeem Olajuwon is as optimistic as anybody about the Houston Rockets' chances in the playoffs. He wants to slip a ring on his finger as much as any teammate, probably more.But when he hears his buddies talking about a championship, about being one of the teams to beat for the title, he gives a little grimace and shakes his head."We can't look too far down the line," Olajuwon said yesterday as the Rockets began preparations for the first-round series against Portland that begins here Friday.

HOUSTON -- The night began with Hakeem Olajuwon holding high the Most Valuable Player trophy he had just accepted from NBA commissioner David Stern.It ended with Olajuwon holding aloft the Houston Rockets.Olajuwon -- the 7-foot Nigerian center who starred in college at the University of Houston shortly after learning to play the game -- engaged in a fourth-quarter duel with fellow billboard Karl Malone and left the Utah Jazz power forward far behind.The Houston center scored 41 points last night, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Rockets to a 104-99 win and a commanding 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Michael Jordan insists it was just a big misunderstanding.The Chicago Bulls' demonstrative superstar said he was not taunting the Los Angeles Lakers during Wednesday night's 107-86 blowout in Game 2 of the NBA Finals."

HOUSTON -- They were considered fierce competitors when they first battled on the basketball court 10 years ago in the NCAA championship game.Statistically, they were able to cancel each other out. But when it was over, Georgetown's Patrick Ewing was a champion; the University of Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon was not."That was a long time ago," Olajuwon said yesterday, when asked about the last time the two met with so much at stake. "That was just one game. That's the beauty of the NBA -- you have many chances."

WASHINGTON -- With the official start of business yesterday, NBA teams began their mad scramble in preparation for the coming season. Yet the Washington Wizards and free-agent point guard Rod Strickland were still miles apart when the team's camp opened last night.The Wizards opened camp with 17 players, but their pursuit of Strickland is still stalled. Washington is offering Strickland a three-year contract in the range of $30 million, but agent David Falk is seeking a deal in the five-year, $65 million range for his client.

NBA games lost yesterday: 8.Total games missed: 258.Earliest estimated date season can start: Jan. 15.Projected player salary losses (through Jan. 15): $430 million.Negotiations: Nothing scheduled. Union director Billy Hunter told agents during a conference call that he expects some of the season will be salvaged. Commissioner David Stern has refused to set a date after which all games will be canceled. Asked Tuesday, whether the season could begin in mid-February, he said, "No, I don't think so, but I am going to leave that to the Board of Governors."

No. 1 seed Utah (62-20) vs. No. 8 Houston (41-41)Season series: Utah, 4-0 (107-103, Dec. 25; 111-84, Jan. 10; 106-100, March 1; 100-93, March 9).Last playoff appearance: Utah reached last year's NBA Finals, losing in six games to Chicago. Houston reached last year's Western Conference semifinals, losing in seven games to Seattle.Key players: Utah -- Karl Malone (27.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg), John Stockton (12.0 ppg, 8.5 apg), Jeff Hornacek (14.2 ppg), Bryon Russell (9.0 ppg). Houston -- Hakeem Olajuwon (16.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg)

LANDOVER -- These days it's getting kind of difficult to figure out which is the real Washington Bullets team. Is it the one that goes out and gets blasted by mediocre teams? Or is it the club that goes toe-to-toe with the NBA's best?Going against the Houston Rockets last night, the Bullets -- at least on paper -- appeared to be no match for the top team in the Western Conference. But Washington managed to go toe-to-toe with the Rockets, only to fall short in the end, 103-99, before a sellout crowd of 18,756 at USAir Arena.

Pro basketballOlajuwon backs out of Shaq showdown because of injuryHakeem Olajuwon was described as embarrassed, disappointed and still hurting yesterday after backing out of his one-on-one matchup with Shaquille O'Neal.The Houston Rockets center, who appeared healthy and mentioned no injury at a news conference in New York on Thursday, pulled out of the $1 million contest yesterday because of a back injury suffered last week while lifting weights, promoters said. The heavily hyped showdown was scheduled for tonight at Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J."

ORLANDO, Fla. -- To understand just how far Clyde Drexler has come this season in terms of respect, consider that in late September the Heat was debating whether it was worth acquiring the veteran guard for Harold Miner.To comprehend just how much Drexler has had to overcome this season, consider the way the Houston Rockets were vilified at midseason when they traded workhorse power forward Otis Thorpe to Portland for Drexler.But perhaps the best way to appreciate Drexler's value is to consider that he still is playing well into June, while Miner hasn't -- been heard from since the Slam Dunk Championship on All-Star Saturday and Thorpe hasn't been seen since the first round of the playoffs.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- To understand just how far Clyde Drexler has come this season in terms of respect, consider that in late September the Heat was debating whether it was worth acquiring the veteran guard for Harold Miner.To comprehend just how much Drexler has had to overcome this season, consider the way the Houston Rockets were vilified at midseason when they traded workhorse power forward Otis Thorpe to Portland for Drexler.But perhaps the best way to appreciate Drexler's value is to consider that he still is playing well into June, while Miner hasn't -- been heard from since the Slam Dunk Championship on All-Star Saturday and Thorpe hasn't been seen since the first round of the playoffs.

NEW YORK -- The Rockets came, they dominated and they remained unbeaten. They left behind a rattled Knicks team that played tentatively and became frustrated against an opponent that looked superior.Led by the brilliance of Hakeem Olajuwon (37 points, 13 rebounds), Houston tied the NBA record for most victories to start a season, winning their 15th consecutive game, 94-85, last night at Madison Square Garden.The 1948-49 Washington Capitols also started 15-0. The Rockets can set the record by defeating the Hawks tonight in Atlanta.

SAN ANTONIO -- Next.Operation Mints On The Pillow failed in a big way last night, after the San Antonio Spurs, trying to simulate the road experience that has been so successful the last nine days, checked into a hotel in their own town and then came close to checking out of the NBA Western Conference finals. In other words, they didn't get a per diem and they didn't get a victory.What the Spurs got instead was the wrong side of five-star play by Hakeem Olajuwon (42 points), as usual, and Sam Cassell (30)

Topsy-turvy. Russia has joined NATO operations and we're going to aid North Korea.A lot of people are having to eat their words about Jimmy Carter. Most of them are in the administration.O.J. is hardly the first television hero not to bear scrutiny off camera.Hakeem Olajuwon for governor of Texas!