Otis Thorpe spent 6 1/2 seasons with the Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets will honor their all-decade team of the 90’s, selected by fan voting, tomorrow at halftime. Otis Thorpe and Vernon Maxwell will not be among the players honored.
While I would honor Maxwell at some point, I can somewhat understand a decision to not do so. He walked out on the club in ’95 in the middle of a playoff run. I have forgiven him, just because of what he had given before, but I can empathize if the team and ownership haven’t.
But they should still do right and honor Otis Thorpe at some night, perhaps with a day dedicated solely to him. Otis poured his sweat and blood protecting the Dream for six years, playing all 82 games in five of them. Without Otis, there would not have been a ’94 title.
Maxwell and Thorpe would have made my 90’s team. Too often, we focus on success and not what got us there. We forget the past and the lessons learned. Cassell, Elie, and Horry were no doubt instrumental in the playoff runs. That isn’t disputed. But the quartet of Smith, Maxwell, Thorpe, and Olajuwon started four seasons together, spanning from 1990-1994. Without their efforts, none of this happens. Without their struggles, there is no banner in the rafters. Without their experience from ’93 in the heartbreaking Game 7 loss to Seattle, no titles are won. They grew and overcame; they should not be pushed aside.
http://youtu.be/1cJntzEmj2o
The Houston Rockets should do the right thing and honor Otis Thorpe.
