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Home , Elvin Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets, Michael Jordan, Nicknames of Houston

Two Paths to Greatness: and By Katherine Lopez

he City of had a humble of athletic glory and personal fulfi llment. attention to it. These are their stories. Tbeginning as the Allen brothers, two These individuals, although numeri- Elvin Hayes was born in the small entrepreneurs willing to pedal land, began cally small in comparison to the overall town of Rayville in 1945. It, like selling plots near the coast that many of immigrants entering the city, most other Jim Crow cities of the time, considered worthless in 1836. Although have disproportionately contributed to presented few opportunities for its non- it initially struggled, bountiful opportu- Houston’s growth for they became publi- white residents and little hope of escape. nities—such as the building of the Port cized representations of the success to be Despite that, Hayes was determined to of Houston, the explosion of the space acquired within the city. While numerous fi nd a “better life out there beyond Rayville industry, and the liberal concentration of transplanted athletes have graced the courts and north Louisiana” and would “fi nd 1 natural oil and gas reserves—presented and fi elds over the last century and history some kind of vehicle” to take him away. individuals with the potential for personal could highlight several of them who trans- His journey out began when, in the eighth and fi nancial advancement and soon formed into proponents of Houston, two grade, Hayes picked up a and Houston was transformed from a small individuals in particular jump out from the began developing the skills that would lift frontier town into a thriving metropolis. masses. Elvin Hayes, a native of Louisiana, him out of Louisiana and out of obscurity. While these well-recognized factors and , a native of , Although he was not cognizant of the undoubtedly sparked a massive upsurge in both traveled to the city in pursuit of fact that “basketball was going to be the the city’s population, another more low-key basketball stardom. Although born over vehicle,” Hayes physically applied himself factor quietly drew in new faces and under- twenty years apart, these two men, fi rst at and soon was blazing trails during his 2 pinned its foundation. Sports programs, the and later in the high school years. In doing so, he drew both on the amateur and professional levels, NBA, embraced the city which welcomed the attention of segregated colleges across have enticed athletes to the area with the them and their athleticism and, throughout the nation. While Louisiana’s had his promise of athletic glory since the late 19th the past decades, have brought positive choice of universities, Hayes ultimately century. The Red Stockings, a minor league decided, primarily because of the promise baseball team, settled in Houston in 1888 of an excellent education close to home, to and although the team folded quickly after become one of the fi rst two black athletes its inception, the athletic tradition it estab- to integrate the University of Houston lished did not. From that forward, basketball program under the direction of Houston has supported a continuous Guy V. Lewis.3 His decision was buttressed stream of athletic franchises ranging from by his mother’s positive opinion of the baseball’s Colt .45’s and Astros to the program. Hayes believed the Houston American Basketball Association’s Houston coaches most effectively persuaded his Mavericks and National Basketball mother, recalling, “Coach Harvey Pate [the Association’s , to the assistant to Coach Lewis] didn’t recruit the ’s Houston Oilers players. He recruited your parents or your and their successor, the Texans. In addi- mother and he recruited my mother and tion to professional athletics, the my mother said ‘you’re going out there two major Houston universities, with Coach Pate’ and that was it. When the University of Houston and Rice your mother tells you something, that’s University, have fi elded teams since what you’re going to do. It really wasn’t 1946 and 1914 respectively. Through up to me.”4 In obeying his mother’s these various programs, professional instructions, Hayes instantaneously and amateur athletes alike have realized “basketball was to be [his] fl ocked to Houston to pursue dreams savior as well as [his] ticket out of Rayville.”5 This was the moment he All photographs courtesy University of had been waiting for and sensed his Houston Athletic Department. life would quickly change. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Katherine Lopez completed her master’s (right) and Elvin Hayes degree in History at the University (left) were the fi rst African-American athletes to play basketball for the of Houston in 2004 and is currently University of Houston. Their coach, working toward her PhD. Her Guy V. Lewis, actively recruited them research focuses on the desegrega- and helped create an environment in tion of the University of Houston which they could prosper. athletic program. page 44 The Houston Review...Volume 3, Number 1 d Hakeem Olajuwon Come to Houston

Immediately following his high school and night and a lot of those things I never “The Eighth Wonder of the World,” which graduation in 1963, Hayes set out for his saw here.”11 Furthermore, Hayes found was large enough to handle an incredible new home of Houston. His initial reactions the University willing to support its newest number of spectators, demonstrated to all to the city were less than positive. His small recruits in whatever manner possible. “The who watched that Houston was indeed an town upbringing left him feeling vulner- school’s offi cials,” he remembered, “were advanced city capable of leading the way able in such an expansive city. “It was a always cooperative, much more than you into the future of sports. Many in the sports very scary place because I had never seen would have expected at that time in a world, including Hayes, still point to that anything this big or been around this many Southern city. I think the University kind of one game as the start of modern basketball. people in one place at one time. So, for a created [an] environment for us to try and It demonstrated that gathering massive kid coming from an AA school, it was just a make our adjustments.”12 crowds in huge, often multi-purpose, sports massive, very scary experience for me.”6 Yet, Hayes admits that despite the stadiums was feasible and highlighted the His trepidation was strong enough relatively discrimination-free environ- existence of a national basketball market.15 to drive the young Hayes back home on ment at school, he had to overcome the That victory would be the grandest several occasions. “The fi rst time they personal prejudices ingrained in him from moment of the Hayes-led squads. Despite brought me over,” he recalled, “the next his youth. “Because I was in a totally black compiling an 81-12 record and three day I was back over in Louisiana and they environment, and I’d never been around straight NCAA Tournament appearances would come back and get me and I was white people that much, I always kind of over as many seasons, the Cougars never gone again.”7 After a few such retreats shied away from [whites] and stayed in won the NCAA tournament, which had across the Texas border, Hayes’ mother sent an environment where I was very much long determined the best collegiate team her oldest son Arthur to Houston alongside comfortable. I think that was one of the in the nation. Even so, Hayes’ athletic his younger brother with the command that biggest things for me to try and adjust to, dedication, visible by his 31.1 points /17.2 Elvin was to remain in Texas for good. Her being in a mixed environment, and I had a rebounds per game average, confi rmed to tactic worked. The younger Hayes eventu- lot of problems with that because I brought sports fans and casual observers alike that ally acclimated to his new surroundings and a lot of baggage with me. A lot of the things Houston and its university were ready to realized that “the Houston people offered and experiences which I’d had in Louisiana, assume a position of prominence and were [him] an education and a watchful eye.”8 I kind of brought those experiences with capable of transforming young individuals With the start of the fall semester, and the me over here . . . and it was something that into premier athletes ready to take on the return of the rest of the squad including I really was not that comfortable with.”13 world. Because of that, Hayes “fell in love fellow black recruit Don Chaney, Hayes felt The passing of time and the development with the school and the city of Houston comfortable enough to release his brother of interracial friendships, however, allowed both” and he never regretted his tenure at from his companion duties.9 Soon, he was Hayes to shed his preconceived notions of UH saying, “I think the best thing that in the throws of preparation for the season race relations and fully integrate into the happened to me and the best decision that and fell into a comfortable routine. program.14 could have been made for me was made by While Hayes eventually made the tran- With the major issues of prejudice my mother to get me to go the University sition to university life, dealing with the city under control and his homesickness dimin- of Houston and for me to go there and for itself still presented a problem. Although ished, Hayes concentrated on his education me to play there.”16 the University of Houston welcomed its and his athletic career. He excelled on the Although the end of the 1968 season newest African-American stars, Houston court, earning three All-American honors, brought a close to Hayes’ career at the remained a segregated city. The possibility two consensus All-American honors, University of Houston, it did not end his of further discrimination did not deter and the 1968 National Player of the Year association with the city itself. Selected Hayes, who had grown accustomed to a award. But perhaps more importantly than as the 1968 fi rst round pick by the second-class status in his hometown and individual accolades, Hayes catapulted his Rockets, Hayes set out for believed himself capable of handling any team, and the city, to national prominence his new home. Three years later, due to potential problems. He recounted that in January of 1968 during the “Game of the selling of the Rockets after the 1971 “[Don Chaney and I] knew what we the Century.” On that night, in front of season, Hayes returned to the city which were getting into, but we had endured a then record-breaking crowd of 52,693 fi rst made him famous. While he only racial prejudice before and were confi - and before the fi rst ever nationally tele- remained with the Houston franchise for dent we could do it again while breaking vised regular season basketball audience, the 1971-1972 season—he was traded to down some old barriers.”10 Despite his Hayes and his Cougar teammates beat Lew the Washington Bullets—he returned to expectation of ill treatment, Hayes was Alcindor, now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Houston prior to the start of the 1981- pleasantly surprised by the overall attitude the top ranked UCLA squad. 1982 season. Although he had experienced of Houston’s white community. “There That event sharply focused the nation’s tremendous success in Washington, where wasn’t anything sticking out so blatant as attention on the game of basketball and on he led the Bullets to the 1978 NBA title, it was where I just had left . . . it was day the city’s state-of-the-art facility. Hayes was excited to return to Houston.

The Houston Review...Volume 3, Number 1 page 45 could not terminate the relationship ticket cost the Olajuwon family $4,500. between Houston and Hayes, neither could His mother paid for the ticket from the retirement. In the over two decades since proceeds of her retail cement business. he walked away from basketball, Hayes has Within ten days, he was on a plane to the lived and fl ourished in the Houston area. states, scheduled to visit fi ve universities. After forty years in the Houston area, Hayes Luckily for Houston, both the school and still possesses a positive perspective of it the city, Olajuwon would only visit one and sees the tremendous potential avail- university on that list. able to those who wish to pursue a future His fi rst introduction to America within it. “I [feel] like Houston was a good came in January of 1981 in New York, city for me, I enjoyed the city. It [is] a very where Olajuwon was to meet with coaches good city, a very young city, a very growing from St. John’s University. That meeting city.”19 The celebrated basketball star, who never transpired because the cold January earned a place in the Naismith Memorial weather immediately deterred the Nigerian Hall of Fame in 1990 and landed on the list teenager from remaining in the Big Apple. of the fi fty greatest players, is still enthralled Within four hours, he was on a fl ight to with his adopted city concluding, “I enjoy Houston, where international fame awaited living here, I love living here.”20 him. Olajuwon took an immediate liking The University of Houston and UCLA met twice Other basketball stars followed in his to Houston’s warm climate and, whereas during the 1967-68 season and tied the series at footsteps to UH and to Houston. Arguably others found Houston’s heat insufferable, one game a piece. the most famous of these was Hakeem Hakeem felt perfectly acclimated to the Olajuwon. Originally spelled without the tropical temperature and even noted that “I enjoyed San Diego, I enjoyed living in H, Hakeem grew up in the Nigerian capital Houston was more frigid than his native San Diego,” he commented, “I enjoyed city of Lagos with his parents and three home. “It’s colder here than in Lagos,” playing in Washington, and the fans there brothers. Although he initially gravitated he commented during his fi rst months in . . . but I think Houston was always like toward handball, a new sport to the nation, Houston, “but not much, [so] I decided to home because I grew up here and my his 6´ 8˝ frame, which eventually peaked stay here.”24 really important years of growth happened 17 at 7´, soon brought him to the attention of Olajuwon also found Houston and here.” basketball coaches at the Muslim Teachers the university to be quite pleasant saying He understood that his playing days College which he was attending. When that, “the people here are more friendly... were numbered and knew that he had to the handball competition at the Teacher [and] I like it over here.”25 He recollected fi nish where he began. “You know from Training Sports Festival was cancelled, years later that, “moving from Nigeria to my basketball standpoint, from a notoriety Olajuwon begged coaches to allow him to Houston was so natural. I went to boarding standpoint, all the things that catapulted join the basketball team. They willingly school in Nigeria [the Muslims Teachers me into the world happened right here. agreed. While the team did not bring home College] so coming to Houston, it was the This was like the igniting point, the point the gold medal, his playing time brought same kind of campus lifestyle.”26 Coach where you blast off from . . . I think that him into the sights of Christopher Pond, Lewis, astonished by Olajuwon’s skill, sometimes when a rocket comes down you an international basketball coach.21 Pond offered him a full scholarship and expressed want it to come right back down in the spot 18 immediately recognized his talent and great pleasure with Olajuwon’s acceptance. where you sent it up.” understood such skill would open the inter- Lewis recalled, “He liked [the University of For the next three seasons, until his national doors faster than almost any other Houston] so much he decided to just stay retirement following the 1983-1984 season, avenue. and I’m happy he did.”27 Hayes contributed as much as possible to Olajuwon already understood the Olajuwon began playing full time the Rockets. Although he never led his magnitude of such an opportunity. Within during the fall of 1981, following a red Houston teammates to a world title, he Nigeria, “[America] was the destination, the shirt season, and quickly became a basket- nonetheless continued his stellar perfor- measure of success, the championship.”22 ball legend. During his three years at the mances becoming, among other statistical Yet, Olajuwon’s abilities alone could not University of Houston, he, along with achievements, the fi rst individual to play secure him a trip to America. As the U.S. other notable teammates such as Clyde 50,000 minutes (since outdone only by Embassy would not approve a visa without “the Glide” Drexler, amassed an impressive Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and ). In a verbal commitment from a college, he still 31-3 record in the 1983 season, reached addition, he rebounded 16,279 loose balls, needed help from an American collegiate the NCAA Final Four Tournament all still the fourth highest, and scored 27,313 coach willing to offer him a scholarship three seasons, and played in the Final Four points, placing him sixth on the all-time sight unseen. As with Hayes, University Championship game in two consecutive leaders list. Through these accomplish- of Houston Coach Guy V. Lewis took the years. Although “Phi Slamma Jamma” fell ments, Hayes once again brought Houston appropriate measures to ensure Olajuwon’s just short of the NCAA title each year, positive publicity. The Rockets, alongside visa and his visit to the University.23 With Olajuwon was not without a plethora of the city itself, shared the accolades garnered that promise in hand, the U.S. Embassy national awards.28 He was voted a two-time upon one of its most celebrated athletes. approved Olajuwon’s request. The airplane All American Performer, a 1984 consensus Just as the end of his college career page 46 The Houston Review...Volume 3, Number 1 All American, and was only the third In addition, he was selected as the regular years following Olajuwon’s draft, however, player to ever lead the nation in two or season and the NBA Finals Most Valuable nine players came from the foreign ranks. more statistical categories in one season.29 Player in 1994, was a twelve-time All-Star, That trend has only intensifi ed with each Olajuwon also received the nickname of and a gold medal Olympian. Furthermore, progressive year. In 2005 alone, fourteen “Hakeem the Dream” which would follow like Hayes, Olajuwon still appears on the international players were drafted.35 Clearly him throughout his career. Although all-time statistical leaders list in several cate- Olajuwon did not set the trend single- Olajuwon did not have an event such as gories. He is currently fi rst in total blocks handedly, however, his stellar performances the “Game of the Century,” his continual (3,830), sixth in fi eld goals (10,749 made provided a vivid example of the world-wide production once again took Houston to the goals), seventh in points scored (26,946 talent available. Recently, the Rockets took summit of collegiate basketball and drew points), and seventh in all-time steals another chance on an international number the eyes of the nation to the city. (2,162 stolen balls). one draft selection with Chinese-born Yao The only question which remained He accomplished so much during his Ming.36 Following in Olajuwon’s footsteps, at the conclusion of Olajuwon’s third playing tenure that many Houstonians Ming and other transplanted athletes now season was the future of his amateur status. came to view Olajuwon and the city as represent Houston to a watching world, Following the 1983-84 season, Olajuwon inseparable. Former Rockets Coach Rudy and it does not appear that the trend had to decide whether to remain with the Tomjanovich explained the relationship toward international players will subside University for his senior year or enter his saying, “[Olajuwon] is a part of Houston. any time in the near future. name into the NBA draft. The successes Just like you see certain sights around Elvin Hayes and Hakeem Olajuwon the team encountered in the previous years here and certain traditions, Hakeem is each traveled a different number of miles and the personal accolades directed toward part of that: the Transco Tower, NASA, to arrive in Houston from their home- Olajuwon made staying for a fourth season Hakeem.”32 While Olajuwon did not fi nish towns, yet once in the city limits, they each tempting. However, another factor carried his career with the Rockets, as he played took full advantage of the opportunities more weight for the basketball phenom- his fi nal season with the , for success. They left incredible legacies enon—living in Houston. he will always be remembered as an inte- on basketball history and, in the process, Olajuwon had grown accustomed gral part of Houston. Furthermore, he still lifted the city of Houston to prominence. to his life in Houston and had to choose remains involved in various parts of the Furthermore, they communicated, perhaps either a senior year or a lifelong career in city through his charitable contributions more loudly than any other immigrants, the city which fi rst welcomed him. When and real estate endeavors, and spends a few that the city would welcome any to partake the Houston Rockets had a chance to earn months each year in residence. in all it had to offer. the top draft pick, the answer became very Olajuwon’s promotion of the city and clear. “Once I got here,” he recalled, “I the benefi ts it afforded also had a tremen- didn’t want to leave Houston. That was dous international impact. Within his one of the motivations to come out of native country, the prosperity of Olajuwon’s school, because the Rockets had a chance new home did not escape notice. His in the coin fl ip.”30 His comfort level had parents expressed this view clearly saying, grown to such a point that a move seemed “Before Akeem went [to Houston] we knew unthinkable. “Leaving Houston to go practically nothing of the . to another city or state was a whole new Since Akeem has been there, we are sure it world for me,” he continued. “Here I fi t is a land of opportunity, a place to make a in [and] leaving Houston would be the profi t.”33 Their belief in the opportunities most diffi cult thing for me.”31 Fortunately available convinced them to send Akinola, for Olajuwon, the Rockets did in fact win Afi s, and Taju, their other sons, to Houston the coin toss and, like Elvin Hayes, he was as well, and other Nigerian athletes were selected as the fi rst pick of the 1984 draft, not far behind. Olajuwon only solidifi ed even before greats such as Michael his Houston testimonial when he attained out of the University of . his citizenship in April 1993. He explained His career with the Rockets did not his action simply remarking, “Being an disappoint, as he continued to dominate American citizen, if you are a good citizen, at the position of and played an gives you respect.”34 incredible 1,177 games over seventeen Just as importantly, Olajuwon encour- seasons with the franchise from 1984 aged the internationalization of the through 2001. Olajuwon’s stellar playing NBA. It is interesting to note the impact abilities thrust Houston into the limelight Olajuwon’s athletic performances have had and during his tenure as Rockets center, on the number of international players the team brought home two NBA titles drafted into the League. In the thirteen in 1994 and 1995. The fi rst of those two years between 1970 and the drafting of Olajuwon demonstrates his propensity for defense championships was the fi rst major sports Olajuwon in 1983, NBA teams drafted as he blocks a shot for Phi Slamma Jamma. He championship for the city of Houston. only six international players. In the two remains the NBA’s all time leader in blocked shots.

The Houston Review...Volume 3, Number 1 page 47