Friday, December 31, 2004 HOUSTON SPORTS 2004: A-Z ¬¬ HOUSTON CHRONICLE G11 Fans, Rudy share mutual admiration Rice defense Federer caps Affection flows as coach returns to town loses its way ‘fantastic’ in San Jose T IS FOR RUDY T, as in year in style Tomjanovich, who, for the S IS FOR THE SIEVES first time in 34 years, is not a U IS FOR that masqueraded as part of the Rockets’ UNSTOPPABLE, defenses during the Oct. organization. which is what Roger 2 Rice Owls-San Jose The Lakers hired Tomjanovich, who Federer proved to be in State Spartans game. coached the Rockets to two NBA 2004 in general and at championships, after Phil Jackson Rice ran 100 offensive resigned. the Masters Cup in plays, accumulated 634 yards Tomjanovich made a triumphant particular. and churned out 63 points. return to Houston on Nov. 13, directing And lost. By seven. In the the Lakers to an 84-79 victory over the Federer dismantled Lleyton process, the Owls frittered Rockets before 18,181 at Toyota Center. Hewitt in the finals of the away a 27-point lead in front of Playing for the fourth time in a five- Masters Cup on Nov. 21 at 4,093 at Spartan Stadium. day road trip, the Lakers summoned Westside Tennis Club, The only higher-scoring the energy to limit the Rockets to 34.6 polishing off a 74-6 season that game in Division I history — a percent shooting. Though left him ranked No. 1 in the 71-63 Arkansas victory over Tomjanovich had spent last year as world. Kentucky — went seven consultant with the Rockets, he had Hewitt provided only 66 overtimes. The two teams never attended a game in the building minutes of resistance before combined for 1,089 yards and that became the Rockets’ home in falling 6-3, 6-2. Federer, a 23- 19 touchdowns, with the 2003. year-old native of Switzerland, Spartans averaging 9.3 yards “This was great, but I feel that way is the first player to win three per offensive play. every time I walk around Houston,” Grand Slam titles and the “Typical WAC game,” Rice Tomjanovich said. “Everywhere I go, Masters Cup — an elite-field, coach Ken Hatfield said. Or people are so good to me. Sometimes I JAMES NIELSEN: CHRONICLE round-robin event pitting the did he mean whack? just laugh and say, ‘What kind of life is FRIEND INDEED: In a touching ceremony, Rudy Tomjanovich, right, was told by Carroll top eight players in the world — With all that, San Jose State this?’ You just go and people are happy Dawson “you’ll always be a Houston Rocket.” in the same season. In the scored the winning touchdown to see you.” process, Federer became the on a 28-yard interception The old No. 45 jersey hangs from a Houston icon. refreshing. In the coaching business, first player since Ivan Lendl in return with 2:18 remaining. the Toyota Center rafters. The Tomjanovich led the Rockets to the there are very few great coaches who 1986-87 to win consecutive “This is one of the wildest relationship between Houston and NBA title in 1994 and 1995. He are also humble.” Masters Cups without dropping things I’ve ever seen,” San Jose Tomjanovich goes back to 1971, when stepped away as head coach on March The Rockets presented a single match. State coach Fitz Hill said. “The the Rockets moved here from San 16, 2003, after doctors diagnosed him Tomjanovich with a painting of him in Federer finished the season conventional rules of football Diego a year after he was their first- with bladder cancer, and spent last the familiar “touchdown” sideline with 11 singles titles and 23 did not apply.” round draft choice out of Michigan. season as a consultant. With the pose. General manager Carroll Dawson consecutive victories over top- The Owls fell to 2-2 on the Tomjanovich, the player, had a blue- blessing of coach Jeff Van Gundy, the made the presentation, closing his 10 opponents. He went 41-2 way to the same record (3-8) as collar ethic to go with an All-Star Rockets paid tribute to Tomjanovich in remarks with, “In our hearts, you’ll after his only Grand Slam another team in town, the shooting touch. The Rockets kept him a pre-game ceremony. Van Gundy even always be a Houston Rocket.” A visibly defeat in the third round at the Houston Cougars. The Owls around as a scout, broadcaster and implored Rockets fans to arrive early moved Tomjanovich told the crowd, French Open. did wrestle the Bayou Bucket assistant coach. The next thing and give Tomjanovich his due. “In my darkest hour, I felt your love. I “It was a fairy-tale ending,” away from the Cougars 10-7 in Tomjanovich knew, he was the head “First, he accomplished so much,” know in my heart that you helped me Federer said, “to a fantastic the season opener. coach and well on his way to becoming Van Gundy said. “Second, he’s very beat cancer.” season.” Tagliabue called the episode “It was not intentional and is Halftime becomes “offensive, embarrassing to us and regrettable,” said Timberlake. Two our fans and inappropriate.” Joe online companies, Terra Lycos and Browne, NFL executive vice president Yahoo, reported that the halftime too much of a show of communications, said it is performance was the most-searched m “unlikely” MTV will ever be image in Interent history. The online W IS FOR “WARDROBE entrusted with another Super Bowl search for Jackson’s breast exceeded Magenta halftime show. the demand for “September 11” or the MALFUNCTION,” the excuse du jour issued by the MTV, for its part, insisted, “The Madonna-Britney Spears kiss. principals involved after the halftime show of Super Bowl tearing of Janet Jackson’s costume was At least one prominent Texan Rainy SHO unrehearsed, unplanned, completely professed to miss all the fuss. XXXVIII turned into a referendum on Janet Jackson’s right breast. unintentional and was inconsistent “I don’t want to admit it, but jump-starts Justin Timberlake ripped off a piece introducing “nipple shield” into Super with assurances we had about the because this White House starts early, of Jackson’s outfit during a song-and- Bowl lexicon. content of the performance.” Jackson I missed it — again,” president George Singh’s reign dance — mostly in the form of pelvic CBS and NFL officials nearly issued an apology that might have W. Bush told reporters. “Saw the first thrusts — routine at Reliant Stadium. knocked each other over in their race been a little more convincing if not for half, did not see the halftime — I was V IS FOR VIJAY Out popped the offending — and that is to disavow the show, which MTV her pre-game promise of a “shocking preparing for the day and fell asleep. SINGH, who outlasted the operative word — breast, thus produced. NFL commissioner Paul moment.” But you all can tell me about it.” y Mother Nature and the competition to capture Yellow the Shell Houston Open NEW YEAR’S at Redstone Golf Club. A series of rain and lightning EVE BLASTOFF! delays pushed the tournament to a Monday, April 26 finish. PARTY STARTS at 9 pm... Despite a 2-over-par 74 start to 7 8 9 10 11 12 the tournament, Singh finished 11-under and two strokes clear of ROCKETS the field for his second victory of the season. Singh shot 68 in the final round, hitting 13 of 14 vs BUCKS l post-game specia y fairways and 16 of 18 greens in concert b regulation on the 7,508-yard ...and goes til MIDNIGHT! CORY Redstone layout. MORROW! “I think today was the best I’ve played for a long, long Party with the ROCKETS & time,” said Singh, who won the Houston’s own CORY MORROW, one of 2002 SHO at the TPC at The Woodlands. Country music’s hottest young stars! Singh got better and better as the season progressed, reeling in nine victories and supplanting 9:00 pm ROCKETS vs BUCKS Tiger Woods as the PGA Tour Light Spinners to first 5,000 fans Player of the Year. Less than a month after Singh captured the Luggage Leather Post-game concert and &Since 1981 PGA Championship, he ended 2411 Times Blvd. Ste 100 SUPERSTORE c Woods’ 264-week reign as the In the Rice Village 5111 Richmond Ave. at 610 Loop New Year’s Countdown 713-523-1160 713-552-9290 Cyan top-ranked player in the world. Singh, 41, became the first player in tour history to earn TICKETS STARTING AT $ $10 million in a season and is Spot breaking stories all day, all night • News you need from around town & around the world 10 ! the oldest to win consecutive • ONLINE at WWW.ROCKETS.COM money titles. houstonchronicle.com Your daily information source • THE TOYOTA CENTER BOX OFFICE • AT SELECT RANDALLS LOCATIONS.