I don't get this at all. How did he get to games in the Big 12? When he needed to get from Iowa to Texas and back how did he do it?
Plus I'm assuming at some point the Rockets asked him straight out if this would be a problem so either he lied, changed his mind and decided to back out of whatever he told them, or they knew this and this should be a non-issue.
If I'm the Rockets I'm probably pretty mad right now. I'm not sure it's wise for them to treat him any differently. I mean when the game is down the street fine, but from what I'm hearing I bet his idea of driveable is pretty different than theirs.
And the sad thing is he isn't any safer in a bus at all, and may be much less safe. If that were the case and I were the Rockets I'd flat out refuse. I'd say "We need you actually safe, not to feel safe while actually being less safe. We also need you somewhat rested and ready to go, not driving all day"
They have a million rookies. They can't be baby sitting one of them or wondering where he is. It's like "No. You gotta be here. You can't skype to team meetings from a bus or hotel".
I'd want to hear what he considers driveable and a coherent plan both logistically and financially. And he better not be picking up hitchikers and the other members of the team can't go with him.
If it's so driveable and simple then maybe they should all take the bus.
But even some of the closest NBA cities. Take Boston to NYC. No way. That's a 6 hour drive. No way. Gotta fly.
It will be very interesting to see how this turns out.
If this were a different situation it wouldn't work. Oh yeah I want to do business in China on a regular basis but I can't fly. Well then you can't do it. The entire modern sports world is based on flight. What happens when Stern gets his team in London?
Just for the record, having anxiety about flying isnt necessarily about fear of crashing. lots of other things go into it. And most people with Anxiety know that their fears are not rational but they can't get their body to calm down no matter what their mind tells them is safe. So the rockets taking that course of action is likely to frustrate him beyond belief.
The Rockets probably knew what they were getting into when they drafted him. When they drafted them they had to know they were getting a guy that may have to be treated differently.
You think the Rockets knew he wasn't going to show up to training camp? I think that maybe both Royce and the Rockets aren't being entirely truthful here.
On Royce's part he says he wants to be able to drive to games. But he had all summer to drive to training camp. He could be with the team right now. He could have brought these issues up over the summer. The way this has suddenly popped up now makes me think he either isn't getting treatment or the treatment isn't very effective or something. He wants us to think he can't show up on time for training camp, but can show up for games. I don't buy that. I want to know how.
On the Rockets part both Morey and McHale say they have no idea when he'll be there. Obviously they have a better idea than we do. They must have known something about this and for their part they also could have worked with him this summer. But they didn't.
I am thinking in terms of his career at Iowa State as his baseline. As far as I can tell he didn't miss a lot of games in college. This year's schedule the Cyclones have several times where they have to get to Texas, then back to Iowa, then back to Texas in a week. How did he used to do that?
Now take his new NBA schedule. Take a look at Jan 8 to Jan 21
Tue, Jan 8
vs
Los Angeles
Wed, Jan 9
@ New Orleans
Fri, Jan 11
@ Boston
Sat, Jan 12
@ Philadelphia
Tue, Jan 15
vs
Los Angeles
Wed, Jan 16
@ Dallas
Fri, Jan 18
@ Indiana
Sat, Jan 19
@ Minnesota
Mon, Jan 21
@ Charlotte
What is he going to do? Miss games?
Flying is a requirement of being an NBA basketball player. Realistically if he can't fly it's like he's injured or in jail. Nobody will want a player like that. I think Royce has to make some decisions right now. Either he says "My head is sick. One of the most important parts of my body is sick just like a knee and it will often prevent me from being with the team" or he says "I can be with the team".
I know anxiety isn't switch you can turn on and off and that's what worries me about this for him. I was under the impression this was not a huge issue and was put out there by other agents, but apparently he can't even make it to the first day of work when he has all summer to get there. It sounds pretty severe to me, which is what is so puzzling, because how did he do this at ISU?
Topic: Royce White MIA to Rockets Camp? (Read 16751 times)