Mutombo ready for Cheney-style politicking
Recently signed Rockets center says he'll 'take care of things'
By FRAN BLINEBURY Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
There was no need for background checks, lobbying efforts or Senate confirmation hearings.
The only voice vote that counted was that Cookie-Monster-gargling-razor-blades-in-a-blender rasp that let everyone know the Secretary of the State of the Rockets was back at his post.
"There is much work to do," said Dikembe Mutombo. "It will take time. I don't want to be stepping on anybody's shoes, because I just got back. But I will find my space to let them know I am the oldest guy here, and they should listen."
He had sat at his locker listening and stood by in practices observing through five games and for nearly two weeks and had intended to pursue his first round of détente amid a fractured atmosphere prior to the game against the Lakers.
"It was going to be a secret dinner Monday night, but it didn't happen because other things came up," Mutombo said, grinning. "So now I have to set up another one. I'm planning to get people under the ground and into the bunker, and we're going to discuss the problems like Vice President Dick Cheney. I've got the people that I'm planning to pull out, take them into that bunker and try to get things straight. Don't worry. I will take care of things."
In his 18th trip through the NBA, the 42-year-old Mutombo's role is part backup center, part psychologist and part warden on a team that this season has buzzed off in more directions than a hive of drunken bees.
After the injuries to Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest and Shane Battier ruined any hope for a smooth start, the constant change of rehab plans, the ins and outs, and 15 starting lineups produced the chaotic atmosphere that might as well have sent the "Bat Signal" to Mutombo in Gotham City.
"I had so many guys on the team calling me, all the way to the trainers and the equipment guys, saying, 'Deke, you better get here quick. It is a state of emergency.'
"Since I've been back, I've been more outspoken and I can see things are changing a little bit here. But we are not there yet. We are still far away from what we need to be as a team in the locker room to get ready for games."
Mutombo got his first taste of action this season in the second quarter against the Lakers, playing just under 4½ minutes, hitting a layup and a tip-in and grabbing one rebound. But he didn't get a blocked shot or a chance to wag his finger.
"I was hoping I was going to get more than that," Mutombo said. "I think the coach is hesitant about my conditioning. But my conditioning is there. We had a wonderful practice, and I know that I am ready."
Coach Rick Adelman does not intend to use Mutombo to spell Yao Ming nightly. He feels comfortable with the production and the effort that he's getting out of Luis Scola, Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes on the front line.
"I think you'll see him (Mutombo) against certain people, for sure, behind Yao when we really get undersized," Adelman said. "But against a lot of teams, we're really better off with the smaller people at both ends of the court.
"I said at the time, to get Deke back, there were two important reasons. His impact on the team off the court and in the locker room is huge. But I think, God forbid, something should happen to Yao for a period of time, Deke's a perfect guy to put in there.
"Right now, it's tough for him to get going, playing three or four minutes at a time. That's why I say it's really important to have him for insurance — and his impact in the locker room is enormous."
The respect Mutombo gets from his teammates is obvious. Before Saturday night's game against the Knicks, McGrady, who wasn't playing, stopped by his locker briefly and then walked across the room toward "the godfather" with a smile.
"We've got a lot of things to work out right now," said Battier. "I think we've stabilized things a bit, but it's a process. I don't think Deke's been around long enough yet to just fix things. Remember, this is a different team from last year. Everybody doesn't know him.
"That may be the answer: Deke coming in here and knocking around a few heads. If he does, I think it will be beneficial. If there's one guy who could do it, it would be Deke."
Mutombo let out a deep sigh that turned into his trademark roaring laugh as he considered the burden of his so many tasks.
"My hands are full with all the things I need to reach all of these young guys before I leave the game. I'm not done yet. Just let me get them into the bunker like Vice President Cheney. I won't start any wars. And I won't shoot anybody in the hunting field either. Everything's gonna be fine." http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6211241.html作者: 猫婶 时间: 2009-1-15 19:00
