‘Yao Ming: A Game 1 Spectator’ (Stephen Dunn - NBAE/getty Images)

As I researched for this assignment, I found that there are a lot of interesting facts that the average sports fan may not be aware of. I frequently hear about the players, the match-ups, the game plans from announcers and commentators but I thought I’d share some general facts about the Houston Rockets! Some you may know and some may be new information.

The Houston Rockets began in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets. The team was named because San Diego was where the Atlas Rockets were made for NASA. In 1971 the team was moved to Houston. Coincidentally, no name change was needed because Houston was home to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center and Mission Control. Many professional teams in the area claimed ‘space related’ team names.

The Rockets first draft pick was Pat Riley in 1967. Since then, many notable players have claimed Houston as a home (at least temporarily). Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon . . . just to name a few!

The current mascot for the Rockets is a bear named “Clutch”. Clutch was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame (who knew there was such a thing?) in 2006. If you live in the area, you can actually book a Clutch visit for your next party or event!

The Rockets have had success in the past, but, like the Jazz, have been rebuilding for awhile now. 2002 was one of their worst seasons but that resulted in the acquiring of Yao Ming as the first pick of the subsequent draft.

For those of us ‘youngsters’ who weren’t watching basketball when this event occured, this was something I wasn’t aware of. Former Rocket player and coach, Rudy Tomjanovich had a scary and life-threatening incident in 1977. The Rockets were playing the Lakers when things got heated and Laker player Kermit Washington hit Rudy straight in the face. The punch shattered the bones in his jaw and face and caused life-threatening head injuries. He was out for five months healing and undergoing rehabilitation. He was able to return and, remarkably, went back to his pre-injury awesome playing. Tomjanovich was a five time NBA All-Star. When he ended his playing career, the Rockets retired his jersey #45. He continued his legacy with the Rockets first as a scout, then as an assitant coach and finally as head coach. He left the Rocket franchise following the 2002-2003 season.

The Houston Rockets placed fifth overall in the West this season and third in their division. As you all know, they are playing the Jazz in the first round of the playoffs . . . and then their season will be over :-).