But the truth is, that win was not without its costs to Jason -- and was basically a death sentence for his professional outward appearance.
He explains:
Sorry you're having to [write an essay praising the Rockets] for the second time in two months. If it makes you feel better (and I suspect it probably doesn't), I'm having to write my own mea culpa for having picked the Blazers in 7 (on our own website!).
Making matters worse, some in the organization feel I need to be punished for that act of treason, so tomorrow afternoon the players will be giving me a Von Wafer mohawk. Not good times. Not good times at all.
As a Blazer fan, I console myself in the team's unexpected success this year. I console myself in the team's bright future. Now I also console myself with the knowledge that I'm not about to get America's worst haircut. Makes me feel like a winner.
Jason Friedman of NBA Rockets.com lived up to his promise and had his hair cut as a Von Hawk at Toyota Centre.
Von Wafer was there to draw the first blood !!!
Rockets notes: Wafer ready for Lakers series
Rockets guard Von Wafer said he has some stiffness in his back, but he is not in pain and did not expect to have any problems with his back in the Western Conference semifinals against the Lakers that start Monday night in Los Angles. He was initially ruled out of Thursday’s Game 6 against the Trail Blazers, but played that night anyway.
“I feel good,” Wafer said before an afternoon treatment session. “I have a little stiffness, but I’ll be OK.
“People are thinking I was out there with my back hurting. My back wasn’t hurting. It’s not that big a deal. When I stop, it tightens up a little bit.”
Wafer had back spasms last offseason while working out with Atlanta Hawks players and had to sit out for a week while he was trying to win a job with a team.
“I didn’t have the medical attention when it happened last summer,” Wafer said. “It was at a very, very important time. It was going to be a big day at the gym with a lot of people watching.
“Maybe it happened for a reason, so I could be here. Maybe if it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be here, now.”
The first option
The Lakers have double-teamed Yao Ming this season but are unlikely to dedicate two 7-footers to keeping the ball from him with the same scheme the Trail Blazers use.
“They’re going to come at him, but we need Yao to be aggressive and we need to find a way to get him the ball,” Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. “He’s still got to be the main cog of what we do.”
Hair today
As punishment for picking the Trail Blazers, Rockets.com staff writer Jason Friedman was given a Von Wafer-like mohawk after the Rockets’ practice Saturday.
But Wafer said Friedman will not be the last, with plans to have a barber visit the Rockets’ hotel to cut Ron Artest’s hair into the mohawk he promised for a Rockets’ first-round win over Portland.
“Nothing is more important than a man’s word,” Wafer said. “If you can’t trust what he says, you can’t trust him on the court.”
AHAHAHAHAH LOOKS LIKE RON IS GETTING A VON HAWK
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
if rockets beat lakers im getting a Von hawk too