Steve Francis is da "yadda, yadda, yadda."

All the talk and grousing over the departure of Hakeem Olajuwon leaves me thinking yadda, yadda, yadda. Some might say I yadda-ed the best part, but I think not.

As most people who know me can tell you, I have no problem expressing myself. I jabber...a lot. My college speech teacher nicknamed me "Glib" because I could talk about anything, anytime, anywhere. I've been called "Jabber Jaws," "Big Mouth," "Rattle Trap," among others. Of course, the last time I heard those I was probably 10, but whatever.

The point is, I have something to say about most things, which is why I have over 6000 posts on the freakin' BBS! However, this whole glumness over Olajuwon makes me yadda, yadda, yadda.

If Rudy T. can cut short a press conference because he is so befuddled he is afraid he might say something stupid, we should all be cautioned that what we say now is tinged with emotion and may end up sounding ridiculous. A wise man once said, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool then open one's mouth and prove it." Yadda, yadda, yadda.

Honestly, I wonder how much the jibba jabba will matter in a year or two. Journalists are fond of pointing out the irony that every famous 34 (Ryan, Campbell and now Olajuwon) has finished his career in someplace other than Houston, but is that really the issue? How fair is it to let Dream leave with all the mixed emotions?

Last year, I was honestly hoping we'd all get to bask in a big retirement party. He'd get the gold watch and we'd get cake and the chance to sing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." We'd all leave happy and satisfied. Then, something happened. Something ugly. But that is yadda, yadda, yadda.

For me, I want to focus on what we have ahead of us rather than what is behind. We owe it to the young players that will now carry the torch. We are, after all, Rockets fans, not just Hakeem fans, right? Frankly, we have a lot to be happy about.

We not only have players with talent who are young, but they LOVE to play together and get along great. We practically stole who many considered the best player in the draft. We will likely add a serviceable big man and bring back our own players who, unlike a certain Houston icon, actually want to wear the pinstripes next year. Ok, no one wants to wear the pinstripes, but they do want to play for the Rockets.

The point is, what's done is done and it is time to focus on the positives. I have no time or patience for second guessing decisions that have already been made. I also have no time or patience for hashing over all the issues of "what if?". With all the "yadda, yadda, yadda" that will fill the airwaves, broadcast booths, newspapers, websites and, yes, bulletin boards over the next week or so, I may need to go outside and get some sun. God knows my pasty white butt could use it.

Even a guy like me who must love the chit chat for as much as he participates in it, this all is making me very sleepy. It's all just a bunch of "yadda, yadda, yadda" to me.