The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Rockets Legend Carl Herrera Joins Matt on a Flashback Friday

Episode Date: January 3, 2020

Carl Herrera joins Matt to discuss the Championship seasons with the Rockets, his experience being shot in Venezuela, and the current Rockets team

Killer Bees. Gregman, Brantley, Baldiouvi, the Correa, the Springer. Sports Talk 790, home of the Bastros. Time is 132. I had a chance to emcee an event not too long ago with some Rocket Legends. One of them is joining us right now on a flashback Friday for tonight's game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Houston Rockets. Gene Peterson nicknamed him Amigo many years ago, and it sticks because he is, first of all, a swell fella.

Second of all, one of our favorite rockets of those championship years. Carl Herrera with us on the Matt Thomas show. Amigo, how are things? Great, man. How are you doing? Very, very good. I looked at your age. You're 53.

You look like you can play 15 minutes in the NBA. Could you do it today if you needed to? No, I could give you a good, hard 10 minutes, but the next day I won't be able to get out. That's funny. guys say that. It's nice to your voice. How much do you enjoy watching this brand of NBA basketball? I know it is certainly a lot different than

when you and Dream and play with your rear ends of the basket, that kind of thing, but today's NBA is a lot different. What are the pluses and minuses in your mind about it? Well, it's really, you know, the difference. I mean, it's more faster. I mean, guys,

you know, play a little bit above the rim, but it's basically, you know, four five guys out of the paint. You don't have the big guys down there anymore. A few teams have a big guy that could play, you know, to the back to the basket, hook shot, things like that, which was my forte.

And really, you know, it's not a set play anymore. There's more to ease. It's more up and down, basically. And sometimes it's hard to see a game like that, especially when we get to the point of the playoffs, which we don't see that much of a defense. We don't talk about guys that could stop all the guys because, you know, the way basketball is stipulate right now,

not only in the NBA, but I think all around the world, basketball have changed so much. And I think it started in South American Games, Pan-American games where you see Argentina, Brazil, having that European type of basketball. I think the NBA have to adjust to play that way. And in fact, whenever they go to where the national team out to play that same style of basketball. Do you think it's because kids of today, and we'll go back even 10 or 15 years, Amigo, that they were 6-7, 6-8, 6-9, that were maybe a thinner frame.

They're like, wait a minute, I don't want to go in there and bang. I want to go out and shoot jump shots. I want to make three-point baskets. Do you think the kids had a lot to do with it? No, I think it's the way the structure the game right now. You know, it's more protection for the players. You know, like you said, we don't ban like we used to. It's not a physical game like you used to anymore.

And, you know, I love to go back into that defense, not only talking about guys in the offense, which is what people love right now. People love the trees and the dunks and stuff like that. But, you know, you would love to see a guy like Dennis, you know, this day is playing also, you know, getting 20-something rebounds, stopping one of the great offensive players of the other team, and we need that again. We need to

have all the players who are prepared in the position to have a function in the game. So I think that that has gone away from the game these days. I think it's kind of difficult. Like for instance, tonight Clint Capella is going to go against Joel Embed. He doesn't

go against a lot of bruising type centers like Embedwood. Who was your toughest defensive matchup when you would go out there. Give me, give us some names for those of us that are old school fans of you and the in the, and the, in the, in the, in the rockets of some of your tech matchups. That I had to play defense against. Yeah.

You know, that tough guy named Barclay. Oh, yeah. You know, he could have played out. He could shoot threes. He would, he could play the back to the basket. He was on Parmesan. He was in a jump shoot all the time. But, you know, he was a guy who could get up and down the court and play to the back to the basket.

So, you know, every night I was facing guys in that structure that was even big and stronger than me. So I had to adjust my game and be quick, try to deny the ball, the most of the can, and try to bring down the scoring and just be active out there. Just make things happen. Visiting with Amigo, Carl Herrera, with us on the Matt Thomas show. I like to ask you guys during those championship years where you keep your rings. So I'm going to ask you, where are your rings right now? I don't use them anymore.

I had a situation back in Venezuela where that was shot five years ago, and one of the Marines was stolen. Wow. You know, yes, that was a big situation for me. Thank God I'm still here. Absolutely. The doctor says it was amazing just because, you know, I keep myself going to the gym. I keep myself strong. And, you know, that that helped me a lot.

And I made a move when they shot me, that avoid, they shot me directly to my heart. So they took one of my ring. So I try not, these days, I try not to use any jewelry at all because this is dangerous right now. I don't doubt that at all. How did you get back to Venezuela very much? I haven't been back to Venezuela any year. I've been back to the States for a year now, my wife and I. and you try to minimize going on there because we know all the situation in South America and Venezuela especially

which these guys, they knew who I was and I was sitting in a restaurant and they still did what they did. So you tried to minimize not going out that much and just, you know, staying to myself and to my family. That's very sad to hear, Amigo, because you obviously were the very first Venezuela in ever to play. And I know that you went back to your country quite a bit and coached and played with some other teams. What do you know about Venezuelan basketball right now? Do you keep on track, maybe via the Internet or on television? Yes. I've been speaking to them.

They had some elections the month of December for the president of the Federation. We've got a new president. And one of the things he wanted me, they called me, and they wanted me to go back and try to help get strongly the basketball on there, be like an ambassador for the national. team join with China. And, you know, the same way the NBA has joined banter with China with merchandising and everything, they wanted me to go back and try to help them. And I think about doing that, you know, just going back slowly, but being, you know, be careful with anything that

could happen. Oh, you are not lying there, my friend. Carl O'Rerra with us here on the Matt Thomas show. So you've been back here in Houston for about a year. Is that correct? Yes, sir. What do you've been doing? Where would people find you around if they want to come out and not necessarily hang out with you? But what do you do with yourself now that you're in post-retirement? Well, I'm thinking it's, I'm thinking it easy these days. I want to try to go back into the system with the Rockets. I would love to, you know, help and, you know, with the big guys, with the defense, everything. So I'm available for that. I think the guys know, you know, I've been around.

I've been to some of the games. I've been doing some of my parents. And, you know, just taking it easy for this year. But being available for that, I would love to go back and help them be in the system. There is one player on this year's team that I love that is, I would think, would relish with Rudy in the old school system. And I think that would be P.J. Tucker, do you agree with me on that? I mean, for a guy that's 6'5, he is not afraid to go against many taller guys and bang with them and down low and get those rebounds and get him in the most important parts of the game? Yes, I think it would be a lot of.

help, you know, getting the knowledge of seeing the game in a different perspective, but not going away from what they're doing these days in the game. But I think, you know, he's a hard-in-lose guy that every team need a guy like that, you know, to give his body every guy every night and to do the thing, the dirty work I might say. All right, so I see you sometimes, I see Mario had some games. I see Dream. If you guys were to play a pickup game, how would it go. I think we'll go slow, but we'll have a lot of fun. We'll have a lot of fun.

They will go slow, believe me. I don't know if Dream and Max, because I know Max stays in shape. I mean, he looks like he's still fast. Oh, I know. I'm doing with his shake and everything. But I think we'll have a lot of fun, you know, reminiscing like going back, not only to the games that we participate, winning a championship, but at practice, I mean, when we practice, it was tough.

I mean, every time we practice, we're really hard, and we always prepare ourselves mentally and physically for any opponent, you know, any night you come in. And I'd give the fans a great show, not only an offensive part, but, you know, let them know that we were there to defend our colors and the city. Yeah, I'll say this. I forgot to mention Max. He's come to town. I'd had Rudy on the show a few weeks ago. I'm glad y'all are thriving. You're enjoying retirement.

You all, none of your fat, which is congratulations for you on that. I do, I'm going to tell you something. If you guys would play a game of horse, I can get 18,000 people Tonya Center to watch it, because it would be unbelievably fun. So tonight you got a big responsibility. You're going to shoot the free throw before the game, correct? Well, I'm sorry.

I was supposed to do it, but my wife got a little ill. Oh. And I excuse myself from that, but I will need for, you know, any time to be there, not only shooting the shots, but, you know, having fun with the fans. and, you know, just being around the team. I'm just trying to remember, what was your free throw percentage when you were playing? Were you a 70% guy? Close.

I was a 60-something percent. Okay, well, I'm just telling you. In college, I was the 90s. Have you been over to the Fortita Center yet to see the Cougars? Yes, sir. I was there two weeks ago, and I saw them play. It was the first time I was there in a long time looking at the game. I got lost.

I wouldn't say it was because I was there. No. I felt bad that they lost, but they have a young team. I know last year they lost two or three guys from last year's team, and that hurt them a lot. So they're trying to bounce back from that and try to stay strong and play hard. And you know what? That arena is beautiful, too.

You would certainly rather play there than Hauffines, correct? Oh, yes. Oh, yes. But you know what? Halfines had an atmosphere that the flat, five flamadam had left there. And it was something about that arena that when you went in there, I mean, it was something that, you know, take over you as a player and as a fan.

And people enjoy, you know, when the surroundings got real dark and the lights just, you know, focus on the, on the court. I mean, I love to play in that place. But now, you know, I went there and everything has changed. But it is beautiful. Look, real nice. It is beautiful. Well, we hope that your wife starts to feel better,

and we would get you to the TOTA Center to shoot that free throw down the line. Amigo, it's always a pleasure to visit you. It was good catching up with you at that event. We had a few months back, and we look forward to seeing you at TOTA Center a lot over the next handful of months. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Matt. Hi, to all the fans, and let's root for the Rockets for the night, and let's win this game. I like it.

That's the Amigo. Carl Herrera, one of my all-time favorites with us here on the Matt Thomas show.