The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Tilman Fertitta On The Rockets Championship Anniversary

Episode Date: June 15, 2020

Tilman Fertitta On The Rockets Championship Anniversary

All right, let's say hi to the owner of the Houston Rockets, joining us here on the show, Timon, Fortita for, I think, a second or third time here on the program. Tillman, it's Matt. Good afternoon. How are things? Hey, Matt, what's going on? Just hanging in there, ready for some basketball. Amen to that.

I want to ask you, because the first time I ever think I ever met you in person, you were getting, you were on top of a billboard at Landry's on Westheimer, and it was for a cover of a magazine. And I think I was like, is that Tillman getting a picture? That had had been around the championship time. So what was Tellman Furtita's life like growing the restaurant industry back in 1995 when the Rockers were winning a second championship? Well, I had just taken my company public, and I was two years removed from trying to buy the Rockets,

me and John Moore's, because I had been a limited partner with Charlie Thomas from 82 to 92, and, you know, less outbid us by a few million dollars. and, you know, it seemed like a lot of money, which it is still a lot of money. Don't get me wrong, you know, $80 million, but 2.2 billion, 25 years later is a lot more. But it was great. I had taken my company public, and it was a great run, and then I took it private again in 210. And, you know, the rest is history. The rockets have been successful, and I've been successful.

and hopefully today we can be successful together. Amen to that. Did the minority ownership help you at all, or is it such a different way of living life and running a business when you own the sports team as compared to being a minority owner? It's so different, Matt. I was a partner in the Texans, too,

but I had to sell when I bought the Golden Nugget casino in Vegas. And then it's so different. It's just so different. And I think one of the reasons that you had some say-so, but not as much say-so as you might have thought you deserved or that you had. And I think one of the reasons that, you know, we haven't had even much turnover here at the rocket since I've owned it now for three years is that people love just having one owner to talk to. And you don't have to, hey, we want to do this. And, you know, it's just Tillman saying, sure, absolutely. whatever y'all think is best.

Y'all have the professionals, that's what you do. You don't have to go talk to four other partners to do it. And, you know, that's what Daryl tells me. That's what Tad tells me. And that's what other people there tell me. Tim and Fertito with us here on the Matt Thomas show at 235. For us being Cougars, you and I, to not only have the rocket celebrating this championship,

but two key cogs, Elijah on and Drexler. What was that like for you as a fan? Because you were really more as much of a fan as we were, and I was obviously doing the PA back then, to have those two guys wearing rocket gear that had such close connections to the campus to win a championship for our city. I mean, it's been a long time,

but memories are still rather vivid. You know, it was magical. I mean, it really was magical, you know, and then was it just a few years later when then, like, Jack Pardee, you know, went from the Cougars to the Oilers and had a couple of good years, and it was, there was just this great connection

between the University of Houston and pro sports. But that watch Akeem go from University of Houston to then this unbelievable Hall of Fame, you know, truly it's starting to come out now when people are realizing, and it's almost like the last dance. People get it how great, because they're talking about it, is how great Elijah Juan was. And that he really is, you know, one of the top 10 players of all time and not top 50. and but for for client, it's just magical, especially after, you know, the biggest upset probably in the history of the NCAA tournament was when North Carolina State, you know, beat us on that flute play at the end because we couldn't hit a feed throw.

And, but at the same time, I mean, people forget how great that Cougar game, that Cougar team was. And for the two of those guys not to bring a championship to the University of Houston. but then brought it to the Houston Rockets and the University of Houston a few years later. Yeah, no question about that. You have Dream as a guest occasionally with you at the games. Much basketball talk, much life talk, without getting too descriptive, can you tell us what some of the chatter between yourself and Dream is

when you guys are sitting there watching a game? You know, usually basketball, but, you know, the Dream has always been a great businessman, too, and he loves to talk business, and we talk deal. and real estate. And, you know, it's kind of funny. Him and I did a few deals with each other many years ago. And so we talk business. We talk basketball.

He has his opinion on certain players. And, you know, he's just an icon and just a wonderful man. That's an understanding. Tima Fetita joining us here on the Matt Thomas show. Timmy, just kind of give us an update if you can. it feels like Adam Silver has got a tremendous pulse of not only you as the Board of Governors, but as players as well. How often are you guys meeting in terms of Zooms and phone calls?

And how do you feel like, even though we've had a little bit of conversation in the last couple days, just generally about the July 33 start? And is everything going according to plan as far as you see it? You know, it's going according to plan. And, you know, I think it was everybody deciding this is the best. plan and, you know, I don't know if the plan's going to work. No, you know, I think it's going to be hard to keep these guys in one facility for, for, you know, a few months.

And but that's the plan. We'll see how it goes. And the plans don't always work out, but let's hope this one does. Man, I seriously, if the biggest problem is staying in Orlando to go win an NBA championship, I'd like to be able to tell PJ, hey, this will be worth it, or James and any of those guys? How often do you talk to the guys? And punch, can you have conversations about how are things going, what you're doing to stay in shape? And what they're thinking about is the return is pretty close.

You know, not a lot of conversations. I've had conversation with, you know, a good group of them. And, you know, it's exciting. And just to start playing again, and it feels like it's a new thing. season, but it isn't. But, you know, we have as good a chance as anybody. I mean, you know, Vegas odds and all the odds out there basically show us right behind Milwaukee, the Clippers and the Lakers. And, you know, when you look at how good our team is, you know, when you think about that, you know, you have Russ and James who want this and T.J. and Eric and Covington. And

it's just a really good team. And then you have house and rivers. And, you know, when you start looking at our eight-man rotation, you just go, wow, you know, this is pretty darn good. And, and, hey, I'll take a championship any year. You know, I can't tell you in football, basketball, or baseball, you know, who was the team that wanted in those shortened years? And because when you look it up, that was the NBA, MLV, and NFL champion in those years. I don't think anybody could tell you who the three short and season champions were in the last 30 years. Well, part of the reason why I don't like to use the Astrog when it comes to the NBA is you're going to play eight games.

And frankly, Tim, and through y'all's agreement, you're going to play me playing full playoff series. There's nothing gimmicky about the return. It's just unfortunate that you won't be able to do it in the home arenas. Yeah, that really is. And what you're saying is right. And I think it'll make it, you know, a little more interesting that it is in a neutral site. But there is nothing gimmicky because the teams that are to be in the playoffs are the teams that we're going to be in the playoffs and not shortening, you know, where somebody can get lucky. And, you know, I personally, I like the shortened series because I think especially in the first round, I mean, and Matt, you know this.

I mean, we beat the Lakers twice in the last, what, 30 years is because of the mini series, wasn't it? the two out of threes. And, you know, once when Ralph hit the shot, and then another one was, I don't even remember who it was, but, you know, we beat the Lakers twice in too many series when they had the better team. So that's just my opinion. But this year we're doing four out of seven and four out of seven and there's nothing gimmicky about it. Yeah. Before I let you run, and provided that we get everybody down to Orlando and competing in this thing, I mean, how much access, have you been allowed, will owners be able to? I mean, I know there's going to be some strict policies about a number of people getting down there and who can go in the campus and who

not. I mean, what have you been told? Because, I mean, look, you're at almost every one of the home games. I see you or Patrick or somebody in the family in almost every road game. I mean, you guys like to be there as often as you can. What restrictions have they, have they talked to you about, about potentially seeing your team in person? The owners aren't going to have restrictions. Okay. I mean, they're just not. I mean, The NBA is the owners and the players. And the players are going to have access, the owners are going to have access,

and the players' families are going to have access because that's the NBA. And I think that's going to make the players feel great that their families, I believe, are going to be able to be at games, and the VIPs from each organization are going to be able to be at games. but that's not a lot of people.

That's what you're talking about. A couple of hundred people. That's not a lot. I just saw the... Not when you go around Houston and you don't see a lot of social distancing going on right now. That doesn't seem like a lot. Yeah, I understand. Well, I'm glad that your businesses are back on their feet a little bit.

I can tell you that the Thomas family has spent a little bit at the Golden Nugget. So congratulations on that. Good. The best of luck. Getting this season starting. We'll look forward to talking with you very soon. Hey, thanks, guys. It's great to think back and talk about those great 90s.

Two great teams. Absolutely. Ready for more of that in 2020. Thanks, Tim, for the time.