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Ref. Joe Crawford speaks about ejecting Steve Francis

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by droxford, Nov 29, 2005.

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  1. droxford

    droxford Member

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    And interstsing read...

    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3489787.html

    Joe Crawford is a classic Philly guy. Which means he doesn't suffer fools.

    So you can imagine how he suffered on that February night a few years back in Salt Lake City when he tossed then-Rocket Steve Francis out of a game against the Utah Jazz in the second quarter.

    "I thought I saw him hit (John) Stockton in the face with an elbow and, bang, I hit him with a technical," said the veteran NBA official. "The problem was that Stevie had already gotten one earlier, and that meant he was gone.

    "I felt bad. The kid was so on that night. He was making every shot. It looked like he was going to break Wilt's 100-point record for a game. Then after the game I looked at the tape, and I felt even worse. I was sick to my stomach. He never touched him. It was the worst ejection of my life."

    ...

    "The next time I got the Rockets after that game in Utah, I walked right up to Stevie Francis and said, 'That was the worst ejection of my life.'

    "He just smiled at me and said, 'Thanks, Joe. I needed to hear that.' "
     
    #1 droxford, Nov 29, 2005
  2. Roxnostalgia

    Roxnostalgia Contributing Member

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    I was at that game. It sucked. Stevie could not miss. Stockton did the only thing he could to defend him; he flopped.
     
    #2 Roxnostalgia, Nov 29, 2005
  3. shawn786

    shawn786 Member

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    Nice. Thanks for the read.
     
    #3 shawn786, Nov 29, 2005
  4. Uprising

    Uprising Contributing Member

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    Good post man. It was a nice read, definetly shows that the refs aren't all the work of the devil.
     
    #4 Uprising, Nov 29, 2005
  5. gucci888

    gucci888 Contributing Member

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    Good read. Joey has been one of my favorite refs in the league, even when he makes calls against us, he is one of the best in the league.

    Crawford, Bavetta, Dan Crawford are the best in the league, everyone else makes my blood boil.
     
    #5 gucci888, Nov 29, 2005
  6. droxford

    droxford Member

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    Well... let's not jump to conclusions.
     
    #6 droxford, Nov 29, 2005
  7. Bullard4Life

    Bullard4Life Member

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    I think Knick Bavetta, or Dick 'the Dick' Bavetta as my friends and I refer to him, winner of the '99 Eastern Conference Finals MVP, would have to be removed from my list.
     
    #7 Bullard4Life, Nov 29, 2005
  8. JBIIRockets

    JBIIRockets Contributing Member

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    Hakeem once said Joe Crawford was his favorite.
     
    #8 JBIIRockets, Nov 29, 2005
  9. codell

    codell Contributing Member

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    anyone remember Earl Strom?

    he was the best of all time IMO
     
    #9 codell, Nov 29, 2005
  10. droxford

    droxford Member

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    I kinda have mixed feelings about the article.

    On one hand, I feel that Joe handled his mistake with as much class as possible. The refs aren't perfect, and it must be tough for them to deal with mistakes.

    On the other hand, I think, "Thanks, Joe. You completely prevented a probably legendary performance. Who'd have thought that Stockton would flop? Maybe you should just call a foul first and then talk to the other refs to see whether or not SF really threw the elbow, and if they say 'yes', THEN you eject him."
     
    #10 droxford, Nov 29, 2005
  11. KeepKenny

    KeepKenny Contributing Member

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    Didn't steve get ejected in that game for throwing the ball off of Stockton when he was falling out of bounds? It was after the whistle I believe. I think he got his first tech in that game for slapping the backboard or something like that.

    Or maybe he threw it off Stockton to get the first T. Did he get ejected against Utah multiple times?
     
    #11 KeepKenny, Nov 29, 2005
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2005
  12. JamesC

    JamesC Member

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    Wasnt that the game where he had like 27 points in the first quarter?
     
    #12 JamesC, Nov 29, 2005
  13. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    I remember I had an argument with another poster about that game. I'm glad dude admitted he probably should've thought twice. Steve was on that night, it probably would have ended up being one of the best games of his career.
     
    #13 pgabriel, Nov 29, 2005
  14. DrLudicrous

    DrLudicrous Contributing Member

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    No, Steve was bringing the ball up and picked up his dribble and did some sort of move were he swung his elbows around like he was clearing out after a rebound, and Stockton who was three feet away fell down. The first was for celebrating after a dunk I believe.

    And yes,that was the game were he was on fire and scored 20+ in the first quater. It was an abosulatly terrible call, I hope Crawford at least got suspended a few games for that.
     
    #14 DrLudicrous, Nov 29, 2005
  15. KeepKenny

    KeepKenny Contributing Member

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    Ah, i just looked it up. January 10, 2002. The first T was for throwing the ball off Stockton, the 2nd one was as you described.
     
    #15 KeepKenny, Nov 29, 2005
  16. Davidoff

    Davidoff Contributing Member

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    Dick and Joe are far and away the best the NBA has
     
    #16 Davidoff, Nov 29, 2005
  17. droxford

    droxford Member

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    Here's the recap for that game:
    http://www.nba.com/games/20020110/HOUUTA/recap.html

    "After scoring 27 points in the first half, Francis was ejected just 2:12 into the third quarter for throwing an elbow at Stockton."

    "He had 27 points at halftime and looked like he was going for 60," Utah coach Jerry Sloan added.
     
    #17 droxford, Nov 29, 2005
  18. Rule0001

    Rule0001 Contributing Member

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    didn't Francis "meet" Crawford in the parking lot after that game?
     
    #18 Rule0001, Nov 29, 2005
  19. Drexlerfan22

    Drexlerfan22 Contributing Member

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    Just one more reason why Joe Crawford is my favorite ref...
     
    #19 Drexlerfan22, Nov 29, 2005
  20. pradaxpimp

    pradaxpimp Contributing Member

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    not to derail i hate bavetta
     
    #20 pradaxpimp, Nov 29, 2005
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