Interesting Side Stories to the Washington game

Band Geek Mobster · Apr 1, 2001

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/865103

Call Ralph Kramden

As the bus making its way to the MCI Center for Saturday's game wound its way through Washington, Steve Francis found himself growing impatient.

He thought at first that he was just excited about his annual game near his Takoma Park, Md., home. But after a few more minutes and few wrong turns, it occurred to him that the driver did not know the way.

But if there was ever a Rockets' road game in which the driver could get plenty of help, it was Saturday's when Francis, Walt Williams and Moochie Norris knew the way as well as the most seasoned driver.

"I said, `Hey Rudy, he's going the wrong way,' "

Francis said. "I had to stand up near the driver and tell him how to get here."

If the game was not quite a home game for the Rockets, it might have felt that way. Francis' locker room stall, the same one he was assigned for the All-Star Weekend Schick Rookie Game, was identified with "Wink from Maple Ave." and there were Francis jerseys throughout the crowd.

Francis purchased 160 tickets for friends, family and hometown youth groups. Williams acquired 95 tickets and Norris 20. Between them, the Rockets accounted for 322 tickets.

"It's cool," Francis said of playing in the MCI Center, about a 15-minute drive from Takoma Park.

"But you have to really watch your p's and q's.

"My first year I was a little hyper. But this year, we have such a good opportunity of going to the playoffs, this game was real crucial for us."

"It was just like playing a home game. It really is home." 
Click to expand...

If I was driving the Houston Rockets to their basketball game, I sure as hell would know the way. Could you imagine Francis sitting up close to the driver's seat giving directions to the stadium? Funny story

Smiling faces

As many familiar faces as Steve Francis saw in the stands, there were even a few in the Wizards' backcourt. David Vanterpool grew up in the same Takoma Park Md. neighborhood and went to Blair High School before Francis. Laron Profit was a Maryland teammate.

Profit had perhaps the best game of his career, scoring 18 points with eight rebounds and seven steals -- all more than double his career bests. Vanterpool had eight points and five assists.

"Laron and I played against each other in the summertime and in the fall," Francis said. "It's good to go against a guy that you played against for four or five years. He knows just about every move that I am going to do ... and I know what he is going to do. I thought that he was more aggressive compared to the way he was in the past.

"David is the guy whose footsteps I followed into basketball. It's great we're both playing in the NBA and he's playing in Washington." 
Click to expand...

I thought this was a nice story. I remember at the end of the game Steve giving Vanterpool a big hug and so I wondered who he was. I'm amazed at all of the DC ties this team has.

------------------
Houston's Schedule: (40-33)
@NJN, Dal, Sea, Atl, @Uth, Den, @Por, @Van, Min

Minnesota's Schedule: (42-30)
@Por, Por, Pho, LaL, @Van, @LaL, @LaC, Uth, @Hou, @Dal

[This message has been edited by Band Geek Mobster (edited March 31, 2001).]

today · Apr 1, 2001

Nice reads, thanks for the articles.

------------------
"You couldn't have stuck a pin up his @#! with a jackhammer. Yeah, I'd say he was pretty tight."
-- Barkley on Minnesota's Chris Carr(thx RocksMillenium)after he missed a game winning free-throw.

R0ckets03 · Apr 1, 2001

I have heard of some other drivers getting lost on their way to a game.

------------------

Dr of Dunk · Apr 1, 2001

Originally posted by R0ckets03:
I have heard of some other drivers getting lost on their way to a game.


Click to expand...

They're talking about team bus drivers, not your sorry ass getting lost on 610 trying to find your Chuck E Cheese party!

------------------
"I hate being in the lottery as much as the next guy, but come on people, that's where we need to be right now. We still don't have all of the pieces" -- Gascon, in conjunction with Clutch's Lottery Generator, has fired the starter's pistol on this season's lottery race. Let the tanking begin!

Forums

Interesting Side Stories to the Washington game

Band Geek Mobster Member

today Member

R0ckets03 Member

Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

Share This Page

About ClutchFans

Rockets Content

Support ClutchFans!