Don't have the link, but most of us can't get to it anyways... Steve Francis, G, Rockets Q: Is there any conflict between you and Coach Van Gundy or you and Yao Ming? A: Not at all. There has been no conflict about that ... even though people want to make a big deal about who gets touches or shots in our offense. I mean, Yao leads the league in field goal percentage, so any chance you get to dump the ball into him, you have to take it. Insider Translation: Get me the hell out of here. Francis, for all of his wonderful attributes, isn't really a point guard. What's ironic is that one of the reasons he forced a trade from the Grizzlies was that, with Mike Bibby then on the team, he didn't want to play shooting guard. Francis got his wish, but he has struggled to play second fiddle to the 7-foot-5 Yao. Francis is still the most popular athlete in Houston, but with Van Gundy working his PR and Yao slowly taking away the shots and stats, that's going to change soon. Francis wants out, and at least some of the Rockets want him out, before that notion catches on throughout the NBA. Shortly after this question, someone asked Francis if he was surprised he made the All-Star team given his poor stats this season. His reply? "Fans know basketball. I've always said this, regardless of how many points I have been scoring, the fans know it isn't always about points. I just go out and work hard, and I think people appreciate that." Memo to Stevie Franchise: The best point guard in the league doesn't believe you ... read on. Yao Ming, C, Rockets Q: What kind of American music do you listen to? A: I like the National Anthem. I listen to it at least 82 times a year. Insider Translation: I'm not sure what that means, but it was my favorite answer of the entire session. Well, with the possible exception of Brad Miller's testy exchange with the approximately three media members who actually bothered to come by his table and ask him a question ...
Wow, what a surprise; Chad Ford ignores what he hears stated with his own two ears, interjects his own version of reality (which happens to match with his own preseason predictions) into it and pretends that Steve hates Yao, despite that there is no evidence of this at all, and mountains of evidence to the contrary. My question to Chad is this: Does the government broadcast the "Insider Translation" to him from Radio Waves to him via his dental fillings or is it something that he learned about while investigating crop circles? Yup, another premium service from ESPN networks.
Great. When Yao heads back to China this summer they are going to make him listen to China's national anthem 82 THOUSAND times straight just to "compensate."
What's funny about Chad Ford is, he will bad mouth Francis here, but then when Francis gets traded to a team, let's say Atlanta, he will say, "Exactly what Atlanta has been looking for, a dynamic guard that can score, rebound and pass the basketball, great move for the Hawks!" Hypocricy! Ford is all about stirring up crap to make his "trade scenarios" seem more believable and thus try to drum up excitment on his articles. With that said, because i get ESPN the magazine I get ESPN Insider. And yeah, I still read his articles! Glutton for punishment I guess
Insider: Have you ever gotten anything right? Chad Ford: Well, there was that time...no. Uh, oh yeah, there was...no, that wasn't right. I'm sure there have been several times when I have...blah, blah, blah. Translation: I try to make news instead of reporting it by re-hashing stories that are at least 72 hours old. I really know absolutely nothing.
Chad Ford: Well there was that time I thought i was right and I realised I was wrong. I am sure I was right about being wrong.
Wow... that's slanderous on SF. I wasn't a big fan of SF's iso plays and numerous boneheaded decisions in the past, but he's evolved - albeit kicking and screaming - quite a bit this season into more of a team player under JVG. I don't believe that SF is actually jealous or antagonistic towards Yao, and certainly don't think that Yao feels any animosity towards the guy who seemed to have tried to make him welcome in a foreign land/team. Hopefully this thing doesn't take a life of its own and become a self fulfilling prophecy. I still believe JVG can mold this roster into an annual contender.
