Steve is entitled to a bad game now and then but the fact remains that his play is what dictates his popularity as a Rocket. This season, he's been subpar, way underachieving and a headcase. It's a trend now, not just a game here and a game there! The result are threads popping up demanding he be traded or released or whatever the case is. The game against the Suns is the latest game he played. He simply stunk! He managed to do everything wrong! If he were to play brilliant basketball for the GS game or Sac. game, then we'll say the guy played wonderfully, but until then, I'm afraid the bashing continues.
Sorry. I like him, but Steve will always only be an all-star from the neck down. His great athleticism will always be overshadowed by his bad decisions. The woods are full of highlight reels but it's a short list of money players that come through when it gets like it did last night. And he's not on it.
I don't get most of the people either. No one is above criticism, and for example, if we traded away Steve, I'd support whoever we got in his place. That seems more like a fan to me. You can justify it all you want by saying you want what's best for the Rockets, but guess what? You have no say in the teams direction, you do not make roster moves, you are not the GM. So the constant b****ing and hating seems pointless and only serves to rile each other up. I support every player on this team, through the good times and the bad, until the day they're no longer with us. If we get someone better, great. If not, that's fine too.
Thank you Mark! The fair-weather fans and the negativity on the board are the reasons I stopped posting. The Rockets are improving, they are fun to watch, and they are a play-off team for the first time in 5 years yet I can't remember a time when there were more negative posts on this board.
Have to give credit where credit is due...Against Phoenix, JJ played awesome, Cat made great plays down the stretch. What did Steve do? Nothing. That says it all. A superstar brings his A game every night. SF isn't a superstar, not even close. Just keeping a perspective on the way things are, That's all! Trade him? That's up to the club, but as fans we can only voice our opinions...in order for the Rockets to go far in the playoffs, we all know that Steve has to put good numbers. I think the worry is justified.
Please. A headcase? In what way? He's been a model citizen off the floor. No drugs, no arrests, nothing to put him in the same category as guys who are traditionally called headcases, like Vin Baker, Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire, Shawn Kemp...
Steve is a headcase. For one, he doesn't listen to his coach, the Super Bowl incident comes to mind. Steve does what Steve wants to do and what's good for Steve mainly. He can dribble the shot clock down to 2 seconds before taking an ill-advised shot that has no prayer of going in. Don't tell me that's a planned play. He refuses to play fastbreak basketball when needed and chooses when he wants to pass inside to the big guy or not. come on, you know as well as I that Steve does not get high grades for good behavior. I wouldn't classify him as a R.Wallace or Rodman but those are not headcases, they are simply rebels without a cause.
Don't forget Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant... Steve is no headcase if you take a look around the league.
Must everything be completely black and white with you? Did you honestly just tell me to look in the dictionary for the definition of a "fan"? Or for "counterproductive"? And no, actually, that was not at all the context I was meaning to say that in. Keeping Steve wouldn't necessarily "provide more entertainment for me" - at least not directly. It's just that as a Rockets fan, I've become somewhat attached to him. Be careful before you go putting words in people's mouths. And again, no, it was not an insult. By my definition, you are not a fan. Or fine - not a very good one at least. If you take it as one, then you have a very fragile ego. So now you're making assumptions about my age? More evidence of an ego problem... And again putting words in my mouth... You can make any english sentence sound insane if you word it incorrectly enough. I never said that you should support any player that isn't a thug. Sure, obeying the law and being a descent citizen is important criteria, but I understand that it's important for a player not to be a headcase and to want to work hard and play hard for his team. They should constantly be striving to improve. They should also like where they're playing and appreciate their situation on their team. IMO, Francis does all that, and it seems to me that he wants nothing more than to fit into Van Gundy's system. I don't know what else we can ask from him. It's for all these reasons that I want this team to keep him. He still has my support as a fan. Good god... this need for black and white is probably the same reason that you brought up the discrepancies that can be had when defining stars as a weakness in my argument, isn't it? Do you only speak binary or something? You knew where I was coming from. Piss poor way to pick apart my argument.
Your free to have your say on this board like everyone else Rocket Guy, but I think haven nailed you on the post you are criticizing in your last post.
No, that's being selfish and immature and not taking responsibility. You mention Rodman. He IS a headcase. If you don't think so, why did his name appear in your head? Ron Artest is another good one. They clearly have problems that result in technical fouls, violence, and aberrant behavior on AND off the court. I don't think Steve does any of that. I'll stop now. I just don't think it's fair to label Steve as a mentally unstable person. The other things (selfish, immature, not a leader) I can agree with, but he's been a class guy off the court (once he left Vancouver ). birat - Does he have any arrests? I forget. If he does, I apologize for the false info. (Was it major?)
You know I am so sick of all the whiners about the fair weather fans as much as I am sick of the trade Steve posts everytime he has a bad game. You are entitled to your opinion, but lets face it, this board and the fans are no different than any other team in the country--pro, college or highschool. There are some posers in every crowd, but your outburst, though ringing true, does not really ring true for the majority IMHO. I have been there in other towns and boards and this banter that you are lambasting has always been there, but due to technology, the water cooler is not the only place to discuss this. I believe the majority on this board want a champion and will support the rockets as an organization, which is why this is the number one fan board in the country. Sure, some dislike the players, but most just want a champion and where the colors of the organization. There are some uninformed or dramatic posters here too. But, I believe, even some of these are good fans, just frustrated. And, yes, there are plenty of band waggonners too as in any part of society...there are people who will only cheer when things are good. It rings true in Politics, Religion, Culture and Sports....And, yes, Boston will scrutinize their team when they do not make it to the world series and demand trades and coaching changes, as do the cubbie fans....do you think they are bad fans? It does happen in other cities. My point here is that fans do want the best and just has players have gotten richer and greedier, the fans expect more in return. That is the dichotemy of the epidemic in sports....the trickle down effect, if you will. Fans want to win now and expect star players to put up. When a team consistently underschieves, there will be scrutiny and the eye is always on the star players. Nowadays, the scrutiny is worse because of the big bucks paid to players, high ticket prices, stadium building, and the lack of loyalty on every side of the equation. So, your frustration is noted, but does this really need a major dissection. This is one of those topics that has been beaten, should get some pub, but lets let it rest now.
Two questions: 1. Did you even read the post that you are replying to? 2. What was the point of that post? All you established is that you agree with haven... doesn't really mean a lot. People tend to take sides on arguments - you need to elaborate a little more on how exactly he "nailed" me.
Yeah, you Houston folks are crazy. I was born and raised there, I am a rocket fan since the 81 season. And i remember Allen Level, Granville Waitrers, Buck Johnson, World B Free, Larry Micheaux (what were they thinking?!?!?!)) Richard Anderson, Dirk Minifield, and Walter Berry. I moved to Atlanta back in 99 but I am still a huge fan. You guys are crazy, the east coast is geeking on the possiblity of getting Francis. Htown has a very dynamic backcourt with him and Catino and if we give him up, there is no way we will possibly get the same in return save for Kobe.
Oh my God, thanks for reminding me about all of the horrible Rockets personnel flops through the years. Here's a couple more for your menagerie: Rudy White & Slick Watts.
