ESPN PG3: Changing of the Guards: Tracy McGrady

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page3/story?page=cityswap/houston

Has anyone read this? I believe the author has mistaken Francis for McGrady (look at the pictures compared to summary)

The story is all about McGrady, but the pictures are of Francis?

I am a bit confused

 

HERE'S THE TEXT; CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE TO SEE THE PICTURES . .


Low-key or lazy? Tracy McGrady would tell you he's both. Tracking McGrady's social calendar since moving to Houston is very telling. On the average off-day — a rarity with the grueling NBA schedule — you will find McGrady at home, chillin'.


"One thing about T-Mac," he explains, "I have everything here that I want, and am happy with it so I don't go out that much. I have my own chef, I don't have to go out to shoot basketball or workout; I have my friends and my family here. I'm real simple, you know? Nightlife around here is a little better than in Orlando. But as far as going out to bowling alleys and just doing fun things, I don't do it 'cause I'm lazy. There's the truth, I am lazy."


Homecourt Advantage


"I love it. I have a beautiful home, weather is nice and people of Houston are great. I'm having fun here ... We have pick-up games (at his home basketball court) already. My guys — my friends and people who moved up here with me — are over here everyday, betting $5 a shot. But I have to shoot from halfcourt."

Though his home is a good 30 minutes away from downtown Houston and the arena, McGrady is enjoying the ample elbow room his Sugar Land, Texas, palace affords him. The house, which belonged to Astros pitcher Shane Reynolds, came with an indoor basketball court. And McGrady knows how to move in style: He brought his trainer, chef, security guard, and personal barber from Orlando with him. The barber stops by McGrady's place every game day. "I like to be fresh on game days," McGrady adds with a sly grin. "Oh, and yeah, I do need to have my barber cut Yao up. That was a good one, Steve. I'll come back at ya later. Please believe it."

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

H-Town Shows the Love

"Overall, I like Houston better. There's just a lot more activity going on here. Nightlife is better, football games to enjoy, baseball to enjoy." If cities were cars, "Houston would be the [Rolls Royce] Phantom. Orlando is the Lexus IS 300 ... 'cause it's small, but still classy. Still can enjoy it, but it's not a night ride."

Checking out what H-Town has to offer, McGrady ran into a fan every three steps. With everyone offering sign-here-please scraps of paper, smiles and stories ("I met you five years ago. My brother played ball with your homeboy ..."), McGrady was cool, shaking hands, soaking up the accolades and agreeing with the fans that bringing home a championship is the first order of business.

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

Back Away From My Chicken

"He liked Johnson's? Damn, I'm glad you agreed with something, man!".

McGrady sitting still, savoring a a moment alone. Frenchy's Chicken (right) without a line of cars spilling out of the parking lot. Both uncommon sites.

After feeling like Francis gave his well-thought-out Orlando list a bit of a raw deal, McGrady was dead-set on panning Frenchy's, Houston's best-kept secret. But, sometimes you just can't fight the fried chicken.

"Frenchy's was pretty good," McGrady concedes after his lunchtime sampling. "It reminds me of Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, so that's saying a lot. Overall, one through 10, I give it a strong, strong nine ... and that's just off the chicken. Steve did all right."


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

A Striking Pose

"I haven't been to the movies, bowling alley ... on my days off I'm not leaving the house. I'm sorry. I really, really don't like to leave the house. I'm a prisoner of my own home — by choice."

Clearly, difficulty finding size 16 bowling shoes is not the main reason why McGrady hasn't hit Houston's lanes. If he could, he would not leave the comfort of his compound.

He's not quite a full-fledged hermit; McGrady has actually stepped out to check out a few of Houston's night spots. He agreed with Francis' nod to M Bar as a Houston model hotspot. "Pretty good crowd in there. I would give it an 8 out of 10. I wouldn't give it a 10 because it's too small and crowded in there."

And despite the low ratings Francis had for Roxy's Orlando, McGrady thinks it is worth another shot. "Yeah, he's going on the wrong nights. He's missing it. Steve, my man, you have to go on the weekends. That's when people are in there kickin' it. I think you might want to try it on the weekend, brother."

Though he's made it out to the occasional club or party (usually thrown in his honor), homebody Mac still prefers to entertain at his house. "I invited the guys over here, and we ate, played cards -- blackjack. It was cool. Even Yao came over. Had Yao over here playing cards. Yao, man ... he up on us (smiles)."