Excitable bunch, aren't they? Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities that I have seen on any continent...it's a shame that their character (well, at least the character of their BB fans) falls short of the scenery. Enjoy... Francis gets last laugh http://www.vancouverprovince.com/grizzlies/stories/991130/3223613.html A sour, petulant, cocky but talented poster boy: A symbol for wrong in pro sports http://www.vancouverprovince.com/grizzlies/stories/991130/3223486.html Francis just can't bring himself to say he is sorry http://www.vancouverprovince.com/grizzlies/stories/991130/3223487.html Stevie 'Wonder' makes it a night to remember down at the Garage http://www.vancouverprovince.com/grizzlies/stories/991130/3223677.html NBA image of Vancouver is not pretty http://www.vancouverprovince.com/grizzlies/stories/991130/3223634.html Harrington was asked if the Grizzlies' image problem will always be a hurdle to the franchise. "As long as it's here," he said. ...poor Othella. Miss that guy.
Gary Mason, and whoever proof-reads his writing, ought to be ashamed to accept money for such an awful article. He's entitled to his opinion, but generally journalists are required to follow the rules of grammar, and to use proper English, in their work. Saying people would like to "ring" Francis' neck, or that Stevie didn't think he would "have got to play" point guard... sheesh. There are multiple sentence fragments. There are sentences that start with the word 'and'. There's a little bit of everything, except journalistic talent. Loser.
What's with the Canadian teams? I have never even seen New York throw garbage onto the court (although according to Bill W, indiana threw quarters a few years back). What is most surprising is the Grizzly organization spurred on the anger...very unprofessional. This brought back bad memories of the failed Toronto trade a couple of years ago (the one that Mario never got over). Also unprofessional.
Cohen: the indiana "quarter" game was one of the most hilarious scenes i have ever seen. i'm no calvin murphy fan, but the sight of him with an umbrella - broadcasting the game - was hilarious. the games in progress and he's on the sidelines, with worrell, holding up the umbrella.
The Vancover Reaction: Don't read too much into all this BS about Canada and the Canadian NBA teams. They are as passionate about their teams as we are about the Red Glare. Vancover had a bad taste in their mouth about Francis (and maybe a little upset over seven straight losses) and let it be known when we came to town. Francis answered as best he could. With the ball in his hands. He earned some respect there, whether the media want to admit that or not. Frankly, I am not advocating throwing things at players or attempting to disrupt a game in progress ... but ... there have been many (and I mean many) times in the last three or four years when our team could have benefitted from some rancous, loud, boisterous, and maybe a little unruly, spectator support. I sat at games yelling, cheering and acting more "childish" than I would care to admit. And never felt so damn alone. There was a debate in the summer about the WNBA versus the NBA. I tried to explain this then. I am a die hard Rocket fan. Make no mistake about it. But I have felt more kinship and comraderie with the fans at a Comet game than any Rocket game since their Championship years. Harsh Indictment: This is not meant to be a derogatory remark, nor a fingerpoint at any one in particular ... please believe this. But I always felt the real measure of a fan was how they acted when their team was losing and needed their demonstrated support, rather than when they showed up to bandwagon when that same team was winning. If I was a Grizz fan, you would have found me, not throwing things, but cheering, booing and getting loud in Vancover last night.
verse - thanks for the "picture" of Calvin under an umbrella at a game where quarters were being thrown. Got a good laugh from the thought of that one. I thought the NBA was better prepared than they are for things like that. More than one object was thrown. It should not have continued. Popeye - I'm with you. I feel the same way about yelling at ball games. Any ball game at any level, I am a screamer and think that is the way it should be. Throwing things is definitely over the line and basically assault. I've been to Rocket games where people look at me weird for yelling but alot of them join in after awhile (in the cheap seats anyway - in the expensive ones they will stare at you, lol). I agree about the kinship and camaraderie at the Comets games. The coach and team constantly praise the fans for helping them and keeping them in some games.
If you guys continue to bash Vancouver fans for their actions yesterday, keep one thing in mind . . . Yankees fans. For that matter, New York fans. They're passionate and great, but they have crossed the line many, many times. Azim da Dream ------------------ "Change does not necessarily assure progress, but progress undeniably requires change." - Motto of the Houston Rockets
I'd have to agree with Azim. There's no reason to BASH Vancouver fans other than the ones that threw things on the floor and the ones holding up tasteless signs. Those guys are idiots. Had the cities been reversed, you can bet we'd be booing the hell out of Steve. It was Vancouver the Team and Vancouver the City vs. Steve on the court last night, and it was fun to watch Steve step up. Vancouver's a proud city, and you can't blame them for that. ------------------ Rocket fuel pumps through these veins...
The Vancouver fans' loud support of their team is great, I for one am not knocking that. But throwing cr*p on the floor is inexcusable (whether New York or Vancouver)...and it's not BS to say that. Some of the signs were funny...but others were tacky. When Scottie comes to town, I expect some boos but that's all. After this experience, I sincerely hope that we don't boo him at all...ignoring him would be far classier. Frankly, the whole episode surprised me. I expected boos, but this was fanatical. I always viewed Vancouver as a premier city...why should they be so sensitive about a very young athlete? (Let me add that I am certainly not defending Stevie's actions during the draft)
"God is a Rockets fan. " I couldn't have said it better myself. ------------------ The truth is out there... but not in the post.
The people in Vancouver tick me off with the Francis thing. They go through this every year, whenever Stu Jackson makes a roster move. I would think they would know where to place their anger by now. The only player satisfied with playing there is Shareef. And that is no surprised given that the idiot GM keeps drafting and trading for players who don't want to play for him. I understand that their pride is hurt, but I am more angry that the GM keeps creating these tough situations. I hope they remember Stu Jackson when the Clippers come to town. Odom wanted to be on that team. He knew the roster and the playing style. Coach Hill didn't want to draft another rookie but if he was gonna take one, he wanted Odom just because of his skill and how much we knew about the team. I feel sorry for Grizz fans. Their team will continue to suck as long as Jackson is making the roster decisions.
Houston can't bash anyone elses fans right now, becuase we can't even sell out right now so we don't know IF we would ever sell out we might have some IDIOTIC fans that throw stuff at the Portland game. Plus we have done some stupid stuff in the past also. Were we not the same fans that folded our "Beat La" posters into airplanes and threw them onto the court, hitting Vlade Divac in the arm with one of them. Their must have been thousands of them landing on the court as Magic and Worthy picked us apart. Houston really can't talk as if they are better. Those throwing anything other than insults at the game are idiots. ------------------ "We need to fockass".....Dream back in the day
