I don't know if this has been posted already, if so, my apologies. Interesting read though from Bskball.com Here's the link: http://www.bskball.com/Houston.htm The Rockets Report By Bill "The Rocket Guy" 10/13/01 YES, IT IS FRANCHISE'S FRANCHISE NOW As we eagerly await the start of the 2001-02 season, there are many questions that still need to be answered. Will Marc Jackson be a Rocket? Will Kelvin Cato finally realize his potential? Will Eddie Griffin make Mo Taylor a relic? Will Kenny Thomas get the job done at power forward? Will the Rockets make the playoffs this year? Lots of questions and few answers at this early stage. There is one question, however, that has already been resoundingly answered by the Rockets this year, and that is: Who's team is this now? Let there be no doubt in your mind - this is Steve Francis' team now. It has almost been his team for two years now, but Hakeem's in-out-in status has kept Francis on the bubble, always having to take a step back when Hakeem was healthy enough to grace the Rockets with his presence. It was Steve's team, but with an asterisk. *unless Hakeem plays.* There is no more asterisk. Steve Francis, who has been neck deep in personnel moves this summer, did not call Hakeem and ask him to stay. He did not call the Rockets and express an opinion one way or the other. Stevie Franchise sat back and waited to see what would happen. As soon as Hakeem was gone, though, Steve took over. Francis' first step was to ask the Rockets to go get his former teammate from Maryland, Terence Morris. Carroll Dawson and Rudy T, who had already had their eyes on him, were happy to oblige. Next Steve made some casual comments to the media that he was unhappy with not making the playoffs and that his love for Houston might begin to fade if he was faced with the prospect of watching them from home again. The Rockets' response? They went out and got Marc Jackson, they called in Oscar Torres from Venezuela (Shandon Anderson with a jump shot, according to Jonathan Feigan), and announced they were exercising their option on Steve's fourth year. Then the master stroke. It is no secret that Steve and Moochie Norris are friends. Actually, Norris worships the ground Steve walks on. He, Steve, and Cuttino Mobley are the Rockets' very own version of The Three Musketeers. They hang out during the season, they play in leagues together during the summer, and they will probably name their children after each other. Twenty years from now the Rockets will have Steve Mobley and Cuttino "Moochie" Francis in their back court. Maybe a slight exaggeration, but the point is made. Steve's master stroke was arranging for Moochie to get a sweet deal that has Rockets fans asking for oxygen. Six years, $23 million for a back-up CBA refugee point guard? What gives? I'll tell you what gives. Francis made some well-timed comments to the press a few days ago and then the Rockets gave in to what Moochie wanted. They gave him a deal that no one in their right mind would give a reserve point guard, and you can bet Steve had something to do with that. Behind closed doors, Steve Francis said the equivalent of "It's my team and I want Moochie." Yes, sir. Anything you say, sir. Steve is the man of the hour in Houston. Without him we are a lottery team, and the Rockets should continue to do what he asks them to do. We need to make sure he knows our commitment is to him and to getting back to the Finals. If we can't get that message across, we run the risk of losing him. That would be sudden death for the Rockets rebuilding plans.
Oh, I love the part about how good friends Moochie, Cat and Wink are. How they will probably name their kids after one another. HA, ha....LMAO
