From Fridays Chronicle: Anderson's frustration had seemed to come to a head against the Lakers when he thought Francis failed to deliver a pass to him on a fast break and then waived him out of the low post. Anderson shouted at Francis who just as harshly answered the criticism. But Anderson said the anger was brief and forgotten and the incident was not unusual. "I think that's just a basketball thing," Anderson said. "It went no further than that. It was during the course of the game. You say things. It's just a part of the game. We scream at each other. You see that all the time, guys getting on each other. "We joke about stuff like that all the time. Sometimes, I'll give him the ball in the post and say, `See, how I got you the ball there. Get me the ball there.' If it was an issue, we couldn't kid about it." If anything, Anderson defended Francis, saying Francis will in time adjust to his style as well as he has clicked with Mobley's. Francis at first could not recall the incident. But when he did, he said it was easy to forget, too typical to stand out in the blur of games and moments that fill an NBA schedule. "That always happens," he said. "He always asks for the ball in the post. There's nothing wrong with that. I never thought anything about it. "We need him on the upswing. He's the best defender on the team. We definitely have to get him more involved, get him more touches." But because the exchange was viewed in public, it sparked rumors of a rift between Francis and Anderson, particularly given Francis' close friendship and easy alliance on and off the court with Mobley. The irony in that assumption is Francis and reserve guard Moochie Norris have attempted to help Anderson through his mourning. Francis' mother, Brenda, died of cancer when Francis was a junior in high school. Because of his shared experience, Francis said he has tried to keep the difficult balance between being there for his teammate without pushing himself on him. "I just try to tell him the experience I had, how I tried to handle it for what it's worth," Francis said. "I just talked about the things I went through when it happened to me. But I don't go and ask a lot of questions about how he's doing. I remember sometimes you get tired of people asking. Really, the only thing that works, and that's what I said, is time. It's going to take time." ------------------ I voted YES!
You didn't expect the Chronicle to actually confirm a feud, did you? That article rivals some of the spin coming out of the Bush and Gore camps these days. ------------------
grummett, The difference is that the Chronicle used actual quotes from the players about the incident, unlike the Ogden article that could've been totally made up. You're a cynical b*stard aren't ya? ------------------ "He was under more balls than a midget hooker."-Bobby Hill visit www.swirve.com and, http://www.geocities.com/clutch34_2000 for great Rocket insight by some of your fellow BBS posters!
You didn't expect the players themselves to publically confirm the feud, did ya? Anderson: "Did you see that hot-dogging, ESPN highlight-craving point guard of ours waving me out of the low post?" Francis: "Damn right, I waved him off. Doesn't he know by now that this team belongs to me and Mobes, the new Butch and Sundance of the NBA?" I don't think so. ------------------
great now everyone is happy now we can start losing again ------------------ And Florida's 25 electoral votes go to ...Ralph Nader
Well done Feigan. Thanks for asking the question. What a job he has! Doesn't believe the Utah writer so he goes directly to Anderson and Francis and asks them. It was interesting seeing that Francis didn't remember. I'm sure that's because all complaints for the ball go to the PG. He probably has heard it from everyone at one time or another. That's why it never helps to complain to the point guard. He has a lot of people to please,,,grumbling to the point guard is detrimental. This is not playground where there's no coach, and everyone has to call for the ball. Complaining to a PG is like complaining to a quarterback. The coach will hold him responsible and yell at him. It doesn't help if the rest of the team is doing it as well. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited November 24, 2000).]
