finally. time to get some work done. the stupidly drawn-out process did sap some of my enthusiasm, but not all of it! pure awesomeness.
I'm not trying to demean you in any way, but please be serious. Are you a Rockets fan or a Steve Francis fan? That being said, this will be the longest 23 minutes I've ever had to wait. Count on me to make another tipjar contribution as soon as it happens
There will NOT be a news conference today. They may say that the deal is done, but the Press Conference will not be today. Probably in the morning.
From today's Orlando news conference: Question:" Mr. Weisbrod, do you feel any sense of relief...of weight off, now that the deal is done?" Answer: "Welll, yes and no. Yes, in that this is a big day for Orlando Magic basketball, a big step forward. The players we've acquired will, we feel...I feel..play a large role in the progress of this organization. On the other hand, it's not that much of a relief, because nothing has actually been done yet, and I'm still entertaining offers from about 6 or 7 teams, I think." Question: "But...isn't this...aren't we all here because we're, because the deal is done?" Answer: "Again, yes and no. I'm here because we'd like to welcome our new players, but why you;re here, I don't know. It;s not like we invited you. I;m not saying you;re unwecome, just that I didn't ask you to be here. And we may be announcing the acquisition of Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato, but that in no way should be taken as a sign that the deal is done, or even close to done, to be honest. I don;t know where you guys are getting this stuff." *silence* "Anyone else have any more questions, or can I get back on the phones with the teams interested in Tracy McGrady?" *silence* Sounds of a struggle, and security men are seen scuffling with a large, bearded man wearing a Houston Rockets jersey, apparently trying to brain Mr. Weisbrod with a guitar. Unidentified man in question is heard to shout " Even a pacifist can only take so much!" before cameras cut iff amid sounds of confusion and members of Orlando Magic staff and press scrambling for cover.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2653523 Done deal: Francis heads to Orlando; McGrady comes to Rockets By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Finally, the deal moved past "close" to done. The Rockets’ long pursuit of NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady was completed today with a seven-player trade that will send McGrady to the Rockets and Steve Francis to the Magic, sources close to the talks said this afternoon. The NBA had received the contracts of the players involved and the conference call approving the deal was complete, sources said. Official announcement of the trade is not expected until Wednesday. Officials from both teams declined comment. The Rockets will acquire McGrady, veteran power forward Juwan Howard and guards Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines with the Rockets sending their starting backcourt of the past four seasons, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, and center/forward Kelvin Cato to the Magic. Francis, Mobley and Cato were in Orlando on Tuesday to visit with team officials, more than a week after Francis’ agent, Jeff Fried, told his client that the deal was ‘close.” After Francis initial trepidation about going to the Magic, 21-61 last season, several conversations between his representative and Magic officials and himself with Magic general manager John Weisbrod had made him much more open to the idea of the trade and apparently moved the Magic to complete the deal. McGrady led the NBA in scoring the past two seasons, averaging 28 points last season and 32.1 in the 2002-2003 season.
****ING RIGHT!!! TMAC IS A ROCKET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!! WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
LMAO! MacB - You're the best poster on this board! Thanks for the laugh. Now it's time to get some work done.
