http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2762497 Francis stuck on Houston Dealt to Magic, former Rocket's home, heart here By MEGAN MANFULL Steve Francis' new Houston home is still in order. No moving crews are coming to pack him up. The shock of being traded to the Orlando Magic wore off weeks ago, but the thought of leaving Houston remains absurd to Francis. Instead of immersing himself in the Orlando community or at least finding a place to live, Francis is focusing all of his energies on remaining a prominent figure in the city he plans to continue calling home. This is no short-term plan, either. This weekend he will hold the first Steve Francis Summer Fiesta, a three-day charity event benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston and the Brenda Wilson Scholarship Fund. He plans to make the fiesta an annual event. "I thought about (moving the event), but I'm just attached to the city," he said. "I just feel very, very comfortable being here. Of course, it would be better if I was still with the Rockets, but this is the place I still consider my home. This is where I started my career. "So I'm going to continue to give back to the community that helped me become Steve Franchise." Francis has put together a weekend packed with events, which will culminate Sunday at Toyota Center when he will join some of the NBA's top players in the Slamfest All-Star basketball game. Kevin Garnett, Baron Davis, Sam Cassell, Antoine Walker, Jamal Crawford and Dwight Howard are among the players expected to participate. Francis also will award five local Boys and Girls Club participants $10,000 scholarships in the name of his mother, who died of cancer in 1995. For Francis, the weekend will be a type of thank-you to Rockets fans, who won't see him at Toyota Center again until Jan. 24 when the Rockets and Magic meet. A farewell weekend was not what Francis intended when he finalized the event in January. But then again, he had no idea what would transpire during the offseason. Most of July remains a blur to Francis, who said everything turned into a whirlwind when the deal, which sent Francis to Orlando and Tracy McGrady to Houston, was announced. Francis spent most of the month grasping his own fate and watching as one NBA blockbuster deal after another was announced. "I've learned a lot," he said. "So many guys were traded. I've never seen this much action in the NBA in my life as far as so many different moves being made. "I have no hard feelings toward the NBA. I'm pretty sure anybody will tell you, it's a business. The Rockets traded away their best player in team history, Hakeem Olajuwon. I'm no different." A new beginning Francis is ready for a new start after a bumpy ride during his last season with the Rockets. He struggled to adjust to Jeff Van Gundy's coaching philosophy, and the two clashed a couple of times. While Francis tried to adapt his game, he faced public criticism much of the season as his field-goal percentage and scoring average dropped to career lows. "It was a learning experience for me," Francis said. "Would I take it back? Would I change it? Heck no, because it definitely helped me get better. It made me strong as a person. Taking so much criticism and heat for anything that happened, all of that just bounced right off of me. It was a good learning experience for myself." Now, Francis said he is ready to be the "Franchise" of a new organization. He hasn't let go of the Rockets completely, though. He still keeps in touch with former teammates Jim Jackson and Bostjan Nachbar. He also visited Yao Ming in China earlier this month. The Rockets' center expressed his condolences that his buddy will now have to face Shaquille O'Neal, who was traded to the Miami Heat, on a regular basis. Yao only has to play O'Neal twice during the regular season, while the Heat and Magic meet four times. More dates with Shaq "That's the first thing Yao said. He was like, 'Ha, ha. You thought you were getting away from him, and now he's right up the street from you,' " Francis said. Between China, Orlando and Tacoma Park, Md., where he was raised, Francis has a lot of travel plans. He always intends to return "home" to Houston, though. "People recognize me now more that I'm gone than when I was here," he said. "It's cool. Of course you're going to have people say they're happy I'm gone, but you don't win with just one player. The Lakers are going to find that out this year. That you don't just win with one player, you have to have a team. And it wasn't just because of me that we lost. But hey, that's just the nature of the business." STEVE FRANCIS SUMMER FIESTA • Sunday: Summer Fiesta SlamFest All-Star basketball game, 5 p.m., Toyota Center • Tickets: Available at the Toyota Center box office or at most Randalls locations. Prices start at $10. For more information, go to stevefrancisfoundation.com.
It just cracks me up when people start referring to themselves in the 3rd person. Is this "Steve Franchise" a new crazy alter ego for Stevie Franchise. Who is this "Steve Franchise" masked warrior you speak of? Key word there........................."ego".
Wow. I former player shows his loves for our city and our team and wants to continue giving back to the community even after he was traded and all you can comment on is how he refered to himself in the 3rd person? That is a shame.
That's not speaking in third person dumbass. That's no different from saying "they helped me become the player I am" or whatever.
seriously, i'm no huge fan of sf but get off him already. the guy is allowed to have some emotional attachment to a city. shoot, i lived in london for 4 months and hated to leave. he was here for 5 years and this was his first NBA team. for anyone that has changed jobs that meant something to them, a first job is a lot like the first girlfriend. There's always some special fondness. so get off SF's ass.
Steve has shown a lot more maturity and loyalty than some of the folks here. Rashmon salutes him. (third person intentional)
Well said. Very big props to Steve Francis. I hope Orlando embraces him and gives him a good "home away from home." We're still rootin' for ya, Stevie.
Well, Jeff thinks what Steve said was just fine. If Jeff wants to refer to himself that way, Jeff will do so and Stevie can too. This whole thread...ugh...Jeff is getting angry!
His heart was never questioned in Houston, it was his game that was all messed up. For what it's worth, I hope he does well in Orlando.
Let's see: "So I'm going to continue to give back to the community that helped me become Steve Franchise." The subject is first person. "Steve Franchise" is used as an object of a verb in a prepositional phrase. What would you have him say? "... that helped me become me"? If someone asked me my name and I said, "I'm JuanValdez," would I be revealing my virulently egotistical nature by referring to myself in the 3rd person? You're reaching. And not getting very far. Anyway, to keep the discussion of the article from completely derailing: I'm glad that Francis feels the loyalty that he does to Houston as a city. We aren't a city that is known to inspire much love in people from other parts of the country. He wasn't born or raised here. He doesn't have a wife or children here, or even other family relations here, I don't think. Houston's main attraction, employment, is not an issue for him. I doubt he's enamored with our hot summers, our urban sprawl, our utter flatness. But, he's still loyal to the city. Reminds me of the Houston - It's Worth It website.
Deckard sends Replicant love for Steve Francis. Even though Deckard, before he traveled in time to the glorious BBS, blew Repicants into gory bits as his job in LA working as a Blade Runner, while unknowingly being a Replicant himself, Deckard loves Texas, loves Houston, loves the Rockets, loves Rock and Roll, and loves Rockets who love Houston and speak of themselves in the third person. Especially former Rockets. And Ridley Scott. And Phillip K. Dick.
Well said JV. Steve's got no particular reason to remain attached to Houston, and yet he still does. That says a lot about this city and its people. I liked the trade, but I also like Steve and hope he does well. Once he got over the understandable emotional reaction to being traded, he's shown a lot of class.
Say what you want but his the money he raises will benefit a Houston charity. He could have EASILY gone to ANY city with a similiar event and blessed that community, but he chose Houston. Steve the player is gone, get over it. Franchise the philanthropist is here to stay, accept it and benefit from it.
