And to think I actually wanted the Rockets to get this guy when he was a free agent with the Celtics ... http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news/ap/20000619/ap-nbafinals-ferociousfox.html Lakers enforcer Fox finds ``the evil inside'' By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer June 19, 2000 LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Rick Fox has worked hard to become the most reviled man in the NBA playoffs. Whether he's shoving Reggie Miller, clobbering Austin Croshere or jawing with Jalen Rose, Fox has been methodically irritating and aggravating the Indiana Pacers throughout the NBA Finals. He played this part throughout the Los Angeles Lakers' rocky trip through the postseason. He was thrown out of a game against Phoenix, and he was nearly tossed from a game against Portland -- while he was sitting on the Lakers' bench. ``I guess I am the most volatile individual in the series,'' Fox said. ``I meant it when I said I'll do whatever it takes for us to win. If we're not getting the respect we deserve on the court, I'll deal with it.'' It's just the latest role for Fox, an accomplished actor with a movie star wife in Vanessa Williams, film experience of his own and a recurring role on the HBO television series ``Oz.'' His character on the show, Jackson Vayhue, is a basketball star in prison for failing to control his rage. Sound familiar? Fox doesn't dismiss the connection. On the court or off, he's a Method actor all the way. ``You have to look within and find the evil that's inside of you,'' Fox said. ``It's not the kind of talk you want your kids to hear, but we're grown men.'' Opposing fans love to hate Fox. With his good looks and delicately coifed hair, he's an easy target for taunts, the most common being ``pretty boy'' -- an unfit moniker for someone playing decidedly ugly basketball. But Fox wasn't always this way. A charismatic man with a strong record of charity work, he spent his first six NBA seasons in Boston. He doesn't think he earned more than three technical fouls with the Celtics. Fox admits his role with the Lakers may be an act at times, but he said his play always comes from inside. ``There's a side of me that can snap,'' he said. ``It's hard for me to calm down when I get in those situations.'' Perhaps it's his Canadian birth that has turned Fox into basketball's closest thing to a hockey enforcer. Perhaps it's his predilection for a much more gritty style of ball than his high-flying, high-scoring teammates. Or perhaps it's because the Lakers feel they don't get respect on the court, and Fox has set out to change things. ``When these playoffs started, I don't think anybody had any respect for us, and rightfully so,'' Fox said. ``We hadn't done anything. But now we've earned our respect, and when people don't give it to us, that's when there's a problem.'' The Lakers went from pretenders to contenders this season because of coach Phil Jackson's guidance and Kobe Bryant's emergence as a superstar, but the assembly of a quality supporting cast to take the pressure off Shaquille O'Neal also has been a key. That's where Fox comes in. He averaged 15 points a game in his final season in Boston, but with the Lakers, he has a less glamorous part to play. Fox's new reputation grew during the playoffs in Sacramento and in Phoenix, where he was thrown out of a game after picking a fight with Clifford Robinson. In the conference finals, he began getting warnings from referees when he checked into games, prompting coach Phil Jackson to say Fox had ``a target tattooed on his back.'' Against the Blazers, Fox was threatened with ejection while sitting on the bench, when all he did was toss a ball back onto the court in Scottie Pippen's direction. Of course, he also got into a shoving match with Pippen later, and teammate Brian Shaw got a one-game suspension for coming off the bench to help him. ``During the film session, I asked him if he had problems with the referees in this league, because they seem to be calling every possible thing they can against (him),'' Jackson said. ``Everything from jump ball circle violations to flagrant fouls to technicals have all gone his way, so I've been real curious about that. It's been an interesting transformation.'' ``I've had to answer a lot of questions,'' Fox acknowledged. ``You know, 'Where is this coming from? You used to be a model citizen.' In the past that's been the case ... but it came to a point where nobody respected us.'' Fox and Miller have a running feud that culminated when Miller elbowed Fox in the back during the fourth quarter of the Pacers' Game 5 victory. Fox charged after Miller and shoved him, and only intervention by teammates prevented a more serious confrontation. ``I have a problem with individuals who say and do brave things but don't back them up,'' Fox said when asked about Miller. ``It's a lot easier to be brave at home, and it's a lot easier to be brave when you're up by 20. ``Teams continue to test me. I've become the last person they should be testing.'' As Fox speaks, he rubs the scruffy beard -- just like a hockey player's playoff beard -- on his sculpted movie-star jaw. ``It builds up to the point where you can't keep it in anymore. Too much pain. Too much pain from the last two playoffs, getting stepped on and disrespected and swept out of the playoffs. ``Nice finishes last. I know it.'' ------------------
``During the film session, I asked him if he had problems with the referees in this league, because they seem to be calling every possible thing they can against (him),'' Jackson said. ``Everything from jump ball circle violations to flagrant fouls to technicals have all gone his way, so I've been real curious about that. It's been an interesting transformation.'' Phil, are you smoking crack or something? Here is a guy that physically has gotten involved in about 50 altercations in the playoffs, including one verbal one with Mike Dunleavy, and almost brawls with Scottie Pippen and Reggie Miller and you wonder why he gets called for things? Fox has sunk to a new low in my book, and now is right up there with Flopton and Malone in terms of being dirty. Fox gets everything he deserves and more based on his actions. IMO, he should have been suspended by now. Big time. He has been an embarassment to the NBA this playoffs. ------------------ Cheaters never win. Unless you play for LA that is.
I'd appreciate any woman's advice on this. Is Rick Fox good-looking? Because I can grow nappy hair and grow a half-ass beard to if that's considered good-looking. I think he's just worried that his wife is doing the maid while he's at the games! ------------------ "Go to hell Costas"-Dave Nelson after sweeping the ABSCAs on NewsRadio visit www.swirve.com
Seems to me that the Lakers don't need to be getting physical with the Pacers. It's not that the Pacers are all tough and hard but that they play in the East. Isn't the East way more physical than the West? These guys deal with rough basketball all season. If it comes down to that then I would have to think that Indiana will have the edge. Remember when Jalen Rose broke Mario's wrist? Maybe he can do that to Fox's face. That would be cool. Oh yeah, I'm not condoning violence or anything, some people deserve a little punishment. Rick Fox is becomming one of those people. ------------------ RocketFuel is taking the summer off!
Rick fox good-looking? Look, I hope i speak for most girls when i say we don't have the same taste in men as Bob Costas and Doug Collins. I'd take Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Allan Houston, Marcus Camby, Damon stoudamire, Tim Duncan, Jayson Williams (with his hair), JC from N Sync (woops how'd that get there ), Vince Carter, e.t.c. If Fox wasn't in LA, i doubt collins or costas would be trying to convince ppl he is handsome. Whats this about LA's lack of "respect" he's talking about? My lord is he just pretending to be r****ded? [This message has been edited by JCBlazersGirl33 (edited June 21, 2000).]
Rick Fox a.k.a. Mr. Vanessa Williams has sunk to lower levels this post season and I put the blame on Phil jackson. Phil jackson has instructed Fox to play dirty and cheap shot players or he will not get any playing time. In other words thats his role on the team a wanna be tough guy, Wanna be dirty player. I wish someone did break his wrist because he has become a dirty piece of s$#t. One more thing for Mr. Vanessa Williams I have his wife naked and so has everyone else. Mr. Rick Vanessa Williams is a loser Lakers champions of nothing ------------------
Next we'll see Rick Fox with tattoos all over his body.... and yes the multi-colored clown hair ------------------
