I just can't get riled up about a missed shootaround where the team gave him permission to leave to get CLOTHES. The team and coach look like complete idiots. They let him fly away TO GET NEW CLOTHES.
The Knicks should have told him that he could not leave to get clothes, that he had to meet the dress code, and that if he didn't then he would face whatever the standard punishment for that is. At that point, Francis could have either bought new clothes (he is a millionaire, he can afford a cheap suit) or accepted the punishment and moved on with joining his new team. Mistake #1 goes to the Knicks. Having received permission to go to Orlando to get clothes (which would have run him 450 in airfare alone) Francis then decided that since his daughter had a cold he was going to stay at home and miss the next game in San Antonio. He called the team and told them that this was his intention. Even Fancy's agent knew this was a bad idea. Mistake #2 goes to Mr Francis. As it turns out, Francis is a bit of a moron, which we knew. The Knicks are run by a bunch of r****ds, which we also knew. Really, they deserve each other. Ideally, Thomas would lure Rodman and Oakley out of retirement and just turn that team into a giant episode of Jerry Springer, but that will PROBABLY never happen. Oh well, a boy can dream.
I didn't know you was the Francis's Family doctor Nice way to belittle a sick child. . . Rocket River
True, but Elway had more talent in his sport than Francis AND he grew up a lot over the course of his career. Of course, Francis can do the same but so far it looks like he is taking two steps backwards for every step he takes forward.
I liked Steve as a Rocket but you have to wonder how much Rudy covered for this guy because we never heard about this sort of thing when Rudy was coach. It is like an oasis in Francis' career. Everywhere else he has been from Vancouver to Houston (w/JVG) , Orlando and now New York, it is always the same story.
a lot of people assume because I'm a huge francis fan that I don't like jvg. I wish francis had a coach like that coming out of college. not trying to rag on rudy and not trying to excuse francis but rudy was a vet's coach and he had a few professionals when the rockets won.
There were plenty of 'professionals' on the team when Francis first came in - Hakeem, Barkley, Bullard, etc. Cuttino Mobley and Kenny Thomas don't seem to have these kinds of issues.
those guys, mobley, kenny t., weren't immediately labeled franchise players when they came in. both mobley and kenny had to earn respect, and were asked to play roles. francis was immediately handed the keys to the franchise, and on top of that had two great first years individually. I wouldn't call barkley the ultimate professional.
I made an educated guess. The child had a virus, per the article. The most common virus contracted by humans, in my experience, is the common cold. The child was not so sick that Francis insisted on staying with her once his agent told him it could create a PR problem, hence I deduced that his daughter had a cold, or something of similar risk. If his daughter were truly in danger, then he should not have left her to go play a game, PR be damned. In no way am I belittling a sick child, I am only saying that either she was so sick that he should have missed the game, or not sick enough to try to miss the game, and either way, Francis made the wrong decision.
