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Francis Reportedly Kicks a Photographer (UPDATE: Steve suspended without pay)

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by Two Sandwiches, Mar 19, 2005.

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  1. droxford

    droxford Member

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    Lemme save you the trouble (after a quick search on Google)

    http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...37438.story?coll=orl-magic&ctrack=1&cset=true

    Steve Francis suspended by NBA

    By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
    Posted March 19, 2005, 5:30 PM EST

    SEATTLE -- Orlando Magic point guard Steve Francis has been suspended indefinitely without pay by the NBA for kicking an NBA courtside photographer Friday night.

    The length of Francis' suspension will be determined pending an investigation.

    According to NBA courtside photographer Jeff Reinking, he and Francis got entangled on the sideline and Francis kicked him during the Magic's 98-90 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics on Friday.

    Francis said after the game that a photographer "threw my legs down, man. I don't know what was happening." Jameer Nelson will start at point guard tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers in place of Francis.

    -- droxford
     
    #41 droxford, Mar 19, 2005
  2. droxford

    droxford Member

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    More...

    http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/216775_francis19.html

    Saturday, March 19, 2005

    Francis, photographer tangle
    Magic star denies kicking allegation

    By DANNY O'NEIL
    SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

    Orlando Magic guard Steve Francis allegedly kicked a courtside photographer in the fourth quarter of last night's game at KeyArena.

    Francis denied it after the game, but photographer Jeff Reinking said that he was kicked by Francis, who had fallen on top of Reinking on the baseline beneath the Magic's basket with 8:49 left in the game. Reinking spoke with an NBA security official, Robert Sale, who was making a report of the incident.

    "I fell back, couldn't get away from him," Reinking was heard telling the league official. "Then he kicked me."

    The play happened in the fourth minute of the fourth period. Francis had attempted a layup, which was blocked by Sonics forward Rashard Lewis. Francis fell out of bounds and his legs landed on Reinking, a courtside photographer for the NBA who was seated on the baseline beneath the basket.

    "I just put my hand to move his leg and protect myself like I've done 100 times before," Reinking said.

    It was after Francis had landed that he kicked him Reinking. Reinking said he remembered just one "bang" from a kick though it appeared Francis may have used both feet.

    Referee Bob Delaney came over to Reinking after the play to make sure he was OK. Delaney also told Reinking he would probably be asked to fill out an incident report.

    Francis was asked about the incident after the game in the locker room, although a team public-relations spokesman had conferred with Francis before he spoke.

    "He threw my legs down, man," Francis said. "That was it."

    Francis was then asked if he kicked the photographer.

    "No," Francis said. "Uh-uh. I don't know what happened."

    Francis was booed by the crowd the next time he touched the ball as plenty of people saw the incident.

    -- droxford
     
    #42 droxford, Mar 19, 2005
  3. droxford

    droxford Member

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    oh.. sorry. Forgot that this thread was posted in the wrong place.

    -- droxford
     
    #43 droxford, Mar 19, 2005
  4. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Contributing Member

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    My source was ESPNNEWS, and the link is "Watch Ch. 116 on Time Warner Cable - Houston";)
     
    #44 tigermission1, Mar 19, 2005
  5. franchise23

    franchise23 Contributing Member

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    Man is Steve having a bad season or what. First he gets traded. Then his best friend gets traded to the Kings. Then he gets left off the All-star squad. And now this. Feel bad for the guy but sooner or later he has to grow up.
     
    #45 franchise23, Mar 19, 2005
  6. lhphpl

    lhphpl Contributing Member

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    I am so sorry for steve, although I do not like his rockets, I really love this guy!
     
    #46 lhphpl, Mar 19, 2005
  7. Faos

    Faos Contributing Member

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    Hopefully it'll be on soon.
     
    #47 Faos, Mar 19, 2005
  8. Severe Rockets Fan

    Severe Rockets Fan Takin it one stage at a time...

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    No need to pile on the poor guy, afterall, he just wants to win...
     
    #48 Severe Rockets Fan, Mar 19, 2005
  9. Stack24

    Stack24 Contributing Member

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    Kinda feel for the guy...He wears his emotion on his sleeve and he really needs to realize how to be more professional about things....

    They guy has a heart to win and play hard...just cause he didint' fit here in houston doesnt mean the guy is bad...he just has some issues he needs to deal with....

    Hopefully things will fall right for the guy.
     
    #49 Stack24, Mar 19, 2005
  10. Tom Archer

    Tom Archer Contributing Member

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    Simple. Frustration. You're losing yet another game and then on top of everything you trip onto some reporter and the first thing that flashes in your mind is the issue taht many players have stated - that the reporters should not be that close to the floor and that a player is going to seriously be injured one day as a result. So he lost control for just a moment and kicked the guy.
     
    #50 Tom Archer, Mar 19, 2005
  11. bigboymumu

    bigboymumu Member

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    I still consider Francis a Rocket. I wish him the best.
     
    #51 bigboymumu, Mar 19, 2005
  12. Uprising

    Uprising Contributing Member

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    :) lol

    Tiger,

    no prob man. I was just wondering. You were really venting. Anyways, this probably will be joined with the other SF threads in the NBA DISH.

    The thread in the DISH gave a link and article to start it off.
     
    #52 Uprising, Mar 19, 2005
  13. Hmm

    Hmm Member

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    And I thought pgabriel had the blindest loyalty to Francis.. this one takes the cake.
     
    #53 Hmm, Mar 19, 2005
  14. KellyDwyer

    KellyDwyer Contributing Member

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    Mate, you really need to take a step back and re-read what you just wrote.
     
    #54 KellyDwyer, Mar 19, 2005
  15. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    Stu Jackson was heard saying to an assistant "I've been waiting for this for over 5 years. . .and d*mmit I'm gonna make it worth it." Jackson it seemed creamed in his pants at the thought of once again extracting some measure of revenge against Steve Francis.


    Rocket River
     
    #55 Rocket River, Mar 19, 2005
  16. GreenVegan76

    GreenVegan76 Contributing Member

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    Just goes to show (again) that reaching the top of your profession, making millions of dollars and becoming a celebrity mean jack shiat when it comes to happiness.
     
    #56 GreenVegan76, Mar 19, 2005
  17. SA Rocket

    SA Rocket Contributing Member

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    :D x 100

    nominee for post of the month, at least.
     
    #57 SA Rocket, Mar 19, 2005
  18. v3.0

    v3.0 Contributing Member

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    Doesn't know how, doesn't want to learn how, that's the problem...
     
    #58 v3.0, Mar 19, 2005
  19. Puedlfor

    Puedlfor Contributing Member

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    Trainwreck of a season. Proceeds from bad to worse, his trade value has to be at an all-time low with a bad contract.

    Clearly, he's going to be traded to the Knicks this offseason.
     
    #59 Puedlfor, Mar 19, 2005
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2005
  20. apostolic3

    apostolic3 Member

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    I was a little irritated when SF was left off the Olympic team. I thought it was completely unfair. Being skipped over as an All-Star this year was also a surprise. He may have some baggage commonly known around the league. He needs to get a grip on himself before he spirals out of control. Doing something this stupid is almost beyond belief. If he deliberately kicked the guy and tried to diss it off after the game by blaming the photographer, someone needs to give him some serious counseling. For me, this finishes off any doubt about the Super Bowl incident.

    I don't want to think of Steve as a bad guy but I'm almost there. Maybe he will hit bottom with this incident and turn things around. (That all said, I reserve judgement based on seeing the video. I'm assuming it clearly shows Steve kicking the guy).

    P.S: One of the refs told the photographer to fill out the incident report.
     
    #60 apostolic3, Mar 19, 2005
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