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

Lighten up Francis ...

 

DanTanna;

I gotta admit that was pretty funny..

 

wideo?

 

I'm not sure Francis will get that many games. It doesn't seemt the photographer was hurt by Francis, but the guy Rodman kicked was.

Here's the Florida Today article on the incident.


http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050320/SPORTS/503200338/1002/sports

NBA suspends Francis

Magic guard out indefinitely after kicking photographer

BY JOHN DENTON
FLORIDA TODAY

PORTLAND, Ore. - In many ways, Steve Francis' wildly erratic first season in Orlando has mirrored that of the hot-and-cold Magic team that he runs from his point guard position.

Francis' high-wire act is usually filled with just as many jaw-dropping plays as head-scratching gaffes. Part of what makes him both a success and an eternal enigma is that he is consistently inconsistent. No one -- not the opposing five players nor his own teammates -- have a clue sometimes what he's about to do next on the basketball court.

Seemingly always playing on the edge emotionally, Francis' dark side surfaced again Friday in Seattle. After falling out of bounds following a drive to the hoop, Francis fell onto a courtside photographer and kicked him before heading back upcourt.

NBA senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson suspended Francis indefinitely Saturday, causing him to miss the Magic's game in Portland against the Trail Blazers.

Jackson's security staff is conducting interviews and reviewing the video footage -- both Sun Sports Network and Fox Sports Northwest have shots of the incident -- and a final ruling on the suspension is expected to be handed down today.

"Steve is a very intense individual and he plays with a lot of passion and intensity," said Chris Jent, whose second game as the Magic's interim head coach was without the team's leading scorer. "But when he steps between the lines he becomes something that makes you great. But if that energy and spirit goes in the wrong direction it can hurt you."

The Sun Sports Network cameraman that partially caught the scene on tape was sitting next to Jeff Reinking, the NBA photographer who was kicked by Francis. Francis had his shot blocked by Rashard Lewis and tumbled to the floor where his momentum carried his legs into Reinking. Reinking seems to push Francis' legs away, upsetting the Magic guard. Francis turns back and kicks at Reinking as he mutters at him.

"He threw my legs down, man," Francis said following Friday's game. "That was it."

Asked if he kicked Reinking, Francis said: "No. I don't know what happened."

Former Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman was fined $25,000 and suspended 11 games for kicking Minnesota photographer Eugene Amos in the groin in 1997. Francis' suspension and fine aren't expected to be as severe because he doesn't have Rodman's history.

Veteran NBA referee Bob Delaney went over to check on Reinking following the incident. Fans at Seattle's Key Arena booed Francis the next time he touched the ball, an indication that many of them saw the incident involving Reinking.

Francis accompanied the Magic from Seattle to Portland on Friday night and was interviewed by NBA security Saturday morning. He remained at the team hotel and was not available for comment Saturday night.

"It's a big blow because Steve is one of our best players and when you lose your best player, be it a quarter or a half or game, it's going to affect your team," Jent said. "Steve's doing fine, but he's just anxious to find out (the length of the suspension). That's the hard part, sitting and waiting."

As Francis goes . . .

Undoubtedly, much of the Magic's sporadic play this season can be traced to Francis. When he is hot and playing under control, the Magic are usually successful. They are 7-3 this season when he's scored 30 or more points, and he seems to be at his best the tougher the opponent. His top games -- 35 against Seattle, 32 and 31 against Detroit, 32 against the Cleveland, Philadelphia, Washington and the Los Angeles Lakers -- have come against teams in the playoff race.

But with Francis' highs come the expected lows. It is just part of the package he offers. He plays consistently hard, but not always with the most discipline. While he ranks eighth in the NBA in assists (6.9), he is second in the league in total turnovers (262). The turnovers are often caused by Francis' tendency to overdibble and try to beat defenders in one-on-one situations.

"He has the ball in his hands a lot and he's most effective when he's driving to the basket," Magic forward Pat Garrity said of Francis. "Sometimes he dribbles too much, but that's just the way the guy plays."

Emotional player

Often Francis' emotions run as hot as his jump shot.

Francis initially balked at coming to Orlando when rumors of the blockbuster, seven-player trade between Orlando and Houston first surfaced last June. He eventually relented after a conversation with Magic general manager John Weisbrod, and Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato were sent to Orlando for Tracy McGrady and three others.

Davis worked hard to try and get Francis to stop chirping at the officials so much, but had little success. Francis has been whistled for 18 technical fouls, the third most in the NBA behind Danny Fortson (21) and Rasheed Wallace (19). Davis said before he was fired that he thought that Francis might not get the benefit of the doubt from referees because of his steady complaints.

"He's just under a microscope," he said. "He does have more extremes than other players, but really every player has a high and low. What makes you a great player is your ability to minimize those lows and maximize the highs. But I didn't think Steve is playing bad basketball. Everyone is on him right now. But when he gets back I just want him to relax and play."

 

He's such an idiot

 

I saw the tape last night on espn news and I think its pretty ridiculous that the NBA suspend a player indefinitely and they don't even know what happened. From the tape espn news showed from three different angles you really can't tell anything thing because the camaras start to pan away after Steve falls into the guy.

 

Thinking about it some more, I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that the NBA came down so swiftly even without knowing what happened for sure because of the brawl in Detroit. Any off the court incident is going to get treated with the highest priority because the NBA can't afford any more negative press.

 

In retrospect, it is very possible that the Rockets were on the same trajectory as Orlando is this season had we not made the trade. The minor friction between Francis and JVG, the drop in his stats, and missing the playoffs could easily have brought on the same predicament. If things go well for the rest of the season we should consider ourselves extremely lucky.

This is potentiallly the second time Francis would be busted with a very public lie, the first time being the Superbowl incident.

 

I have a better idea. Why doesn't Steve be a man and stop kicking people? I'm guessing that if I kicked you out on the street you wouldn't be a "man" and just turn around and walk away.

 

Jackson had plenty of opportunities to suspend Francis. Francis cussed on live T.V. last year. People need to stop making excuses for Francis.

 

Ch 2 locally had some video on last night from further away. (I'm not sure where they got it.) You can clearly see him kicking the guy.

End of discussion.

 

So the photographer should apologize because Francis was a classless idiot kicking at him? Unbelievable. The guy wasn't a paparazzi, he was on the freaking sideline taking pictures. He wasn't even near the action Francis fell into HIM. And barely touched him, his leg just happened to come down on the guy and Francis kicked him. It's pathetic that you think the photographer isn't a man because he got kicked. Francis is the one that needs to be a man and stop acting like a baby. But as long as there are people like this defending him he'll keep acting like this.

 

He didn't undercut Francis, Francis fell and rolled into the photographer who was well out of bounds. God, stop defending him.

 

I guess, we'll see, the NBA still hasn't said anything yet so there is still discussion.

 

Not to imply that Steve Francis is a loser, but the Magic did break their losing streak without him....

If they go on an extended run while he's suspended, that would be worst punishment of all for him.

 

That would give Weisbrod the ammo he'll need to sell the idea of Nelson running the point and trading SF for more players to build around Howard.

 

We're now seeing how far pgabriel will go to defend Steve Francis. He's now making excuses for Steve KICKING PEOPLE. Where do you draw the line, PG? Tax evasion? Doin' it with old ladies? Urinating on the Epcot dome? Cold-cockin' red-headed dudes, just for the F of it? What do Steve and the Magic have to do?

 

There is little question the Magic will be trading SF to build around Howard. The question is what GM will be working in Orlando when that happens during the offseason.

 

Just saw the video. I did not want to comment until I had first hand evidence, and now I have. Francis is guilty as charged!

Francis will get at least 3 games - maybe up to 7 + $15K fine (note that Rodman got about 11 games and $25K for the same offense).

The photographer did not even do anything to warrant "rolleyes" talkless of a kick and verbal abuse. Wow Stevie...what were you thinking.

Francis just missed shot going towards the rim and staggered forward then boom.....brain lapse. I would really like to know what Francis was thinking

I believe the league will announce the full purnishment on Monday morning and there is no question it will leave a black mark on Francis' career at least for the immediate future. The only question now is how much time and money will it cost Stevie?

This is the last thing Francis needed.