It was over a year ago when Francis [after we finished with the best record not to make the play-0ffs] said that players in Houston got no national recognition. Now he is concerned if Houston is serious about a winner. I wonder if he means national recognition like Kobe gets, or like Jordon got. If that is the case and that is what he wants he needs to move on now, remember in 94 and 95 we got no recognition. Hell the Lakers and Bulls were on national TV more then the Rockets while we were defending champs. It is not going to happen in Houston, so if that is his goal he needs to decide what he wants an get with the team, or move on to LA, NY or Chicago and then he can get what he wants while we build a championship team. He has had more then enough time to learn about Ming, but has anyone heard anything postitive from him concerning Ming? If that is his problem then say so or move on and let us build the winner in Houston that will be done with or without Francis. In his two junior college years, or one year at Maryland and three years in Houston what would he know about a championship or building a winner? The people doing the decision making have two nba championships rings so I have to trust their judgement over a player that has basically done nothing.
I want to see if he can play a full season. Then, if he plays well, he will get the recognition. But, if he thinks that Chicago, NY would be a better place? Hell, he'd be BASHED on NY radio if he was living there. Those fan are brutal!!!! They show no mercy! He should be glad he's in Houston.
Hmm... more Steve bashing. Poor Steve. Ok, lets say Steve is selfish and doesn't care about Houston. We can then talk trades. But just because he hasn't commented much about an unknown, or barely known player and thinks too long about a long term contract, he's bad? I haven't heard anything negative straight from Steve about Yao, but have heard tons of speculation. Steve also wants to see where Houston's at because if he's wrong, he'd be spending 6 or 7 years in a place where he doesn't want to be. Would you do that? Please,quit bashing until Steve actually does something bad. (this is all my opinion,btw.) edit: Oh and about the national attention, I'm sure he just wants us to get some respect. Wouldn't you if you gave it your all and got no respect? If he's really big on that, he'd probably just work harder to get it.
yawn.... do nba players regularly make comments about new rookies? no, almost never. i'm sure by this point steve has accepted the idea of playing with yao, probably even welcoming it. but even if he's gushing with joy i doubt we'll hear about it until at least training camp. despite all these accusations steve has never to public knowledge tried to run this organization. just like us i'm sure he trusts the decsions of world-class management.
Thats half my point he will never get it in Houston, hell we won two championships and did not get it. But we had players that it did not matter too, they knew they won and could live with that. As for bashing Steve, point to what I said that was wrong and I will admit I was wrong to say it. If he has no faith in the Rockets to build a winner, or in his teammates then he needs to think of moving on to a team he can be comfortable with that is all about winning. You are right he has not said anything negitive that I have read other then I do not know if I can play with a big man. But sometimes silents is taken to be negitive.
well I Think Francis is goin to be just fine, and he isnt as bad as you people say he is. You talk about how ruthless the NY fans are, look in the Mirror will you please, you guys are bashing him and he has done nothing!
I do not mean to be bashing him, it is just simple that if national recognition is important to him he needs to be somewhere else as he will never get it in Houston. He needs to decide if that is what is important or winning because they do not always go togather. I would like for him to want to stay in Houston and forget about the national recognition, but that is his decision to make.
I've seen a lot worse Steve bashing, so this ones not that bad. In fact, at least you actually admited to being wrong about some things. I remember seeing Clutch posting about Steve seeing some video on Ming. I believe this was after most of the "interviews" with him. According to Clutch, Steve left with a differnt opinion on Steve. Like BigM said, most players don't really care much about rookies. I believe it was Mo who said he was suprised to get tape on the man. I also wouldn't be surpised about Steve trying to stand up for Cato. I know, that may sound like he's stupid, but I'm sure he cares that Cato's getting no love. I think after the WG's and when season comes around, we won't have a problem. Like the saying goes, "Winning cures all." or something like that. (see Lakers aka Kobe and Shaq,)
How about the basis of your thread? I'm sure everyone wants national recognition and to win, but why is the word "now" being used? I don't think anyone has said why Francis hasn't signed yet, and I don't think anything has really changed since the end of last season for him.
That was the point and I guess my inability to put it into words. If Francis wants national recognition then he needs to be some where else, it will never happen in Houston. It didn't in 94 or 95 and will not in the future. The word "now" is being used because I never read where Francis questioned the desire of Houston Mangement to have a Winner before, but then he was not getting a new contract before, however if you are getting the max and for the max years why put on a show now? If he does not want the millions from Houston then say so and and they can deal with it. The ones that say it has to be a concern for a person to sign for that many years for what 70-80 million. My heart goes out to them to make a comment like that.
Uhh... he could probably get good money anywhere, and he knows that. He wants to think about his future in Houston. Would you sign a contract for 7 years, 70 million to work at Burger King or McDonalds? Or maybe add Pizza Hut and Hooters? (hehe.) The money won't matter any more. But you would have to think which job would be best, since you'd be ther for 7 years. Also take consideration that if you sign with a place, and it goes under, you won't be happy. Ok, maybe that was too easy, seeing how Hooters would get the win everytime. But hopefully you get my point.
If I understand this line correctly (which I don't think I do), then you are making a huge leap. I wouldn't be concerned about this at all.
RC, what was the Clutch post about? Steve saw Yao on tape, then what? He liked him, or not? Just wondering.
Steve is the bomb, he is the focal point of our team bar none. I get sooooooooo tired of the Steve bashers on this board. Lets get it straight one more time, Steve is THE BEST player on this squad and the focal point of our team. Like it or hate it that is the way it is and will be for atleast the next 3 years.
It was a while back. It was either after we made it know we'd take Yao, or actually after we took him. Clutch made a LONG post about stuff going on. It had been mentioned that Steve thought a trade would be better. CD and Steve went to a Comet's game, and CD showed tapes of Yao. I think I quoted Clutch with the "left with a different opinion" or was pretty close. Basically, Steve thought like most of the US team, and then changed to the US team after the game. (at least, thats what I got from it.) I think Steve may have still prefered a Odom, or something like that, but found out Yao had some skill. As far as I know, his biggest knock on Yao has been how much of a project he is. Steve doesn't want to keep losing, and would rather get an immediate contributing player, than a project. I'm pretty sure that come time for the season, everything will be ok.
Well, the rockets had national recognition when they won the 94 and 95 champs ring..... I watched the game from cali.... It was all good... how can francis gets national recognition when he havent win a champ ring for the rox>>
E.J. Tucker I know you said Houston didn't get that much recognition during there Champion years, but they got alot more than you think ( by what your posts are saying). I've been from Egypt to Honduras in the last eight years, and you'll be surprise in how many posters you would see of Hakeem, Smith, Horry, Cassell, and Elie on one poster for their first Championship in 94; or Hakeem and Drexler giving each other an high five from their second Championship in 95. All I'm saying is all around the world the Rockets were noticed. Even Yao Ming said he was a fan of Hakeem from seeing him play in the NBA finals or playoffs, I forgot which but I know he was talking about the championship years. The reason alot of people thought we didn't get any recognition is because Sports Illustrated didn't put the Rockets on the front cover for there first championship.
If he does want NR,I don't know if he wants THAT much. Not to mention he hasn't had much time to get a ring. It took Hakeem...what..about 10 years? I think Steve just wants people to stop dissing us and saying we are a lottery team and not a playoff team. (ok, technically we are, but so are the Clipps and look at what they get.)
of course he wants to be in the spot light, at the same time that is not his number 1 matter though, he wants to win, but he would alos like to be popular. but if it came down to it he wouldn't mind not being in the spot light. Man Francis is like Shawn Michaels.
1.) Of course this is a "bash" Steve thread. This was an unprompted comment which means you are implying that Steve has a problem. 2.) Steve may get more national attention then he ever wanted now that Yao is on the team. Yao might be the best thing that ever happened to Steve. Rocks never got much national pub/respect before, but I beleive that is all about to change...in fact it already has begun to change.
