I understand... but this Steve bashing has got to stop.

I totally agree with you. I wanted to post a similar thread before you did, but something went wrong and I got one of those error pages. Since my thread was so long I just said "fhuggettaboutit!"

About your sig, those Rockets were all old before they were proffesional. Dream was apparently a pain in the ass even after he was older than Steve's current age, I think.

 

I agree 100% that this Steve bashing needs to stop. I think he's been talking to Jerry West too much and has been perswaded that Ming is going to be a bust. They even said at the lottery that West had been talking to Francis a lot and they had become closer.

 

I agree as well.

I think Steve just needs to play with Ming for a while before he really passes judgement. If he won't sign an extension now he can still do it later in the season. If he is still mad about it and cannot deal with being a team player then we trade him but I do not wish to do so at this time.

I say give Steve a chance just as we as fans are asking Steve to give Ming a chance.

 

good post. i'm as big of a steve francis fan as anyone but his decision making on this matter is very questionable. hopefully it's just basketball because if it isn't, trade him, we don't need that.

but as of now, taking in the fact that this is and probably will be the biggest offseason of his career, i have no problem with him disagreeing with a move. if ming's everything we've been promised than steve will have no problem and this will all blow over. to all those who say he's being a spoiled brat and a punk, calm down. he's neither of the two. this isn't some fantasy league for him, it's his LIFE, something he wants to be sure about. lay off until he atleast plays with him then makes his comments.

 

I agree too! without Steve this team will be lottery bound for many more years. The West is to strong, and it will take alot more then just Ming & our current team to make it past the first round.

I have actually started swaying towards the pro-ming camp (mainly since the red tape is cut), but this team is going no where without Francis.

Also, if RT/CD trade #15 and Griffin to move up for Wilcox, they should be fired. I am not sure why they have brought in Wilcox and Hilario, but the #15 and our entire team (outside Francis, Cat & Griffin) will not put them in range for either of them.

 

I wanted to tear into Steve after hearing the quote, but fortunately, a few posters pointed out that most of us don't know the context within which it was made. I'm disappointed and not a little irritated that Steve's down on Yao, but as far as I can see he hasn't really done anything to merit the wrath of Rockets fans on this board. Questions and irritation perhaps, but not the full wrath. The fact is that he's a good player, he wants to win, he wants to lead the team, and until I can get direct confirmation, I don't think he's said anything in public that's really gone against management. I mean something significant. That's important. Hopefully, player chemistry will improve once the players have gotten a chance to play together.

 

that's the best post i've read since this whole drama started. makes perfect sense. everyone should be irritated but all this hate is based on practically nothing.

 

It just seems to me that Stevie will be a very hard person to win over..Like many young brothers I know, they are skeptical of Yao.
Maybe because of the lack of good asian players here in The United States. I mean honestly, how many asians has steve ever been around and really gotten to know? I would be not more than 5..especially since hes from the Maryland area.

It just seems that if Yao plays good in the 1st few practices..stevie will still be like..yea whatever.

 

Maybe Steve see's Ming as Shanw Bradley? NOt that far fetched. Alot of people believe Steve is a selfish person/player, but imo, he's too unselfish on the court. He averaged more points per shot than Cuttino and Iverson. I get the feeling that if we trade him to cleveland, he could average 25/7/8 a game. He's that good. I really think he will be the best pg in the game in 2 years. Unfortunately, he won't be on the Rockets.

 

Count me in. Stevie is the man.

 

It's clear Steve is unhappy with the Rockets going to draft Ming but he hasn't gone out and publicly bashed the guy. It seems to me he doesn't want to publicly announce his displeasure but keep them somewhat quiet. The way he's acting shows he still needs to mature but unless he goes further with his feelings, he shouldn't be bashed for the way he feels. I don't agree with the way he's acting/feeling about Yao but he's entitled to his own opinion and hopefully he'll feel different once he meets Yao and gets a chance to play with him.

 

Enter negativity....

The fact is, as long as Steve can't be optimistic about acquiring Ming we are going to tell him to shut his face. Francis himself was unproven at one time with baggage (Vancouver anyone?). Barkley and Hakeem didn't make negative remarks about him (eg, publicly commenting about selecting another player). It was the Rockets' front office decision to make and they let them make it. Barkley said something about Francis' attitude after he had retired, and to this day I don't recall Hakeem saying anything negative about Francis.

Personally I want to know why Francis cannot be optimistic about Ming. He certainly won't be any worse than many of the overpaid players already on the roster. Ming can only help, not hurt the team.

EDIT: And another thing, I think that it is so selfish for him to talk about "winning now". Funny how this comes after his so-called development is complete.

 

Thank God, I'm not the only one. Nice thread

 

Fuzzybear, coming to this site is like going to a Little League baseball game -- or now a kid's soccer game -- and watching the feuding parents. They all mean well, but sometimes they just get, well, mean. Their personal passion to be right, and the need to be celebrated as right, generates a brawler's mentality rather than a more cerebral approach.

In short, many of those "Little Leaguers" look at vitriolic wannabe posters and wonder why they came to the board in the first place. Remember, there are a few posters on the board who deserve respect, and then there are those who have lost their stature by diluting acumen with venom.

I for one started coming here as a Rocket fan searching for kindred souls -- people who wished to share information for the edification of the whole. Unfortunately, the board sometimes decays into a urination contest. But, just when the postings look too bleak to continue, a fresh crop of newbies enters and the Rocket perspective is reborn. Perhaps, that is why I change my identity every 500 posts or so.

Fuzzybear, there will be some that will try to set your fur on fire just as there will always be a cruel kid who ties firecrackers to a kitten's tail. It's the moment of childish, cheap thrill. However, keep posting and join those of us researching the continuing saga of the Rockets quest for fire.

 

Truth hurts, doesn't it?

 

It's more likely the other way around. Mobley at first said something along the lines of "we need size, and Yao's got a whole lot of that" right after we got #1, on FSSW. Then he went on TBDSSP and said "Well, me and Steve were talking, and we think we need someone who can contribute now". Later, Mobley comments were printed in a Philadelphia newspaper, and he added something like 'I don't know enough to know whether or not Ming can contribute now or not'.

Logically, it would seem Steve said things to Cuttino, and Cuttino agreed (I've felt that was the likely case all along, so this isn't just a "frame Steve" thing).

However, it's still hard to gauge the situation. If I were in charge, I'd have Rudy or CD give Steve a phone call, or an in person meeting. Ask him if his comments were taken out of character, if he truly doesn't want Ming, and his thoughts on resigning now.

If Steve is adamant in not playing with Ming then you:
a.) trade the pick (Ming)
b.) seek trade of Steve where part of the return Andre Miller, or Baron Davis

I don't think you can afford to wait, and watch his value go down the drain. That's what we did with Quitten, and why we have Kelvin Cato and Malt Williams instead of Sheed Wallace or Jermaine O'Neal.

 

I agree, there has been so much overreaction...I wouldn't be surprised if the question was like, "How do you think Yao Ming will help your game?" You know, since many are saying Yao will help Cuttino & Steve with his passing, rebounds, blocks, clearing the lane, etc. I never got to see Extra Points, but it's amazing how quickly people will drop the best player over a sound byte.