Except that Francis didn't have to do any of those things. So what if it is chump change for him its still a nice gesture. When he was traded he could've just been bitter or dismissive of Houston like so many players who get traded do. After a dissapointing season in Orlando he could've gone and blamed the rest of the team and organization. Instead he thanked the Houston fans for all their great support and apologized the the Orlando fans. In an age where superstar professional atheletes are remote from fans and better known for selfishness gestures like these from Francis says a lot about him and is a refreshing change from the Barry Bonds and Randy Mosses of pro-athletics.
Sishir -- I tend to agree with you. It's very nice to see. And very refreshing. I think for many, though...particularly for many in Houston who followed his career so closely...it rings hollow. Can you understand that, too? I mean, it seems like we heard him "say all the right things" (with few exceptions) for years here. But that never translated on the court. It never translated to some noticeable change on the court. And so ultimately words don't mean anything...or at least their meaning and impact is diminished.
Good riddance !! Someone call Steve and let him know that a 28 year old is not a YOUNG player in the NBA anymore. DD
I would say that is unfairly judging Francis character based on his on court performance. Yes Francis is an NBA basketball player but as an All Star NBA basketball player he also is a media figure and cultural icon. Unfortunately out of all of the players in the NBA out there only a few attain the level where they dominate the game. So yes it is dissapointing that Francis never got to the level of an AI, Kidd or even T-Mac and likely never will but I think there's so much hate towards him because of that that people are overlooking just how much of a rare thing it is these days for a professional athlete to show this kind of appreciation to the fans. Francis will probably never become one of the all time NBA greats but his love for the fans is worthy in my book.
I'm not trying to judge his character. That's really not my concern. I may question is work ethic. And I may question his capacity for change. But I'm not calling him out saying he's a bad guy. I'm not asking him to dominate the game. I'm simply saying I didn't see the improvement from him that I would have expected...not physically, but mentally. The idea of figuring the game out after some point, and having your game change because of that. I get the impression that if you asked Francis to change, he'd be offended because he'd see himself as "good enough." That's not what I would call a winning attitude. And it certainly clashes with Van Gundy's "Good to Great" mantra. Admittedly...I've never met the man. So much of what I'm saying here is based merely on my perceptions of the man through his own comments and others' comments about him in the media. And of course, his play on the court.
I don't know that Francis "gets it". I think he's got to learn to play smarter if he ever wants to elevate his game. Who knows if he'll get there or not. But I don't think it's fair to hypothesize a situation where Francis refuses to change, and then downgrade him on that hypothetical. Especially when he's been asked to change twice, and has done so without complaint. First in 03-04, when he was asked to defer to Yao and did so, putting his offense on the back burner (of course, he wasn't capable of producing in that JVG offense). And then this year he's been asked to move to SG and did so without grousing. He's got an ego, but I don't remember him ever refusing to do anything. I get the sense that SF3 wants badly to win, he just has trouble at times translating that desire to smart play. He did lead the league in go-ahead shots in the last minute, which means to me that he's still effective one-on-one, with the ball in his hand.
LMAO... here's what a Magic fan posted in another board today I really don’t think he wrote it. I’m guessing its some pre-emptive damage control thought up by the Magic’s Public Relations group. They have a creative team and copywriters on staff. Also, if he did write it, as a Magic employee, he would have to get clearance from the higher ups to run it. Standard business practice. The thing is too well written to not have come from a professional copywriter or at least gone through an editor. Here is Francis' original letter before it was edited (if it was his idea) Yo, it sucks this seasons over already, but we'll be back next year, aright? Thanks for puttin up with all the S%$# we put you through. My hommies and me'll be workin hard so we don't disappoint next year. That first home game against the Bucks was phat ya'll, but then Weisbrod pulled a bunch of S$%@ trades and the season went to hell. If I was a fan I woulda been out long ago, but you stuck with us, that means alot to me. Out... STEVE-O
all fair points. i don't think i meant that statement as strongly as it read. i agree that he doesn't seem to "get it." and i think if you told him that, he'd say you're crazy and point to his all star game appearances. maybe it's unfair to say that. but that's how i feel he'd answer that. in final analysis...in the NBA you're largely judged by how you perform in the post-season. maybe more so than any other sport, since they let everyone and their dog in to the playoffs. after what...6 years of play?? he's been on a playoff team just once. and they were one and done. again...maybe it's unfair to judge that way....but NBA players are judged by that same standard all the time. particularly when they carry around nicknames like Franchise.
You know, I'm with you to an extent. He's been on some good teams that just missed the postseason (like this year's TWolves) but the bottom line is he only made the playoffs once, and didn't make them again this year. Excluding the year he missed with menigre's (sp?) disease, he should be accountable for those teams. In the playoffs, though, I thought he played with tremendous heart. We lost to the Western Conf champs in 5 games, but you could argue that Steve was the best player on the court in several of those games. He averaged something like 20/8/8 and hit the tough shots. If more Rockets had shown up in that series, it might have gone differently. But yea, franchise players need to carry their franchises to the title, or at least past the first round, on a consistant basis. Steve Francis right now is an exceptionally talented guy, but he's not a franchise guy in that sense. That's the same knock I put on KG by the way, although KG is a much better player.
Sam -- you're exactly right. i was fairly critical of steve, though i liked the guy a lot. but his play in the playoffs was absolutely spirited and inspirational. i really liked that!
The main thing that bothers me about this is how much venom is directed to Francis. There's people calling him an S.O.B. and all sorts of stuff when I think that is anything but warranted. In an age of moody withdrawn superstars like Barry Bonds and Randy Moss along with stars who take fans for granted or even treat them awfully this was a real classy move on the part of Francis, even if he had a professional writer polish it up for him.
You need to go to the Orlando boards if you feel the need to stand up for him b/c he's getting a lot more 'venom' there than he is here.
it was a tongue in cheek joke. a pretty funny one i thougth. did his style of play drive me up the wall? Absolutely. Did he create anger towards himself from his style of play? I hope not, it's just basketball. I could care less about the guy and wish him luck throughout his career. And am very glad he played above himself in the playoffs last year, cause it got us McGrady. btw, i'll cheer as loud as i can for him everytime he steps foot on our court. did you hear, he got us McGrady.
He should apologize to Rocket's fans for driving many of us crazy for five years. He may be the league's alltime "bad decision-maker." When you have Super Fans Peterson and Murphy, virtually all the local sports writers, and over half the BBS on your case and you are as talented as Francis is, something is terribly wrong. Has tenure in Orlando has done little to change my mind about him. He has likely played in his last All-Star game, isn't going to be on any all-NBA team, and will never be selected for the USA team or the HOF. Unless Francis completely becomes somebody else, his stock will soon drop out of sight, as I predicted his first year with the Rockets. I formed an opinion about this guy on draft night and I have been right ever since.
