http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bal-sp.preston03jul03,0,2016668.column?coll=bal-sports-headlines WASHINGTON -- Steve Francis recently built a house in Houston and is searching for a new residence in Orlando. But he calls Takoma Park his home, and says his heart belongs in nearby Washington. The three-time NBA All-Star point guard, recently traded from the Houston Rockets to the Orlando Magic, was back in downtown Washington yesterday, running his annual summer basketball clinic. Francis, dressed in new Magic gear, taught fundamentals to 100 inner-city youngsters. He gave them lessons on dribbling, free throws and jump shots. He gave them hugs, a speech and nearly 200 T-shirts. After an emotional whirlwind tour of the past week, during which he had to say goodbye to old friends and teammates in Houston, and hello to new ownership in Orlando, Fla., Francis was glad to return to his old stomping grounds, where he seems to be at peace with himself again. "Growing up in this area, you very seldom get players who are from here come into the community and do stuff," said Francis, a former University of Maryland All-American. "This is something I've grown to love. That's why God put me here, to be a role model, especially for those kids who have it tough and maybe don't have as many opportunities. Every year we always manage to get out into the community here and do something. This feels good. It's great to reflect." But just as much as he wanted to talk about home, Francis was just as eager to talk about his new job as the Magic's new franchise player. The disappointment and frustration have worn off from nearly a week ago, when he learned he was one of the main figures in a seven-player swap as the Rockets sent Francis, guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Kelvin Cato to Orlando for NBA scoring leader Tracy McGrady, guards Reece Gaines and Tyronn Lue and forward Juwan Howard. At first, Francis balked about going to the team with the worst record in the NBA last season. But then he got the red-carpet treatment and the green light from Magic general manager John Weisbrod. Francis could almost become a big as Mickey Mouse in Orlando. "It's good because you don't get that too often," the fifth-year veteran said of the special treatment. "You don't get owners of the team coming to meet you. You don't get GMs calling you every day. It makes you feel comfortable." "They reassured me they were willing to build the team around me, they're willing to give me the opportunity to win or lose the game," Francis said. "In Houston last year, that wasn't the case." Francis suffered from "Superstar-itis," the same disease that has afflicted Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. They never met a jump shot they didn't like, and want the ball in crunch time. In Los Angeles, Bryant doesn't want to share the ball with center Shaquille O'Neal. In Houston, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy wanted the ball to touch center Yao Ming's hands first, and everybody else's second. "As much as I love Houston, I'm happy for the trade," Francis said. "For me, it's a better opportunity to display my skills as far as the things I've worked on growing up, in college and my first five years in the NBA. This is a really good opportunity." Francis wasn't as kind when talking about Van Gundy. Apparently, Francis thought Van Gundy made promises he didn't keep. "Honestly, I felt we were cool. To me, it was a coach-player relationship," Francis said. "I thought we were cool in the direction we were going. Maybe he didn't feel that way. I'm not mad at him one bit. I just know I wouldn't tell somebody to their face that I was going to do something, and then don't do it. That's in the past, though, and I'm looking forward to Orlando." He should. The Magic will be in what may be the weakest division in the NBA with the Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks and the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. Unlike in most trades, Francis will be joined by two former teammates in Mobley and Cato. He'll also play with high school forward Dwight Howard, the first pick overall in last week's draft, and Saint Joseph's guard Jameer Nelson, the NCAA Division I Player of the Year last season. Francis will try to play a role that the Magic didn't feel McGrady ever fulfilled. McGrady, 25, was long on points (he averaged 28.0 last season, and 32.1 the year before), but short on leadership. That's what Francis was told. "That's another thing they stressed to me," said Francis, who has averaged 19.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists during his pro career. "They felt they didn't have last year, even though McGrady was there, a true leader. It's going to be tough. It's not easy to win one game in the NBA. But the names of those teams [Wizards, Hawks, Heat], throughout my career, my teams put whippings on those teams. "You know, I spent my first five years in Houston, and I wanted to stay there," Francis said. "But the NBA is a business, and that's how things worked out. It was time for me to move in a different direction. I can say I was disappointed, but I wasn't hurt. You can't ever be hurt when you make an NBA salary." Francis seems to have gotten the big picture. At the age of 10, he worked summer jobs to ease the financial burden on his mother, Brenda Wilson. During his senior season in high school, she died from cancer and he dropped out of school, eventually earning a graduate equivalency diploma and then enrolling at two junior colleges before going to Maryland. It has been a long route to the NBA, but apparently Francis hasn't forgotten how he got there. It all started out at an old fire station and a local playground in Washington. "It's always good to come back home," Francis said. "Basketball is something I grew up to love, and sometimes you have to come back here to remember what it took to get there, and that life is full of opportunities, regardless if it's in Houston or Orlando."
Prediction Dwight Howard has no chance of winning ROY. You can bet that the Bobcats will showcase Okafor in every possession, while Howard will get "Yao Ming'd" by Steve and Cat.
You guys can take a couple of things that a franchise player (and yes he is a franchise player) said that all franchise player should say, and you bash him for being selfish. At the same time, ignoring: 1. He was donating his time and money (T- shirts) to help kids in his community. 2. That JVG did indeed lied to him, and SF was able to put it behind him. 3. That he took the long road to NBA.
Wow, YOFs are still bitter at steve/cat for "refusing to let Yao dominate". Hey, guys, you better start hating T-Mac right now because Yao will look worse when T-Mac is going for 28 ppg by averaging 41% FG. Unless Yao changes his personality suddenly, he will sure pass the ball to T-Mac and let him dominate.
Fundamentals? Steve Francis? Never thought I'd see those words together in a sentence. I notice passing lessons are not included.
First of all this guy was no leader, an All Star calliber player YES, but a leader on the floor NO. You have to know fundamentals before you can teach them. How long does it take to teach a group of kids to dribble 18 seconds off the shot clock before you dribble the ball off of your foot???
When i watch the video conference of Steve and Mobley and Cato holding up their new Orlando jerseys....I saw sadness in their faces....like they're saying why the hell am i here..and they sort of looking at each others and looking shock...they knew this sux BIG TIME...so in that sense there's no doubt they're sad and disappointed. Francis look like he's been crying the whole week judging by his tone and voice.
Thank you. Someone had to say it. And for all of you saying Francis wasn't a leader, who carried our asses in the playoffs when no one else had the guts to step up? Who stood up for Yao when he got sraight up punked out by just about every player in the league? Who was diving on the floor whenever the ball was loose? Who was the only player to openly cry after games, showing how much he actually cared about the team? Answer: Francis The guy's gone. Move on people. I know you won't admit it now, but I GUARANTEE that you'll be b!tching about McGreedy soon enough once he refuses to give up his "top scorer in the NBA" title. Just wait....
Seeing this article I knew it would bring out some old feelings. I am glad SF is gone ONLY because that was the ONLY way to bring TMc IN. Stevie did everything he could which was more than most could have for the Rox. In the end it was notr enough. Thank you, Stevie, for all you did. Including bringing Top 5 talent back.
I was always a Francis fan. I loved his game and his personality. I still think he is a good kid who really does mean well. But this whole, "JVG lied to me" thing is just lame. If Francis was mature enough to handle the information without blabbing to the media and trying to screw it up while under contract, I'm sure they would've told him. Clearly, he was not. Now, if he finds out two weeks prior or three weeks prior to it happening, it may have been worse. What are you supposed to do when a team contacts you about Tracy McGrady, one of the best players in the league, and says, "Any deal we discuss starts with Francis." Of course you discuss. You'd be crazy not to. But, do you immediately go to Francis while talks are still preliminary and say, "Um, Orlando wants to trade you and we're considering it, but nothing is immenent," knowing how he and his agents tend to react? Of course not. You wait until there is a deal that is relatively close and then you let him know. That is exactly what they did and he responded (along with his agents) by going to the media and saying he had no interest in playing in Orlando BEFORE he even spoke with Magic officials. Then, he goes to Orlando, tells them he's a basketball junkie and that he had watched their team last year and thought they were a good fit. Wha??? Bottom line is that Francis had a right to be pissed over what happened. It was the first time he'd ever been traded. It is understandable. But, if it was his business and he were in the same situation, I guarantee he'd do the same thing.
I spoke to my friend in Miami he said folx around there are acting like they already in the Eastern Conference championship they are JUST AS GEEKED To get THE FRANCHISE and GET RID OF MCGRADY as *SOME* of us are for the reverse i think this will work out for all involved Lying . . .well if you jumped down Francis's throat about 'alledgedly' lying about the superbowl why be hypocritical about JVG Lying? Rocket River
