"The Dynasty and the Franchise!" What a good old time, and I am so glad that it is all coming back and is probably gonna get better. SI
In China, nearly all the rockets fans will call SF3 "Lao Da" instead of Steve or Francis, even during the last 3 years when Lao Da was somewhere else Very deep feeling in Lao Da
I still have this issue sitting with all of my Rockets memorobilia. Pulled it out yesterday and glanced through the article. I couldn't be happier about this acquisition. I have ALWAYS hoped that SF3 would return one day, and now I feel so excited about this season. I just flat-out can't wait!
http://nba.sports.tom.com/2007-07-23/0424/85198677.html If Yao didn't meet Francis at the first place, he would't be the same yao today; if Francis didn't meet Yao at first place, he would't be the same Francis today neither. Looking five years back from now, the stories between Yao and Francis might be too little and not noticeable, not even Yao himself would remember everything completely. However, Yao would never forget, when he laid his steps on to an unexplored territory, this NBA for the first time, his team leader--his Lao DA--his big bother, he might not be the brightest star in the league, but he's Steve Francis. Such story, happened in such years, therefore could be touched inside of heart. First Meeting Yao first met Francis, was back at the night of 10-20-2002. That day afternoon, when Yao just got out plane, from Shanghai to Houston. At the Houston Airport, Yao saw massive fans holding the banner written: "Be Part of Something Big", saw CD and Rudy T behind the fans. Yao's mother, Fang Feng Di walked to front of him, forehead slightly touched her son's Adam's apple, behind them is a whole new world awaited them. That night, Rockets had a pre-season game. Yao walked into that little seasoned Compaq Center, saw bench never imagined teammates--Norris with that big fro, ox strong center Cato, handsome boy Nachbar, in front of them are the two small team leader: Lao Da Francis, Lao Er (co-leader) Mobley. Yao held the no 11 jersey, had a picture shot, along side with Lao Da and Cat. Francis walked to Yao and held his hand, risen himself with his toes and said "XXXXXXX"; Yao knew this guy is somebody, replied with English: “ nice to meet u". someone asked Yao:"what did he say to you?" Yao: "honestly, i didn't understand" Francis:"I told him, I have never seen such tall guy like u in real person." in that pre-season game, setting far side, namely Magic and theirs Tracy McGrady. First Go For A Drive. One afternoon, two days after arrived At Houston, as a team's new franchise player, Yao and Francis were arranged to play golf with some main commercial sponsors of Rockets. with Yao's English at that point, he couldn't jump into the conversations; with Yao's golf skills--same as now, completely idiot. That afternoon, yao was just like a landmark on the golf course, stood against wind. Finally after the gold game, in front of the golf course, Francis parked his big hummer in front of Yao, yelling at him, " Yao, come on in, let's go have a tour in Houston". The vehicle was circling on the roud 10 and bridges in the air. as a teams Lao Da and a highly expected rookie, they must talk about something. Then, a red BMW passed them by, setting inside was a blond, Francis moved his head a little bit and whistled, short eyebrow jumped on his forehead:"very good?" Yao then completed his only smooth, no grammar mistaken English:"very good!" then both laughed happily. When they returned to golf course for Yao's car, Francis said:" having a big guy you, i don't have to worry about anything anymore. if there's anything u need, let me know, we are brothers from now on." First Chu Tou (like revenge) in yao's second half rookie season, Rudy forced to take a medical leave, Larry Smith sub in as coach. after Larry sub in as head coach, Yao's playing time and contributions had gone way down, Yao said:"him (Larry), is a nice guy, but i just don't feel was trusted." there's one game playing away from home against Spurs, Yao had only 16 minutes playing time, Francis didn't play well neither, both of them were setting on the bench during the forth quarter. After the game, they as just got in to locker room, Smith slam the door as hard as he could, start criticize every player. He did one by one, of course Yao can't be voided:" u dont have f***ing ball, y didn't u go f***ing inside"! yao didn't know what to do cause he didn't really know about nba's locker room talk, he was standing first, then setting down, still listening to Smith's big roaring. the one who broke the silence among players was Francis. As Smith just finished with Yao, Francis pointed his figure to Smith and roared:"don't blame no body! u caused all this! Yao was doing just fine, we were doing just fine, it was u who made this mess! everybody, from now on, play my play, don't listen to his BS!" the lost against Spurs was a confidence destroyer, in that locker room mess, someone put a hand on Francis month, someone separated him and Smith. Yao pick his bag and pushed the locker room's door, discovered there were lots of San Antonio's reporters waiting outside of the room. Francis rushed to the front of Yao and siad:"Yao, let's go" First Separation at the second season after Yao arrived Rockets, Rudy resigned his Rockets head coach position after 12 years severing. Jeff Van Gundy emptied Rudy's office, however, himself didn't move into that room, instead, his office took a place in a small room beside the hall way. Jeff thinks he can be more concentrated in a small and narrowness place, he also let his up tight quality spread entire team--he never laughs, preciseness thoughts, and iron hand policy. even in the pre-season game, Mobley already couldn't stand the teams atmosphere. he told reporter once:"i miss Rudy." Jeff then set him on the bench for 4 games, reason was he's left side ass was hurting. in such atmosphere, every one felt threat. the other day, after game, Jeff was accusing Francis is a ball hog, Francis as well, presented his dissatisfaction to him, the conflict between Francis and Jeff was escalating. there's some reporter later asking Yao about his opinion, Yao answered with Chinese:"at this moment, i must not speak" however, after practice second day, yao had to speak. Francis and Mobley found him, three of them, with Lao Da and Cat heads up. Lao Da:" i don't think Van Gundy fits in our team, we should go and fire him. if three of us can stand up together, we can do it." Yao:"let me think about it." but Yao has never given Francis and Mobley his answer. Before the end of that season, Yao somehow had the feeling that Lao Da and Cat will be leaving. He told reporter:"even if tread is needed, Francis should not be part of it." however, that sentence was like the quistion Francis gave to him, been throw into a wild empty vale.
Honestly, I was thinking the same thing. I worry about steve's interaction with T-mac and to a less extent M.James.
Lots of players have done that, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan....many many have tossed aside coaches, especially coaches like JVG who have a lot less freedom in their way of doing things than others. DD
Wow I always figured francis was traded because Tmac was available I didnt realize it was a situation where it was either JVG or SF3. But it doesnt matter now because Gundy is gone and Francis is back. The thing that bothered me most about gundy is the reports that he himself never believed the rockets could actually beat the top teams.........THEY WERE RUNNING YOUR OFFENSE AND DEFENSE AND YOU HAD TALENT THAT OBVIOUSLY MEANS YOUR A PIECE OF CRAP OF A COACH AND YOU GAMEPLAN SUCK Anyway good read thanks for translating it
Man this is like a Beatles reunion that never happened I love it, I hope Steve, James, TMac, Yao, Battier, and the rest catch the chemistry, cause like a pack of wolves they are going to be hard to handle if they all stay healthy. I'm not looking at the 2nd round of the playoffs, stay hungry, stay humble... We are going to the finals to win it all!
Pryuen, the Lao Da on everything Yao, thanks again for the great read. Keep up the great work bro! Can't wait to see Yao and Stevie on the same court again.
This is most telling about the little Napolean complex infested control freak assistance coach Rocket River
