September 02, 1999
The Steve Francis Affair - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
Well it looks like the dust has settled and Steve Francis looks like he’ll never play for the Vancouver Grizzlies. At the onset, I honestly tell you, that I do not follow basketball, so I’ll stay away from pondering on just exactly how good the Grizzlies will be now that Tony Massenburg and Michael Smith have flown the coop. Since I know didly squat about basketball, I went to James Kwong. James is the same age I am, as well as more knowledgeable in the game and business of hoops. He’s played basketball in high school, as well as follows the game, much like I follow the entertainment business.
I see a lot of similarities. Both show business and the NBA are games that deal in high stakes, with big egos, big salaries and big audiences. Steve Francis, in my opinion was victim of the system. Much like those kids in that brilliant documentary, Hoop Dreams, I’m sure Francis, dreamed of a career in the NBA and the fame and fortune of guys like Jordan or Magic Johnson. I’m sure Steve Francis has the deep desire to play, but I think he’s also thought about how much he could get. He’s let his desire for fame override his passion for the game, and in professional sports that can be deadly. I am reminded of the days when playing for The New York Yankees was a dream for so many, because hell, that was the team that Ruth built, Gehrig was so damned lucky at and that DeMagio made the country wonder where he was.
James Kwong assured me in an interview for The Commentary, that Steve Francis is a good player, probably why he drafted so high. One has to feel utterly passionate in what they do. I’m sure Cal Ripkin or Wayne Gretzky, didn’t be who they are in their respective fields, if the they were a little excited by how they made their living. Francis has become complacent. He’s relied on his talents to bring him to a decent team and that, even if the team were mediocre, he thinks he’ll make them good. Well Mr. Francis, that isn’t good enough.
J. Paul McConnell, the Sports Director at CKNW, calls Francis, “the fool.” I agree with him, because all this guy’s concerned about is himself. He could care less about the game he is suppose to love, because he’s going to be paid a bundle whereever he ends up playing. The state of professional sports is much like the state of politics. The public can’t help, but be cynical, because these guy’s get paid bundles and bundles of money, but they still manage to screw up publicly. This whole Steve Francis affair, has not only made Vancouver look like an idiot, but it proves that Orca Bay is a crock in itself. No wonder John McCaw wants to unload it. It can’t do anything right, if it’s not dealing with free agents in the NBA or NHL, it’s something with management style or something to do with broadcasting. It doesn’t have it’s act together, and it proves time and time again, that they should be raising whales instead of running two multimillion dollar sport teams.
There are people who would die to play in NBA, People who I’m sure would play for a fraction of what Steve Francis is projected to receive, perhaps even better than the kid from D.C. Steve Francis is an egocentric, stubborn, foolish, misguided punk. His agent is no better. Steve Francis is a guy who’s only claim to fame is he can shoot a ball into some netting hung up above. He’s exploited his own bad luck and inflicted a rash of venomous contempt in not only sports fans, but people everywhere. He’s overrated already and I hope he takes with him that crumpled Grizzlies jersey, his over-inflated ego, this writers good riddance and his oblivious opinions, and blow it out of his ear.
Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca
An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .