During last night's game at Seatle, Steve Francis was involved in an incident with a camerman. The NBA has suspended Francis indefinitely as a result of this incident. From the replays that I have seen, I hardly see anything worth a supension. All that is really clear is the camerman pushing Francis while he was on the floor. The NBA will be reviewing the video and making a determination for the length of the suspension by Monday.
If Francis kicked the camerman, then the NBA is right to suspend him for however many games they feel is necessary. I don't think any player should touch anyone for any reason, regardless of intention. However, one thing that I have noticed the last few years is the amount of people under the baskets. They creep closer and closer to the live action until now, there is very little room for the players to land or run plays. Some photographers and camermen have become more aggressive in pushing or even kicking at players when they are knocked back.
The NBA needs to step in and make adjustments to the position of personnel on the floor around the playing area. If Francis kicked the camerman as rumored, that does not give him the right to retaliation. Francis should have made a request to the referee to stop play and have the camermen move back. The referees are in charge of the safety of the players and the arena staff would have been instructed to correct the problem.
Hopefully, the suspension will not be a long one. We need Francis on the floor with the rest of the troops. Distractions like this and the others in the past week are not what we need while making a playoff run.
3 Comments on "NBA suspends Steve Francis"
It is time for the Orlando Magic to see what Steve Francis really is. The man complaints about every call, when the call goes against him, he stops to talk to the ref and lets the game play on. He might score 20 points, but his man scores 30. He has a terrible attitude and I would quess the Jeff Nan Gundy was very glad to get rid of him in Houston. It would be best for the magic to get a player that is for the team and not for himself, as Francis is. He basically is a jerk and needs to go. You can tell when he is going to shoot as he hogs the ball and dribbles around and then fires a shot. He's to go!!!
Who died and made you the NBA God? Do you play ball are you out there on the court? No, just like to have to do well and perform at your job, to show your boss you are worth keeping, NBA players have to do the same thing. So until you get a multi-million dollar contract and go up and down a court for 48mins and calling people selfish maybe you should look in the mirror, your comments were kind of selfish. Remember handling the ball is how they get there stats.
Whoever made this comment needs to get a life. Steve Francis is one of the best players on the Orlando Magic team. Its obvious that he is well needed. I am apalled at whoever made this comment. Lets see what you can do on the courts.