baggio248
01-12-2006, 04:58 PM
Wow crazy, at least they are taking a no BS stand on this one, superstar, or not.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Steve Francis was suspended indefinitely by the Orlando Magic on Thursday for what the club said was "conduct detrimental to the team."
The team will have no further comment on the specifics of the suspension, Magic spokesman Joel Glass said. He said the star guard made the team flight from Seattle to Portland but left the team after he was suspended in the morning.
But assistant general manager Otis Smith did shed some light on the situation.
"It was more something that happened (Wednesday) night than a cumulative thing," Smith told Florida Today from Portland. "It was something that happened during the game and afterward. We're going to handle it internally."
ESPN reported the suspension came after Francis refused to go into the game against the Sonics on Wednesday night.
Glass said Francis will meet with coach Brian Hill and Magic executives after the team returns from its West Coast road trip Sunday or Monday. Orlando visits Sacramento on Sunday, then hosts Washington on Wednesday.
Francis is averaging 16.6 points, second on the team, and a team-high 5.4 assists.
The Magic (13-20) lost 113-104 in Seattle, the team's fifth loss in its past six games. Francis scored 10 points in that game and 10 the night before in Orlando's 90-73 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, and criticized the team's play after that game.
Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, did not immediately return a telephone message left at his office.
The guard was suspended for three games by the NBA late last season for kicking a courtside photographer at Seattle. Orlando fined Francis an undisclosed amount last season after missing a practice following the All-Star break.
He was fined $25,000 after using profanity during a halftime interview at a nationally televised game while playing for Houston in March 2004. He also was suspended one game without pay for missing the Rockets' flight to Phoenix in February 2004.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Steve Francis was suspended indefinitely by the Orlando Magic on Thursday for what the club said was "conduct detrimental to the team."
The team will have no further comment on the specifics of the suspension, Magic spokesman Joel Glass said. He said the star guard made the team flight from Seattle to Portland but left the team after he was suspended in the morning.
But assistant general manager Otis Smith did shed some light on the situation.
"It was more something that happened (Wednesday) night than a cumulative thing," Smith told Florida Today from Portland. "It was something that happened during the game and afterward. We're going to handle it internally."
ESPN reported the suspension came after Francis refused to go into the game against the Sonics on Wednesday night.
Glass said Francis will meet with coach Brian Hill and Magic executives after the team returns from its West Coast road trip Sunday or Monday. Orlando visits Sacramento on Sunday, then hosts Washington on Wednesday.
Francis is averaging 16.6 points, second on the team, and a team-high 5.4 assists.
The Magic (13-20) lost 113-104 in Seattle, the team's fifth loss in its past six games. Francis scored 10 points in that game and 10 the night before in Orlando's 90-73 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, and criticized the team's play after that game.
Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, did not immediately return a telephone message left at his office.
The guard was suspended for three games by the NBA late last season for kicking a courtside photographer at Seattle. Orlando fined Francis an undisclosed amount last season after missing a practice following the All-Star break.
He was fined $25,000 after using profanity during a halftime interview at a nationally televised game while playing for Houston in March 2004. He also was suspended one game without pay for missing the Rockets' flight to Phoenix in February 2004.