JOHN Franco is not much of an NBA fan. Today, though, when the playoffs begin for the Knicks, he will root for Patrick Ewing. Root for a kindred spirit.
“He’s put his heart and soul into it and you hope he gets a championship ring before it is over,” Franco said. “Anybody that puts that much time in like him or Charles Barkley and pays their dues, you want them to get the ring.”
There is a familiar ring to this. Ewing is a 37-year-old out of the Big East, a player of accomplishment remembered more for his failures late in games than consistent production from year to year. This season Ewing, proud as ever, was told younger teammates with more juice in their legs were The Men, completing a transition that began last year during a Ewing injury and strong playoff run. There was trade talk, but ultimately the call for Ewing to swallow that sizable pride and accept an important, yet more secondary role.
Franco is a 38-year-old out of the Big East, a player of accomplishment remembered more for his failures late in games than consistent production from year to year. This season Franco, proud as ever, was told a younger teammate with more juice in his arm was The Man, completing a transition that began last year during a Franco injury and strong playoff run. There was trade talk, but ultimately the call for Franco to swallow that sizable pride and accept an important, yet more secondary role.
Both still want the ball in the end. There have been no signs – at least not yet – that Ewing has undermined the Knicks’ big plans. The jury is unresolved on Franco.
Thursday night against Milwaukee, Franco was warming to pitch the eighth inning and reported “stiffness” and had to be shut down. Yesterday, Franco said there was a bit of a “knot” in his shoulder. Perhaps it is a more knotty situation. Members of the organization have suggested this was as much about a pained ego as physical pain. That Franco is not pleased setting up and with infrequent use early this season. GM Steve Phillips, Bobby Valentine and pitching coach Dave Wallace all tap danced around the subject. There was talk Franco just may have apologized for his actions.
“I see this is tough for him,” Wallace said. “I see it in his face. I see some bewilderment.”
Franco said, “It is an adjustment that is a lot easier said than done.”
The transition continued yesterday in Game One of a doubleheader. Franco came in with a one-run, eighth-inning lead against the Cubs, not to the familiar strains of his closer song, Johnny B. Goode, but to quite familiar home boos. The unease only escalated when Damon Buford led off with a single. As a closer, Franco was on his own, but here Turk Wendell got up.
With a runner on second and one out, Eric Young was hit by a 2-2 pitch, but home-plate ump Paul Schreiber ruled Young had dipped his elbow into the ball and would not award first base. Young grounded out, Buford took third. Franco worked carefully to Ricky Gutierrez and walked him to the Shea fans’ displeasure. But Franco knew he owned lefty Mark Grace, who was just 4-for-24 off the southpaw. Franco struck out Grace on three pitches.
The fans finally cheered. Benitez warmed to close, but never got in because the Mets erupted for five eighth-inning runs to win 8-3. Franco got a hold. Benitez saved the Mets’ 7-6 win in the second game, but not before serving up a two-out, two-run homer to Henry Rodriguez.
“I’ll deal with it,” Franco said. “And make the best of the situation.”
That goes for everybody within the organization, which wants to show respect for who the player was and the man is, without losing perspective that the team is most important.
It does not always go swimmingly. In 1991, Valentine, then the Ranger manager, had an aging Goose Gossage set up for closer Jeff Russell. Gossage continued his decade-long assault on Valentine this year by publishing a book in which he trashes Valentine. Some wounds never heal. Besides Franco, Valentine is currently navigating the fade of Rickey Henderson. From St. Lucie to the Wharton Business School to Flushing, it has not been going well.
“It’s the toughest thing a manager has to do,” Valentine said of handling a star player whose skill and importance to the club are diminishing. “It’s a learning experience for me and my staff and a learning experience for John because it is new territory.”
Closing is still in his blood. “I liked being in when there was no net underneath,” Franco said. He also liked assaulting the record books. His 416 saves are second all-time, 62 behind Lee Smith, 84 short of a magical 500. He probably has no chance at Cooperstown without going through those doors. Holds don’t do it.
“The adrenaline and gratification were immediate and plentiful and statistical when he got the last out,” Valentine said. “Now the gratification is less plentiful and it is delayed by time and I would think that is very difficult.”
Franco agrees this is tough, but says it will work out. He claims he still “feels important.” He will adapt, he says. Persevere. He sees Ewing has evolved some with age and is willing to try and match the center on that, as well.
“I see the similarities,” Franco said finding a smile in what is otherwise a sad face these days. “But he has a better hook shot than me.”