Steve Francis

COLLEGE PARK -- As Maryland senior guard Mike Jones was warming up before the Terps' tip-off against Duke earlier this week, one of the most frequent insults flung his way from the Blue Devils' student section was the same label that deemed him a high school superstar. "Are you a McDonald's All-American?" one of the Cameron Crazies yelled from a few feet away. Jones' response was a game-high 25 points, four assists and six rebounds - evidence that his game has evolved into more than just unreliable, yet often remarkable, shooting streaks.

What aspect of Maryland's conquest of North Carolina on Wednesday night most encouraged the Terps? The realization that they don't need a big point total from Steve Francis to put away a quality opponent in a pressure-packed game.Francis is regarded as having the largest impact of any newcomer in college basketball this season, but the Tar Heels picked up on a tactic that Duke used when it quelled Maryland.The Blue Devils slowed the junior-college transfer by putting a bigger defender on him. Chris Carrawell, 6 feet 6, hounded the 6-3 Terp into 0-for-7 shooting in the second half of Duke's 18-point win at Cole Field House on Jan. 3.North Carolina marked Francis with 6-8 freshman Jeff Capel, and Francis' season-low eight points marked only the second time he didn't reach double figures.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Steve Francis had to swallow a lot of bitter pills on the way to the Sweet 16 yesterday.And it all added up to making him so angry when the final buzzer sounded that he walked straight off the court with a scowl on his face, not stopping to talk to anybody or shake any hands."

WASHINGTON -- Steve Francis already is in excellent NBA company. Like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, he holds a grudge against Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause.So, Steve, did the Bulls make a mistake overlooking you?"They took a big gamble by not picking me," Francis shot back.OK, Steve, tell us how you really feel about the Bulls' selecting Duke's Elton Brand with the No. 1 pick and the Vancouver Grizzlies' taking you second in last night's NBA draft.Francis is either the league's next head case or its next great warrior, but you had to love his raw, emotional reaction to the first snub of his professional career.

COLLEGE PARK -- The crowd chanted at Steve Francis throughout the second half of the Maryland Terrapins' last home game of the season last night."One more year!" everyone roared. "One more year!"What about it, Steve?"Irrelevant," he said after dropping 32 points, eight rebounds and six steals on Clemson in Maryland's 77-60 victory at Cole Field House.Irrelevant? Why?"Because I know I'm coming back," he said.You what?"Right now," he said, "I'm coming back."Could you, you know, maybe change your mind at some point?

From more than 2,000 miles away, Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe's decision to refrain from talking to the media hardly seems like something to get worked up over.And more than one media wag believes that Sharpe, who is as drawn to the cameras and notebooks as a moth is to a flame, won't be able to keep his promise for long. Former Sun columnist Mike Littwin has the date of Sept. 3 in his office pool for when Sharpe will talk again.Whether Sharpe ever faces the media again or not, the situation serves as a reminder of the occasional hypocrisy of the media.

The week in reviewResultsWon at home over North Carolina, 81-64, SaturdayWho's hotSteve Francis did everything but hand out Valentine's Day cards Saturday in a 22-point performance against the Tar Heels. He hit eight of 12 from the field, including 4-for-6 from three-point range, had five steals, three assists and three rebounds.Who's notTerrell Stokes had nine assists and shut down Ed Cota against Carolina, but had another scoreless game. The senior has gone scoreless in six games this season.

TAKOMA PARK -- Steve Francis grew up in this leafy suburban enclave of high-rise apartments and graceful Victorian homes. He played pickup basketball games in the modern community center and in the cellar of the city's 70-year-old stone firehouse.Now, on the eve of the National Basketball Association draft in which Francis might be taken as the No. 1 pick, Takoma Park residents of all ages say they are rooting for their favorite son -- providing he remembers his roots."I'm proud of him, as long as he's a good role model and makes these kids care about their lives and values," said Rebecca Brown, 57, town librarian.

There was no sulking or frowning. Three weeks to the day after those actions by Steve Francis were the talk of the NBA draft, the former Maryland guard showed up in Vancouver yesterday and actually cracked a smile.Looking to make amends to a city that felt snubbed by his draft-day actions, when he was taken by the Vancouver Grizzlies with the draft's No. 2 pick, Francis said all the right things yesterday as he faced the media during a news conference at the team's home, General Motors Place.

It began as a bit of advice from his girlfriend, and it ended with Duke junior forward Chris Carrawell sitting in his hotel room and going over tape after tape of Maryland on the eve of yesterday's game between the two top-five teams."

Mo Williams strengthened his argument for being an All-Star by scoring a career-high 43 points and LeBron James recorded his 20th career triple double as the Cleveland Cavaliers (35-8) improved to 21-0 at home, beating the Sacramento Kings, 117-110, last night. Williams, who is hoping to join James on the Eastern Conference team at next month's All-Star Game in Phoenix, had his finest game since joining the Cavaliers. The do-it-all point guard went 15-of-24 from the field, made a career-best seven three-pointers and added 11 assists and eight rebounds.

The Boston Celtics' Big 3 outplayed the Houston Rockets' trio of stars last night. Ray Allen scored 29 points, Kevin Garnett added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and the Celtics shut down Ron Artest and Yao Ming in a 103-99 victory over the host Rockets. Tracy McGrady scored 26 points for Houston. Mavericks 98, Spurs 81: : Dirk Nowitzki scored 30 points, Jason Terry added 29 in his first start of the season and Dallas' victory gave host San Antonio its first 0-3 record in 35 years. The Mavericks also received 14 points from Josh Howard.

COLLEGE PARK -- As Maryland senior guard Mike Jones was warming up before the Terps' tip-off against Duke earlier this week, one of the most frequent insults flung his way from the Blue Devils' student section was the same label that deemed him a high school superstar. "Are you a McDonald's All-American?" one of the Cameron Crazies yelled from a few feet away. Jones' response was a game-high 25 points, four assists and six rebounds - evidence that his game has evolved into more than just unreliable, yet often remarkable, shooting streaks.

Moves Baseball ASTROS: Optioned P Carlos Hernandez to Triple-A Round Rock. Reassigned P Turk Wendell and OF Charles Gipson to minor league camp. BLUE JAYS: Assigned P Jesse Carlson, P Spike Lundberg and P Michael Nannini to minor league camp. BRAVES: Optioned P Kyle Davies, P Jorge Vasquez, IF Andy Marte, IF Tony Pena, OF Kelly Johnson and OF Bill McCarthy to Triple-A Richmond. GIANTS: Optioned P Brad Hennessey and OF Todd Linden to Triple-A Fresno. Reassigned P Matt Kinney and P Jeremy Fikac to minor league camp MARLINS: Promoted Michael Hill to VP and assistant GM. NATIONALS: Optioned IF Brendan Harris to Triple-A New Orleans.

Moves Baseball ASTROS: Re-signed OF Lance Berkman to six-year, $85 million contract with option for 2011. BLUE JAYS: Optioned IF Eric Crozier and OF John-Ford Griffin to Triple-A Syracuse. DEVIL RAYS: Announced retirement of former Orioles 2B Roberto Alomar and OF Danny Bautista. Signed OF Alex Sanchez. RANGERS: Reassigned P Wilfredo Rodriguez, P Jason Standridge and C Justin Hatcher to minor league camp. TWINS: Optioned P Boof Bonser and P J.D. Durbin to Triple-A Rochester. Assigned P Trey Hodges to minor league camp.

Moves Baseball BREWERS: Assigned P Brian Bowles and C Craig Coste to Triple-A Indianapolis. CUBS: Optioned P Francis Beltran, OF Jason Dubois, OF Nic Jackson and OF David Kelton to Triple-A Iowa. Reassigned IF Felix Martinez and P Juan Pena to minor league camp. DIAMONDBACKS: Optioned OF Luis Terrero to Triple-A Tucson. PADRES: Optioned P Ben Howard, P Dennis Tankersley and OF Xavier Nady to Triple-A Portland. Assigned P Matt Bruback, 1B Tagg Boziee and OF John Knott to Portland. RANGERS: Signed P Nick Bierbrodt to minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

WASHINGTON - For once, the Washington Wizards held down their turnovers and got solid production from their bench, which should have added up to a win. However, the Wizards allowed the Houston Rockets to shoot a blistering 52 percent from the field and pound them on the boards 44-31, thereby suffering the expected, 93-80 loss before 16,254 at MCI Center last night. Afterward, Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, in a three-minute burst of controlled fury, let loose on his team, particularly his big men, contending that they had shown little heart and pride.

Moves Baseball MLB: Suspended Mets C Mike Piazza and Dodgers P Guillermo Mota five games each for their roles in a bench-clearing brawl on March 12. Fined Piazza $3,000, Mota $1,500 and Mets OF Jeromy Burnitz $500. ATHLETICS: Optioned IF Jose Flores to Triple-A Tacoma. Returned Rule 5 player P Buddy Hernandez to Braves. BLUE JAYS: Signed 3B Eric Hinske to five-year, $14.75 million contract and OF Vernon Wells to five-year $14.7 million contract. Assigned P Evan Thomas and former Orioles P Josh Towers to minor-league camp.

Moves Baseball MLB: Athletics 3B Eric Chavez named AL Player of Week. Rockies OF Jay Payton and Giants P Jason Schmidt named NL players of week. ATHLETICS: Optioned P Aaron Harang to Triple-A Sacramento. DODGERS: Sent P Kevin Beirne outright to Single-A Vero Beach. Recalled P Guillermo Mota from Triple-A Las Vegas. PADRES: Sent P Tom Davey outright to Triple-A Portland. RED SOX: Claimed OF Benny Agbayani off waivers from Colorado. TIGERS: Optioned P Fernando Rodney to Triple-A Toledo.

ATLANTA -- The questions regarding Juan Dixon evolved along with the fifth-year senior. 1996: Why is Gary Williams wasting a scholarship on a 140-pound kid from Calvert Hall? 1999: This is the guy who's going to replace Steve Francis at shooting guard? 2002: Is Dixon the best basketball player ever at the University of Maryland? Now that you've cleaned up that coffee spill and choked down that bite of bran muffin, step back and really reconsider the case of Dixon. If NBA potential is your yardstick, he lags behind a pack that's led by John Lucas, Joe Smith and the late Len Bias, but if a performance in college is the criterion, then Dixon looks large.