…how rumors get started…
The NBA should look into live television coverage of the annual trade deadline, the same way it does for the draft. This year’s deadline proved more dramatic than most daytime soap operas.
From a basketball standpoint and how it affects wins and losses, only the Chris Webber trade will have any impact this season.
--->read more
Monday, February 28, 2005
Friday, February 25, 2005
Knicks play No Limit, Texas Hold ‘Em
…moving the Center to go Forward takes us Back…
In two trades that amount to folding your hand right after the flop, Knicks President Isiah Thomas did his best Scott Layden impression. At the same time, Isiah showed why he is so different from his Knicks predecessor.
Thomas stocked up on Forwards by trading Center Nazr Mohammed, Vin Baker, and back-up Point-Guards Moochie Norris and Jamison Brewer. In return, he got San Antonio Forward Malik Rose, Houston Forward Maurice Taylor, and two first round draft picks.
In two trades that amount to folding your hand right after the flop, Knicks President Isiah Thomas did his best Scott Layden impression. At the same time, Isiah showed why he is so different from his Knicks predecessor.
Thomas stocked up on Forwards by trading Center Nazr Mohammed, Vin Baker, and back-up Point-Guards Moochie Norris and Jamison Brewer. In return, he got San Antonio Forward Malik Rose, Houston Forward Maurice Taylor, and two first round draft picks.
--->read the rest
Monday, February 14, 2005
sunday wrapup: ALL BULL?
…‘Roids in BaseBall, Nets Resurgence, and Knicks Reality
Baseball is lucky to have Jose Canseco. He is a metaphor for why playing baseball is often considered passé. The game does not have a level playing field; it never had, not even after black players joined the ranks.
Baseball historians hold numbers dear, bypassing the fact each stadium has different dimensions; and the changes made to the ball at various points in the game’s history.
Canseco used steroids to alter his physical limitations, much the same way stadium walls are adjusted to benefit a team.
--->read the rest
Baseball is lucky to have Jose Canseco. He is a metaphor for why playing baseball is often considered passé. The game does not have a level playing field; it never had, not even after black players joined the ranks.
Baseball historians hold numbers dear, bypassing the fact each stadium has different dimensions; and the changes made to the ball at various points in the game’s history.
Canseco used steroids to alter his physical limitations, much the same way stadium walls are adjusted to benefit a team.
--->read the rest
Friday, February 11, 2005
Working Over / Time
The Atlantic Division is the laughing stock of the NBA – at least that’s what the pundits would have you believe. Wins and Losses tell you that, on the surface. Even if you keep injuries as a constant for all NBA teams, this division is in major flux. Each team has a new head coach, and a revamped roster.
Since 1999, the division has made 4 trips (sent three teams) to the NBA Finals. None of the teams has “rebuilt” completely through the draft. Their moves have been to complement their core with a patchwork of mid-level first round picks, and acquiring free agents.
Whether one or two teams make the playoffs, the Atlantic will be a force.
--->read more
Sunday, February 06, 2005
sunday wrapup: Stay Off The Bandwagon!!!
For the New Jersey Nets to surpass my pre-season expectations of 30 or so wins, I need to stay off the bandwagon.
The Nets cannot be categorized as a franchise that makes bad trades, except that of Julius “Dr. J” Erving. When it came to transactions, the team had become a haven for top draft picks, veteran underachievers, or established NBA talent whose image has recently been tarnished, in some fashion.
Until Rod Thorn took over the front office, at best, the Nets were a franchise beset by a string of bad luck injuries and tragedy, maximized by the death of Drazen Petrovic.
---> read the rest
The Nets cannot be categorized as a franchise that makes bad trades, except that of Julius “Dr. J” Erving. When it came to transactions, the team had become a haven for top draft picks, veteran underachievers, or established NBA talent whose image has recently been tarnished, in some fashion.
Until Rod Thorn took over the front office, at best, the Nets were a franchise beset by a string of bad luck injuries and tragedy, maximized by the death of Drazen Petrovic.
---> read the rest
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Brotherly Loathe
…why the NFL wants the Eagles to win the Super Bowl
===
T.O. has the chance to become the most loved figure in Philadelphia team sport history, unless Allen Iverson wins a title for the Sixers. Whereas A.I. was the NBA’s principal opponent, as the league tried turning players into robots, T.O.’s struggle is to be included in the NFL marketing hierarchy.
Except for its PSA (public service announcements), contrary to the NBA, the NFL markets the players who embody the sports’ pugnacious reality. The NFL does so, on a wink-wink basis, which is best represented by its recent affiliate marketing scandals: Janet Jackson’s nipple; and Nicolette Sheridan’s towel drop.
---> read the rest
===
T.O. has the chance to become the most loved figure in Philadelphia team sport history, unless Allen Iverson wins a title for the Sixers. Whereas A.I. was the NBA’s principal opponent, as the league tried turning players into robots, T.O.’s struggle is to be included in the NFL marketing hierarchy.
Except for its PSA (public service announcements), contrary to the NBA, the NFL markets the players who embody the sports’ pugnacious reality. The NFL does so, on a wink-wink basis, which is best represented by its recent affiliate marketing scandals: Janet Jackson’s nipple; and Nicolette Sheridan’s towel drop.
---> read the rest
FREE…throw... FALL
…another Knicks loss
The Knicks continue to lose, and last night’s loss has to be the most frustrating. Yesterday, the three major local papers reported and gave a spin to accounts of Knicks players’ fighting spirits. This airing of differences came on the heels of two disparate road losses – a close one to the Los Angeles Clippers; and a blowout at the hands of the rejuvenated Denver Nuggets.
Throughout yesterday’s game against the Sacremento Kings, the team presented the evidence. They were not going down without a fight.
--->read the rest
The Knicks continue to lose, and last night’s loss has to be the most frustrating. Yesterday, the three major local papers reported and gave a spin to accounts of Knicks players’ fighting spirits. This airing of differences came on the heels of two disparate road losses – a close one to the Los Angeles Clippers; and a blowout at the hands of the rejuvenated Denver Nuggets.
Throughout yesterday’s game against the Sacremento Kings, the team presented the evidence. They were not going down without a fight.
--->read the rest
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
REVISIONIST HISTORY 0105:
...The Knicks Should Trade For Ron Artest
...in the age of free agency and guaranteed contracts, revision is part of the landscape.
Revising history needs full cooperation from parties who may not be ready to admit culpability.
But they will do so if the spin is tight; the public relations hit minimal; and the numbers match, on and off the court:
--->read the rest
...in the age of free agency and guaranteed contracts, revision is part of the landscape.
Revising history needs full cooperation from parties who may not be ready to admit culpability.
But they will do so if the spin is tight; the public relations hit minimal; and the numbers match, on and off the court:
--->read the rest
Sunday, January 30, 2005
sunday wrapup: Roll of the ‘Dyess’
…when injuries derail a season!
·For the Knicks, it started with the 2002 NBA draft, when management gambled and traded its first round-pick and the injured Marcus Camby for Antonio McDyess.
In hindsight everyone criticizes this trade and then-GM Scott Layden never recovered from that transaction, because McDyess was never healthy enough to contribute. A similar thing happened in Orlando when the Magic signed free-agent Grant Hill who was coming off ankle surgery.
--->read the rest
Thursday, January 27, 2005
No Love for Serena!
…sounds from the Australian Open
Serena vs. Sharapova in a Grand Slam tennis semifinal needs no special build-up, no villain. Last night, listening to the commentary provided on ESPN2, Mary Carrillo and Dick Enberg, one would think Serena stole something, and did not deserve to be there.
A day after defending her sister and family’s name with the statement, ‘we have nothing to prove’, Serena Williams found herself playing an error-filled first set.
--->read the rest
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
KNICKS & NETS - Midway Predictions
Make your midway projections!Simply go to nba.com and look for your team's schedule!
With 41 games left for both the Knicks & Nets, I have the balance of the schedule as:
--->read the rest
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Will the Sun set on Marbury’s Knicks’ Tenure?
Consider yourself lucky that print columnists are there to sell advertisements, and are not financial research analysts, telling you which stock to pick.
With the Phoenix Suns in town to play the Knicks, the coverage is all about Steve Nash vs. Stephon Marbury. Reading today’s New York daily newspapers and Chad Ford’s espn.com column, you’d get the idea that the Knicks should trade Stephon Marbury, so next year’s team can win 50 or more games, make it to the playoff, and win (WAIT) a championship.
--->read the rest
Monday, January 24, 2005
"Not the herb you're looking for…"
Recent reports out of the New York papers hint that fireworks could be in the horizon for the NY Knicks, because new head coach Herb Williams is not one with whom players should fool.
Williams has been labeled a “player’s coach”, yet is not beyond publicly stating who messed up at any given time during the game.
Though he has a new contract in hand, Herb is not expected to coach the team next year.
--->read the rest
Sunday, January 23, 2005
sunday wrapup: The Buck Stops Here…
In this first edition, I intone on three topics: NY Knicks, NFL Playoffs, and the “reality” show, Strange Love.
· JAMAL CRAWL before you… jack up three-pointers and other ill-advised shots to start the game.
Until the Feb. 24th trade deadline passes, I can start every Knicks’ column commenting on Nazr Mohammed spotting the opponent’s starting center with 2 quick, first quarter fouls. I will not because once the deadline passes, Nazr will either be gone, or play better because he's comfortable that he wasn’t traded or that expectations have been lowered since he is now coming off the bench or earning his DNPs.
--->read the rest
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Lenny and the Sword
After a heartbreaking, last-minute loss to the Houston Rockets last night, Lenny Wilkens decided it was time to resign as NY Knicks head coach.
The first I heard of it was on television channel ESPNnews nearing (or shortly after) midnight.The reporting was credited to Stephen A. Smith, as ‘Wilkens expected to resign’. Though the Knicks’ organization was said to have given Wilkens the night to mull it over, the word was already out; thereby making it impossible for him to change his mind.
--->read the rest
Friday, January 21, 2005
That Familiar Feeling...
...of loyalty, rigidity, and stability
The Houston Rockets will be in New York tonight, but it seems like New York is always in (or with) Houston.
When GM Carroll Dawson hired Jeff Van Gundy to coach, I don’t think he knew JVG was going to be such a ‘homer’and bring all these folks with Knicks' ties to the franchise.
Another aspect that Dawson never anticipated: JVG’s rigidity in his coaching style.
--->read the rest
Thursday, January 20, 2005
DEAD(line) that talk!
a message to underachieving NBA teams
The day after the Knicks fell apart in the fourth quarter versus the Toronto Raptors, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News wrote trade prospects Donyell Marshall and Jalen Rose may have ruined that deal, due to their spectacular performance.
I’ve been hearing about various Knicks’ trades involving these two players for weeks, and want no parts of it.
--->read the rest
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
‘Soft in the Middle’
Those words came from Eddy Curry of the Chicago Bulls in describing the NY Knicks, after Saturday’s (01/15/05) game. Though I knew why he would say such a thing, I still felt it was an odd statement from a player who had very little success in the game.
Yes, he did hit the winning layup, and scored 17 points; but as they often say in sports, “the numbers lie.”
--->read the rest
…when injuries derail a season!
·For the Knicks, it started with the 2002 NBA draft, when management gambled and traded its first round-pick and the injured Marcus Camby for Antonio McDyess.
In hindsight everyone criticizes this trade and then-GM Scott Layden never recovered from that transaction, because McDyess was never healthy enough to contribute. A similar thing happened in Orlando when the Magic signed free-agent Grant Hill who was coming off ankle surgery.
--->read the rest
Thursday, January 27, 2005
No Love for Serena!
…sounds from the Australian Open
Serena vs. Sharapova in a Grand Slam tennis semifinal needs no special build-up, no villain. Last night, listening to the commentary provided on ESPN2, Mary Carrillo and Dick Enberg, one would think Serena stole something, and did not deserve to be there.
A day after defending her sister and family’s name with the statement, ‘we have nothing to prove’, Serena Williams found herself playing an error-filled first set.
--->read the rest
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
KNICKS & NETS - Midway Predictions
Make your midway projections!Simply go to nba.com and look for your team's schedule!
With 41 games left for both the Knicks & Nets, I have the balance of the schedule as:
--->read the rest
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Will the Sun set on Marbury’s Knicks’ Tenure?
Consider yourself lucky that print columnists are there to sell advertisements, and are not financial research analysts, telling you which stock to pick.
With the Phoenix Suns in town to play the Knicks, the coverage is all about Steve Nash vs. Stephon Marbury. Reading today’s New York daily newspapers and Chad Ford’s espn.com column, you’d get the idea that the Knicks should trade Stephon Marbury, so next year’s team can win 50 or more games, make it to the playoff, and win (WAIT) a championship.
--->read the rest
Monday, January 24, 2005
"Not the herb you're looking for…"
Recent reports out of the New York papers hint that fireworks could be in the horizon for the NY Knicks, because new head coach Herb Williams is not one with whom players should fool.
Williams has been labeled a “player’s coach”, yet is not beyond publicly stating who messed up at any given time during the game.
Though he has a new contract in hand, Herb is not expected to coach the team next year.
--->read the rest
Sunday, January 23, 2005
sunday wrapup: The Buck Stops Here…
In this first edition, I intone on three topics: NY Knicks, NFL Playoffs, and the “reality” show, Strange Love.
· JAMAL CRAWL before you… jack up three-pointers and other ill-advised shots to start the game.
Until the Feb. 24th trade deadline passes, I can start every Knicks’ column commenting on Nazr Mohammed spotting the opponent’s starting center with 2 quick, first quarter fouls. I will not because once the deadline passes, Nazr will either be gone, or play better because he's comfortable that he wasn’t traded or that expectations have been lowered since he is now coming off the bench or earning his DNPs.
--->read the rest
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Lenny and the Sword
After a heartbreaking, last-minute loss to the Houston Rockets last night, Lenny Wilkens decided it was time to resign as NY Knicks head coach.
The first I heard of it was on television channel ESPNnews nearing (or shortly after) midnight.The reporting was credited to Stephen A. Smith, as ‘Wilkens expected to resign’. Though the Knicks’ organization was said to have given Wilkens the night to mull it over, the word was already out; thereby making it impossible for him to change his mind.
--->read the rest
Friday, January 21, 2005
That Familiar Feeling...
...of loyalty, rigidity, and stability
The Houston Rockets will be in New York tonight, but it seems like New York is always in (or with) Houston.
When GM Carroll Dawson hired Jeff Van Gundy to coach, I don’t think he knew JVG was going to be such a ‘homer’and bring all these folks with Knicks' ties to the franchise.
Another aspect that Dawson never anticipated: JVG’s rigidity in his coaching style.
--->read the rest
Thursday, January 20, 2005
DEAD(line) that talk!
a message to underachieving NBA teams
The day after the Knicks fell apart in the fourth quarter versus the Toronto Raptors, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News wrote trade prospects Donyell Marshall and Jalen Rose may have ruined that deal, due to their spectacular performance.
I’ve been hearing about various Knicks’ trades involving these two players for weeks, and want no parts of it.
--->read the rest
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
‘Soft in the Middle’
Those words came from Eddy Curry of the Chicago Bulls in describing the NY Knicks, after Saturday’s (01/15/05) game. Though I knew why he would say such a thing, I still felt it was an odd statement from a player who had very little success in the game.
Yes, he did hit the winning layup, and scored 17 points; but as they often say in sports, “the numbers lie.”
--->read the rest
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