sunday wrap-up: A Tangled Webb

…how rumors get started…

by Guichard Cadet

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. The rest of the trades seemed more like attention-getters, for media and fans.


THE KNOCK
Firs off, I am amazed the Sacramento Kings traded Chris Webber. CWebb’s name always popped up in trade rumors. He is that marquee player teams and media pundits yearn to knock off his throne. Webber has been maligned since his college days when he headlined the Fab Five at the University of Michigan, specifically for the night he called a timeout he did not have, in the final seconds of the championship game.

Recently his name got linked to illegal booster contributions that led to U of M being placed on probation.

The “knock” on Chris used to be whispers. Now there are shouts that he does not take the big shot. Isolated incidents make a shadowy case for those doubts, though one can defend him as displaying faith in his teammates.

CWebb’s teams always have winning records and get to the threshold of winning championships. And, teams have a way of falling off once Webber is jettisoned… see Warriors, Wizards. Before trading for Webber, the Kings weren’t jack. Now they have placed themselves on the brink of once again being irrelevant.


THE ROLL
Keith Van Horn has been traded more than a penny stock. The expectations on KVH have dropped to an all-time low. Though KVH has decent career numbers, this pattern does not hold for the playoffs – the key reason his first NBA team (NJ Nets) sent him packing…to Philly…to New York…to Milwaukee…now…

All the Dallas Mavericks want is for him to spell Dirk Nowitzki, and hit a few jumpers here and there. Like KVH, the Mavericks are a team loaded with talent and high expectations. This is a short-term move for both. The Mavs have a pattern of acquiring veteran offensive power for the latter part of the season, then trading the player in the off-season. Keith has a chance to improve his value by simply making one or two memorable shots during the playoffs.


THE TWIST
Antoine Walker got rescued from the NBA’s current version of purgatory, Hotlanta! His rescuer was the man who started Walker’s death-walk. Danny Ainge had his reasons for trading ‘Toine. By reacquiring him, he has proven they were not valid.

Though Walker’s style of play is oft-times hard to stomach, he has good ball-handling skills, outside shot and power-forward size. But he is not a banger and would rather play the perimeter.

Why did Ainge bring him back? Paul Pierce’s nickname is The Truth, and he plays like it. There were rumors Pierce was on the trading block. Lastly, Pierce and Walker played well together and are friends.


PAYTON’S PLACE
Gary Payton is another cautionary tale for aging veterans who walk away or force their teams to trade them. With his contract expiring and after years of voicing his discontent, the Seattle SuperSonics traded him to Milwaukee. That summer of 2003, Payton and Karl Malone had a great idea: take a pay cut and sign to win a title with the Lakers.

A year later after the Lakers imploded, Payton found himself in Boston. Now he is in purgatory, waiting to hear the next verdict.

Given a choice after either a buyout or clearing waivers, where will Payton choose to play? Gary, go home again! Go to Seattle or Golden State…


THE STING
…True they have just traded for Baron Davis and have Derek Fisher on the roster. The reality is that the Warriors need leadership, the same kind that Payton provided for Boston during his short stay.

As for Davis, he is just happy to be out of the Hornets' nest. I wish him well. The guy has game but injuries, including those to teammates, have slowed his career. With the Warriors, Davis is back in his home state and playing with young developing players.

As for the team, will it have the patience not to get rid of these young players, only to see them end up with the Washington Wizards…or some other franchise?


STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
Vin Baker was not playing much with New York. The reason – no one ever said, but the whispers point to his agent’s early disclosure that Vince had taken most of the Knicks’ veteran minimum. At that time, Knicks President Isiah Thomas was still angling to land Erick Dampier. Two days later, Dampier is a Maverick and Baker is glued to the bench.

So why would the Houston Rockets want Baker? I hear they’re building a retirement home for aging Knicks players.

Seriously, I have to layoff Jeff Van Gundy, not only because they are winning, but he seemed to have changed offensive strategies midstream. He really had no choice but to start the offense with proven scorer Tracy McGrady then allow Yao Ming to develop at a more natural pace.

Just as JVG is beginning to shed his image of being rigid, he trades Maurice Taylor because he does not play defense to some predetermined standard. OK, the Knicks got stuck with salary; and whatever the next move by Isiah, the Knicks now have a choice and competition for the small forward position.


These are just 6 of the shows the NBA has to offer.

The NBA - it's more than just a game. It is great television.

Knicks play No Limit, Texas Hold 'Em

…moving the Center to go Forward takes us Back…

by Guichard Cadet

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.

So far, the media consensus says Thomas has dug himself a deeper salary cap hole while losing his one bona fide center. The real verdict for these deals will come long after the summer, based on how Thomas packages these new draft picks and other expiring contracts.

Two columns by Marc Berman best explain why these trades had to be made, and their potential benefits.

At last year’s trade deadline, Isiah acquired Mohammed and Tim Thomas because he fell for the old math – thinking more minutes would translate into greater output. Though Nazr’s offensive numbers are up across the board, Kurt Thomas and Michael Sweetney’s rise in overall production relate to his true ineffectiveness.

Mohammed lacks a defensive presence, is consistently in foul trouble, and rarely outplays the opposing team’s center. The other night he got a technical foul for “verbalizing” to the referees – mainly because he was being outplayed by Ben Wallace and whoever the Pistons put against him. Known for his subdued demeanor, this clearly signaled he had reached the peak of his personal frustrations.

Not willing to see this turn, Isiah reversed his claim of patience and addressed a winless, worsening hand – the play of Mohammed.

Thomas showed he is not afraid to admit the errors of his ways by trading Mohammed who this time last year was “key to the deal”. No matter the outcome, he showed an unwillingness to drown in a river of doubt, sitting idly by while players under-perform, unlike…his predecessor.

sunday wrapup: ALL BULL?

…‘Roids in BaseBall, Nets Resurgence, and Knicks Reality

by Guichard Cadet

Why every time a star baseball player admits to using steroids, the powers that be say it is not true? The answer is quite simple: the confessor always implicates other star players. Sometime he names names; other times, he just throws out a percentage… 35%; 50%.

Jose Canseco is implicating everyone, assorted players, homerun record owners, and a laundry list of former league MVPs. No one is safe, whether you are white, black or latino; manager or owner – Jose says you are all part of the same racket.

If so, then why blow the whistle, Jose? This is the house we built. To discredit him, people point at his arrest record; his greed, need for money; and sour grapes he will not be a Hall of Famer.

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.

Whether or not there is a question mark next to his claims, baseball has a new asterisk next to its most glorified record and names.

This is reason enough to further tighten its drug-testing policy.

…

Friday night, the New Jersey Nets were done in by the farce that sometimes passes for NBA refereeing. Vince Carter had 43 points, and got tossed when he got a second technical. The blown whistle came as a result of his charging toward Bruce Bowen. The first whistle came because the two had exchanged head butts earlier in the game.

Entering the final quarter, the Nets were leading the San Antonio Spurs by 14 points. They ended up losing by 10 points.

Kenyon Martin came back tonight. Though wearing the opponent’s uniform, New Jersey fans gave him a hearty welcome, demonstrating how much admiration they had for Kenyon.

Since hiring George Karl, the Denver Nuggets have had their own brand of resurgence, with 5 wins in 7 games. Realizing the Nuggets clearly are not built for the half-court game, Karl has made a major adjustment. Point guard Andre Miller starts at the 2-spot; and Earl Boykins is the starting point guard.

Whether this move comes only as a result of the opening day injury Voshon Lenard suffered, it definitely quickens the Nuggets’ offensive pace at the start of games.

With Nuggets’s center Marcus Camby injured, the Nets strengths top the Nuggets in every position, except Kenyon’s – the power forward position.

After an offensive-minded first quarter for both teams, the Nets tweaked their defense. The focus changed from stopping your opponent, to making the Nuggets use up the full 24-second shot clock.

The Nets led from the end of the second quarter, and barely slowed their roll; at times, leading by as many as 24 points.

With just 2 more games before the All-Star break, all question marks might be removed from the Nets resurgence.

…

At the start of this year’s season, MSG television introduced a new show to the lineup: All Ball. The thirty-minute show featured one Knick player, and tried to give fans a more realistic, in-depth view of the player. At best, the program was a half-baked attempt, much like team’s play this season.

Growing up, in the playgrounds, when someone said they got All Ball, it meant a blocked shot, with no contact, no foul. In essence, you had made a clean play.

Friday night, the spin from the voices at MSG detailed that the upcoming four games were not only winnable, but necessary. What did the team do?

The Knicks came out flat against the division-leading Boston Celtics, trailing by double-digits within minutes. After a timeout, as if the script was straight out of wrestling’s playbook, they got energized and played a decent first half.

It is easy to focus on their fourth quarter collapses, but with the Knicks, the third quarter continues to be another bumpy area. What do they do during intermission that leaves them looking unmotivated and unprepared for the game’s second half?

They scored only 11 points in the third quarter. Down by 22 to start the fourth, they managed to lose by only 17 points, while making Boston look like an Eastern Conference version of the Phoenix Suns.

Tonight’s win versus the expansion, Charlotte Bobcats, was hard to celebrate, except the momentary joy / relief for Tim Thomas’ buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer.

The Bobcats were playing without rookie sensation Emeka Okafor, and had lost 6 consecutive games. Yet, the Knicks could not close them out, after leading by double-digits, on various occasions.

After hitting three consecutive three-pointers, with less than 3 minutes to play, the Bobcats readied to close the Knicks out or at least take the game to overtime.

The Knicks got a lucky bounce from the rim. Instead of an exclamation point, the Knicks earned a question mark after ALL BULL!

Working Over / Time

by Guichard Cadet

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. Of these five teams, I cover the Knicks & the Nets.


In their last games, both teams (Knicks & Nets) lost in overtime. The Knicks were playing their second consecutive overtime game. Both games magnified their smugness and grit.

In the win over the Jazz, they overcame the low of consecutive losses during a tough road trip, and blowing another double-digit fourth quarter lead.

The Knicks lost on Wednesday. The Miami Heat had led throughout. After tying then overtaking them, the Knicks celebrated as if they had won – not only the game, but a playoff series. They then failed to seal the victory in regulation.

The Knicks continue to miss free-throws, and close out games. As the seconds of regulation tic, they seem to breathe a sigh of relief, and try to run out the clock, instead of nailing the door shut.

Oddly enough, time seems to be running out of the Knicks’ playoff chances…because…


Though the resurging Nets lost a game they normally win, they have a favorable home schedule this month. By month’s end, we will see if the recent wins were an aberration or the norm for this team.

Against the Kobe-less Lakers, Vince Carter had a human-like performance. Jason Kidd raked in another triple, but a couple of unlucky bounces and lack of a call, during the final possession, sealed their fate.

Key for the Nets will be the play of journeymen Ron Mercer, Travis Best and Jabari Smith.

Smith’s play may actually become the major factor because of his size. He has dazzled in stretches with Kidd-like passes and decent range on his jumper. His defense will be the x-factor because the Nets are depleted up front, with Brian Scalabrine undergoing season-ending surgery.

Both teams need to play their best because the Atlantic is tough now…and will be over time.

sunday wrapup: Stay Off The Bandwagon!!!

by Guichard Cadet


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.

At the start of the 2001-2002 season, the franchise gained stability via the acquisition of Jason Kidd, the healing of previously-injured players (Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, and Keith Van Horn), and obtaining rookies Richard Jefferson and Jason Collins.

With this core, for two seasons, the team ran roughshod over other Eastern Conference opponents. Their fortune had changed, and confirmed, like yeast, success raises dough.

Everyone had their hands out for a bigger payday, including the former owners.

Kidd got max money to keep the franchise’s viability.

During this year, there were rumors of player grumblings about the coach. Then, Byron Scott was fired. I raised my right foot to prepare for the jump off the bandwagon. After his firing, the team’s early success hinted anyone could do their X and O’s. The only thing that could stop the Nets in the new century would be what always stopped them – injuries and tragedy.

Tragedy came in the form of a new ownership bent on dismantling the team, so it would be easier to pack for a move to Brooklyn.

Martin wanted his piece of the pie. He had played the last year of his contract with his usual tenacity, garnering a nod as an All-Star. Yet the new owners opted to send him off in a sign and trade to the Denver Nuggets.

Off the bandwagon, if you can call it that, for us fans who had suffered through decades of losing. The bandwagon is actually what ownership realized it owed its fans by trading for Vince Carter.

It is up to Nets fans to withhold their satisfaction until ownership realizes we only pay and cheer for teams whose owners want to win, at all cost.

The cynics amongst us thought they made the trade to simply lure us back, and soften the blow when they eventually trade Jason Kidd.

A funny thing happened! During a televised interview with TNT's coach John Thompson, Carter purged his soul by confessing he didn’t give his all playing for the Raptors. Though he had admitted the unspeakable, I understood why he had not maximized his effort, while toiling in an unstable, regressing work environment, in which he played for 4 different coaches in 7 seasons.

Some surmised Carter would now do well, not having to carry the public relations load in New Jersey.

On paper, it’s a great theory; but to win in the NBA, you either need a well-balanced team, or amazing one-two punch. When Carter had these options, the Raptors advanced to the playoffs.

Beset by injuries, the Nets are a hybrid of the two forms. On any given night, JKidd and Vinsanity present credence for their monikers. While Kidd schools his opponents, Carter amazes them with his acrobatic moves, perimeter shooting and team-oriented game.

Then there are the nights when Collins, Nene Kristic, Rodney Buford, and the other players excel, to make the Nets nearly unbeatable. The Nets have won 7 out the last 10 games.

Yesterday, they demolished the Detroit Pistons, the reigning champions who beat them in the playoffs last season.

The Nets are still under .500 for the season, yet in contention for the Atlantic Division lead. The speculation has been that only one team from the division will make the playoffs. Seeded number 3, this team will play the conference’s 6th place seed; and possibly without home court advantage.

Except for the Miami Heat, I cannot think of an Eastern Conference team that is a hands-down favorite to beat this revived New Jersey Nets team.

Am I on the bandwagon? No!!!

Have I been a fan through the bad and the good? Always will be!

Brotherly Loathe

…why the NFL wants the Eagles to win the Super Bowl

by Guichard Cadet

The Philadelphia Eagles had two weeks to strategize. On Sunday, we’ll see what coach Andy Reid comes up to battle Bill Belichik. These past two weeks, we only got a glimpse of what the Eagles players could have done to unnerve the Patriots players.

The highlight of the Eagles’ seasons came versus the Baltimore Ravens. When Terrell “T.O.” Owens mimicked Ray Lewis’ celebratory antics as his own endzone celebration, Philly football fans gained what they never had: a superstar athlete who knows, sports is just entertainment.

Yes, I acknowledge the gritty reality of sports in which competitors must go mano a mano, as opposed to receiving style points from easily-bribed judges. In between the reality, a player has to show personality, a player must celebrate. We, “average Joes” use happy hour and the weekend to celebrate, with sports being the anchor of this celebration.

I theorize if you root for a team that has players who show no emotion or understanding that they’re here to entertain, then you are rooting for a losing team. To win, a team must embody their fans desire; and Philly fans love to hate.

At one point, they did not want Donavan McNabb. Why? They loathe then they love.

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.

Let them spin it, and they will tell you the league’s popularity is rooted in uniformity, the fact we do not know the players as individuals. It is not about their 3 B’s: the beer, the babes (scantily clad cheerleaders), and the blood, the violence that fractures bodies on a daily basis.

Unfortunately for the league, the Patriots are not entertaining, like recent champions, the Rams, Bucs, and Ravens. There are no nefarious characters whose character need reforming (Ray Lewis), no self-absorbed players to prop as outcasts (Keyshawn Johnson); and no show (Dick Vermeil’s St. Louis Rams).

With Philly, you’d get a year-long yarn debating the black quarterback controversy, and Terrell Owens. But, this week the Eagles players did not do their part, except for Freddie Mitchell’s barely controversial comments. The Patriots were ready for a comment to post on their bulletin board, and never got it.

And, that suited them well! The Patriots do best when opponents do as expected, and show reverence for their coach, uniformity and style of play.

Under Belichik, the Patriots pretty much play “possum”. Good teams do not realize the Pats offense can put up 30 points on them with but a blink. They score off turnovers because of their defensive prowess, at the linebacker level.

During the playoffs, we saw two Patritots opponents lose for very different reasons. The Indianapolis Colts were battling in a close game. They were doing what it takes to beat the Patriots, play ball-control, field position football. Edgerrin James was running effectively, and the short-passing game was working. Then, The Colts either became impatient, or their confidence grew. Whatever the reason, they decided to air it out on first and second downs, late in the second quarter.

In the third quarter, the Patriots orchestrated an ultra-conservative drive, reminiscent of the NY Giants during Bill Parcells’ tenure. They scored a touchdown to go up by 10 points. The Colts still could have showed some patience and try running the ball, mixed with a flurry of short passes.

Instead they gave credence to Boomer Esiason’s post-game semi-snub, in which he called Peyton Manning, “this generation’s Dan Marino”. Though he later clarified he meant it as a total compliment, the implication was clear. Manning’s numbers seem more important than a team victory.

As if they hadn’t watched how the Colts lost to the Patriots, the following week, the Steelers opened their first offensive drive by throwing the ball. A Patriots interception led to a first quarter touchdown, and a monumental momentum switch; and the game was never really close.

On paper, Patriots vs. Eagles are evenly matched teams, with fearsome defenses, good running game, and Pro-Bowl caliber quarterbacks.

On the field, the game belongs to the coach who is willing to play conservative, until the opponent gives an opening, to turn the switch and dim out the lights. Belichick has proven to be a master game manager.

For this reason, and the Eagles’ lack of hype-week trash-talk, I pick the Patriots, in a laughter.

FREE…throw... FALL

…another Knicks loss

by Guichard Cadet

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.

Nazr Mohammed was dunking whenever he was close to the basket. He also did not pick up two first quarter fouls, though he did get into foul trouble later. His effort and points were needed to negate Kings center Brad Miller.

Reactivated from the injured reserves list, Tim Thomas had a season high in scoring, with 23 points, and overall effort. His inside and outside game showed up, exemplifying why he is often seen as a possible marquee player.

Rounding out the Knicks’ attack, Stephon Marbury took over the third quarter, scoring 18 points. Even with Kings point guard battling him point for point, and assist for assist, Marbury’s play paced the Knicks to a double-digit lead well into the fourth quarter.

Then, the free fall begin at the free throw line, where the Knicks missed 10 shots in the fourth quarter, failing to close out the game. They eventually lost the game due to a miracle shot by Bibby, and two key errors by Anferne (Penny) Hardaway.

Though Penny stood out as the “goat” for last night’s lost, I am still wondering why Marbury did not take the last shot, and Jamal Crawford’s reluctance to shoot (only 8 shots, 6 of them three-pointers).

If last night’s game is any indication, then Herb Williams’ message has gotten through to the players. Having called a players-only meeting, the players seem ready to take on the onus to right the ship. Mohammed is playing smarter and more aggressive, and Crawford is playing under control.

It would be unfortunate if Crawford thinks playing “team ball” means he can’t look for his shot. Overall, the Knicks look ready to end the free fall, even with tonight’s opponent being the Phoenix Suns.

REVISIONIST HISTORY 0105:

...The Knicks Should Trade For Ron Artest

by Guichard Cadet


We close out previous months by revisiting stances made in previous columns, and/or other forums.

Right now both teams need to make that trade, but for different reasons. The Pacers need a small forward who can score and defend. The Knicks need an emotional leader, a star(ter) who connects to its fan base, and whose play motivates his teammates.

The Pacers had championship aspirations. Whatever their failure may become this season, Ron Artest cannot return and be a constant reminder of this breakdown.

The Knicks’ hopes were more modest. Make the playoffs, and build for next year.

The trade is essentially Jerome Williams for Ron Artest. To make the numbers match both on and off the court, the Knicks would throw in either offensive threat – Anferne Hardaway or Tim Thomas. The Pacers will do the same by adding another player.


I never knew the appeal Ron Artest had for some NBA league participants – fans included. In the 1999 NBA draft, coming out of St. John’s University, Artest went to the Chicago Bulls, number 16.

Guess who had the 15th pick of the 1st Round?

Guess who the Knicks picked? Frederick Weis, the hurdle Vince Carter jumped over, to become another lovable superstar the media love to hate.

Someone in the Knicks front office knew something, or that person knew nothing. Picking draft picks is tricky business, and that year is a perfect example. Of all the players taken ahead of Artest, only one, Baron Davis still plays with the franchise that drafted him.

Of the ones drafted after Artest, only Devean George (Lakers) and Andrei Kirilenko (Utah) are with their original draft-day club.

This proves, 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:

1. Isiah Thomas – Coaching Artest when Indiana acquired him via a trade from the Chicago Bulls. During his tenure, Thomas got the team thinking they could be the reincarnation of his Bad Boys championship team in Detroit.

Yes, Artest is an emotional player. Though he hurls objects and says inappropriate things, had I been the coach that night, he would never have gone into the stands. He has that much respect for me.


2. James Dolan – His need for “character” in his players does not incorporate the fact that the fans love players who play with emotion. Mason. Spreewell. Oft-times, these players’ attitudes make those around them play harder, and WIN games. Fans love effort, as fortied by the appeal of Jerome “Junk Yard Dog” Williams.

I hear Artest is a real generous person and very involved in the community.


3. Rick Carlisle – All he had to do was give Artest a month off. Neither tea leaves nor tarot cards were needed to foretell Artest would get his time off, one way or another. Except for Reggie Miller, Carlisle does not have that mental connection with the team’s key players.

I love my guys and would go to war with them, no matter the situation. All of them, including Ronny. It’s just that, right now, we have a chance to win one, for Reggie. So this is a trade we have to make. I am really sorry to see him go.


4. Larry Bird – He took a job, knowing, deep in his gut that he would fire the coach. But, first, he had to get the superstar signed. Then, he hires his former assistant coach and buddy. Let’s just say karma is a mistress who swears she’s on the pill.

It’s a win-win for everyone. Isiah and I had a good laugh over the situation, including our friendly rivalry over the past two decades. We see this as the spark to reignite the great rivalry our two clubs shared, not long ago.


5. Ron Artest – Why not fight Ben Wallace? Why fight the fans?

I know many claim that I’m soft and was scared Ben would body me. The truth is Ben is my brother, not from just a racial standpoint. I am like you the average fan, you New Yorkers. I am the kind of guy who would choke the coach. The fan that threw the beer on me is more than the coach. He is not the proletariat, the common man who cannot afford seats so close to the action. That fan is what is wrong with society. To think that you, while doing your job, are expected to accept insults and objects thrown at you. I will never throw anything at you. And, I know you respectful NY fans may come up with clever chants. But, you would never stoop so low. I am from here. I am you.


With this trade and every one on the same page:

The Pacers make the playoffs, with a decent chance to make it to the conference finals.

The Knicks bottom out, while earnestly pointing to the draft lottery, and next year’s roster.

Media and fans are satisfied because they have much to talk about.