Isiah Thomas has some nerve in setting an informal deadline for himself to turn his team around. According to Isiah, he only needs a couple of weeks to right the ship. What the heck is he thinking!? Or a better question is: Why is he so stupid? Let me elaborate.
What Isiah does not realize is that he cannot turn this team around. Not in two weeks, not in two months, not in two years but NEVER. But he does have two things on this roster: Role players and head cases. Some of his best players are role players. David Lee is an excellent rebounder but lacks on defense and has mediocre offensive game. Jamal Crawford should be a number two option on any good team. On the Knicks, he is Option 1C, behind Curry and Randolph. Renaldo Balkman brings a great amount of energy to the floor with his defense, but has the worst jumpshot on the team. Hell, even Curry made a 3 pointer last year, and it only took him one try. Quentin Richardson is a great shooter but is always injured. And when he's healthy, he doesn't take a lot of shots. Fred Jones is getting some burn and he HAS had some good games, but he wont give you that every night. Collins, Jeffries, Rose and Chandler basically have no role.
Isiah knows how to scout talent but does not know how to use it. Wilson Chandler and the unofficial 1st round pick, Randolph Morris, get no playing time. It does not make sense to just bring these guys in and have them sit. Chandler showed me something when he played garbage time against Chicago. Morris hasn't really gotten an opportunity, but he looks miserable sitting on the bench. Come to think of it, everybody on the Knicks bench looks miserable.
The other group on his roster are the headcases. This group, of course, is led by none other than Stephon "I kiss my sister on the lips" Marbury. Yeah, we all know his father died, but it happens. What's disturbing is the months before all of that. The crazy interviews, the interns, and 'Snakes on a Plane: The NYK Chapter.' That plane trip and the few days following are what tore this team apart. Steph's flight home, the misleading statements, the speculation. But the straw that broke the camel's back (to borrow a pun from the Nick Malone library) was the team vote on letting Marbury play or not, in LA. Isiah overturned the team's unanimous vote and let Stephon play anyway. Isiah and Stephon, together have torn this team apart in just a few days.
The next headcase is Eddy Curry. Although he's not on Marbury's level of headcasity, he is a headcase nonetheless. Eddy seemed to welcome Zach Randolph's arrival but I bet hes having second thoughts now. Eddy cannot get into an offensive groove for the past couple of weeks. This is due to the fact that he does not have nearly as much space to roam as he did last year. And now, Curry is completely ineffective. In the last five games he was 4-7, 9-16, 0-5, 6-11, and 3-13 from the floor. He played only 13 minutes against his hometown Bulls. His state of headcasity had led Curry to suffer severely from dementia, making him say "I feel good on defense." Get well soon, buddy.
The last headcase is Zach Randolph. Before the Indiana game I would have put Z-Bo in his own category. But when you let Troy Murphy beat you out for a rebound and then turn around so he has and uncontested 3 point shot, you are a headcase. Seeing Z-Bo argue witht the ref, bring back memories of when he played for the Portland Jail-Blazers. Yeah, the weed smokin', crime committing Jail-Blazers. Portland got rid of Randolph in a desperate trade in this offseason, only bringing in and retaining Channing Frye. Frye is a non-factor for Portland, but they are a much better team without Zach. They might even be this year's Golden State.
Once again, it falls back on Isiah bringing him in. He does not deserve his job. But the only man who can fire Isiah is Jim Dolan, and we all know that he aint moving from that chair. If Isiah is trying to be fired, he needs to try a lot harder. Maybe set the Garden on fire and erase all traces of the 07-08 Knicks.... hypothetically of course. So two weeks huh...? I'll give you two weeks... to pack your stuff.
Love,
Max Caster
'Over the Ropes'
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Are we really all that Surprised?
Looking at the Mitchell Report, that was revealed to the nation at 2:00 PM (EST) on a blustery, icy, miserable, Thursday Ice storm (12/13/07), unveiled the contents of Baseball's dirty little secret. Like in most other sports and Pro Wrestling, steroids have been at the forefront of controversy because of the effect that steroids have on the human body. Some of the features that have been known to come as a result from this usage shows an increased aggression along with other depression like causes that we've all come to generalize with in "Roid Rage". But, the main reason why Steroids are used is to produce a bigger, bulkier, and stronger body mass than the previous state. In baseball terms for this Steroids Era, you've seen attendance rise in every ball park, mile stones once thought to be untouchable were in-turn, now broken and maybe a more edgier game than in years past of history that Baseball has been known for. The ideology of this report is based on the fact that steroids were able to slither inside the clubhouses of every major league team and showing the signs that the coaches knew about it, the General Managers knew about it, and Hell, even the owners knew about it. As long as everybody won, what would the damaging repercussions cause?
Karma has a fun way of showing its ugly head when matters seem to be at its worst and thats almost like saying that no matter how deep you want to bury your skeletons, those skeletons will always come back to haunt you when the day is over. Basically, baseball got caught with their hands in the cookie jar and now its time to fess up to the allegations that happened and move on. Of course, that would never happen because of the backlash that has come from these reports in saying that these documents that George Mitchell wrote and kept updated were incomplete or untrue. When your personal trainers are being questioned by a former U.S Senator and the full arm of the law, would you rather tell the truth? Or be prosecuted for purgery something that Barry Bonds was stupid enough to do instead of telling the truth where he's now in jail because of it. So, when these reports were published, was there ever a case of Mitchell intentionally lying about this 409 page report that he's pour 20 + months of his time into? Looking at the list of suspects that used and purchased HGH and other Steroids alike we shouldn't be surprised at all to find that this list consists primarily of veteran players who played for Major League Ball-clubs during the 90's when Steroids were rampant and kept quiet because of the damage that it would do to the reputation of a rebuilding game riding on the bulky arms of "Slugger" Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in that historic chase to be crowned the next Home Run king in 1998. Was it jealousy? Rage to see these two figures knowingly hiding and taking steroids that pitted names like Benito Santiago, Fernando Vina, Todd Pratt, Gary Sheffield and everybody knows that this list could go on but the point was that why would borderline major leaguers turn to the "Juice"? Just so they could keep up and stay in the Majors another few more years? Many of these questions have a very easy result to this cause and labeled Baseball just like many pro sports and even the Olympics this label of "Shame". Even with the steroids and the book, Game of Shadows, that this story has been dragged through the mud for the past 6 going on 7 now. Ballplayers can keep denying this fact and keep playing or try to stay level headed and play on an even playing field to make the game a "Natural" and more competitive playing field.
With this steroids report, you can now have a Husband side by side with his Wife. Peanut Butter and Jelly, poster child for this generations steroid abuse problem could now be wedded in full matrimony with Roger Clemens as the Husband and Barry Bods as the freakishly deformed Wife. Some of the Best Men could include Andy Pettitte, Gary Sheffield, Jason Giambi, and David Justice all with ties to the Pinstripes and tradition of being a Yankee. The Brides maids could include on Barry’s side, Mark McGwire, Mo Vaughn (He might to distracted by eating the wedding cake to attend this ceremony), Rafael Palmeiro, and Todd Hundley. The Ring bearer could be played by Chuck Knoblauch since he handles throwing a baseball just as well. The flower Girl could be Jose Canseyco tossing instead of flowers possibly issues of his book Juiced or clean syringes. That'll bring just enough sting regardless of the two different textures. Last but not least, the Priest allowing this marriage to take place would be Players Union representative, Donald Fehr. A wedding made in Baseball hell that only Bud Selig could try to maneuver past similar to the job he did with avoiding Barry Bonds break Hank Aaron's all-time home run record but if you were in his shoes would you do the same thing?
Every other person attending this wedding would have an extra special connection whether it'd be the saps stupid enough to try these steroids, their personal suppliers........I mean personal trainers, and all the legends who have been elected to the HOF with their heads hung low in shame and disgust. The very same way that a good portion of America. Who appreciated the sport of actual Baseball, probably feels at this moment. You can't go and try to change the past but you can now take a step forward and try to make the best of a terrible and darkened decision that was regrettably made by those that chose to try to cheat to get their way ahead of everybody else. Looking at this issue as a whole, if Baseball, much like most other sports and pro wrestling wants to take control of this steroids hold then they must establish a guideline of what is and isn't ok. Another step would be to announce the names publicly to the media and make sure that this stuff isn't good to use. If baseball wants to be taken seriously, then Bud Selig must take these issues into his own hands and grab the proverbial bull by the horns and take control of this situation by making sure that steroids in general isn't allowed and lock up any loopholes that could be found maneuvering past these written laws by Major League Baseball. Thats how you clean up the Milk thats fallen flat onto the floor and watch out for the shards of broken glass surrounding the lies of this Dark and dirty issue.
Later Peeps.
- Nick Malone: "The Edge": Mondays 9-10pm on mywcwp.com; "The Edge": on 88.1 FM from 10-11pm Mondays; & "Over The Ropes": Saturdays from 10-11pm only on mywcwp.com
Karma has a fun way of showing its ugly head when matters seem to be at its worst and thats almost like saying that no matter how deep you want to bury your skeletons, those skeletons will always come back to haunt you when the day is over. Basically, baseball got caught with their hands in the cookie jar and now its time to fess up to the allegations that happened and move on. Of course, that would never happen because of the backlash that has come from these reports in saying that these documents that George Mitchell wrote and kept updated were incomplete or untrue. When your personal trainers are being questioned by a former U.S Senator and the full arm of the law, would you rather tell the truth? Or be prosecuted for purgery something that Barry Bonds was stupid enough to do instead of telling the truth where he's now in jail because of it. So, when these reports were published, was there ever a case of Mitchell intentionally lying about this 409 page report that he's pour 20 + months of his time into? Looking at the list of suspects that used and purchased HGH and other Steroids alike we shouldn't be surprised at all to find that this list consists primarily of veteran players who played for Major League Ball-clubs during the 90's when Steroids were rampant and kept quiet because of the damage that it would do to the reputation of a rebuilding game riding on the bulky arms of "Slugger" Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in that historic chase to be crowned the next Home Run king in 1998. Was it jealousy? Rage to see these two figures knowingly hiding and taking steroids that pitted names like Benito Santiago, Fernando Vina, Todd Pratt, Gary Sheffield and everybody knows that this list could go on but the point was that why would borderline major leaguers turn to the "Juice"? Just so they could keep up and stay in the Majors another few more years? Many of these questions have a very easy result to this cause and labeled Baseball just like many pro sports and even the Olympics this label of "Shame". Even with the steroids and the book, Game of Shadows, that this story has been dragged through the mud for the past 6 going on 7 now. Ballplayers can keep denying this fact and keep playing or try to stay level headed and play on an even playing field to make the game a "Natural" and more competitive playing field.
With this steroids report, you can now have a Husband side by side with his Wife. Peanut Butter and Jelly, poster child for this generations steroid abuse problem could now be wedded in full matrimony with Roger Clemens as the Husband and Barry Bods as the freakishly deformed Wife. Some of the Best Men could include Andy Pettitte, Gary Sheffield, Jason Giambi, and David Justice all with ties to the Pinstripes and tradition of being a Yankee. The Brides maids could include on Barry’s side, Mark McGwire, Mo Vaughn (He might to distracted by eating the wedding cake to attend this ceremony), Rafael Palmeiro, and Todd Hundley. The Ring bearer could be played by Chuck Knoblauch since he handles throwing a baseball just as well. The flower Girl could be Jose Canseyco tossing instead of flowers possibly issues of his book Juiced or clean syringes. That'll bring just enough sting regardless of the two different textures. Last but not least, the Priest allowing this marriage to take place would be Players Union representative, Donald Fehr. A wedding made in Baseball hell that only Bud Selig could try to maneuver past similar to the job he did with avoiding Barry Bonds break Hank Aaron's all-time home run record but if you were in his shoes would you do the same thing?
Every other person attending this wedding would have an extra special connection whether it'd be the saps stupid enough to try these steroids, their personal suppliers........I mean personal trainers, and all the legends who have been elected to the HOF with their heads hung low in shame and disgust. The very same way that a good portion of America. Who appreciated the sport of actual Baseball, probably feels at this moment. You can't go and try to change the past but you can now take a step forward and try to make the best of a terrible and darkened decision that was regrettably made by those that chose to try to cheat to get their way ahead of everybody else. Looking at this issue as a whole, if Baseball, much like most other sports and pro wrestling wants to take control of this steroids hold then they must establish a guideline of what is and isn't ok. Another step would be to announce the names publicly to the media and make sure that this stuff isn't good to use. If baseball wants to be taken seriously, then Bud Selig must take these issues into his own hands and grab the proverbial bull by the horns and take control of this situation by making sure that steroids in general isn't allowed and lock up any loopholes that could be found maneuvering past these written laws by Major League Baseball. Thats how you clean up the Milk thats fallen flat onto the floor and watch out for the shards of broken glass surrounding the lies of this Dark and dirty issue.
Later Peeps.
- Nick Malone: "The Edge": Mondays 9-10pm on mywcwp.com; "The Edge": on 88.1 FM from 10-11pm Mondays; & "Over The Ropes": Saturdays from 10-11pm only on mywcwp.com
Sunday, December 9, 2007
HELP!!!!
Calling all Knicks fans. This is a call to action to save our beloved team. The only way to save it from the hands of Isiah Thomas and that dim-witted moron of an owner, Jim Dolan.
I'm calling for serious action here folks. The problem here is that Dolan actually told Isiah his job was safe following the Knicks 28 point loss to the Sixers- SAFE!!!! How is this man's job safe!?!?! The answer is because Dolan doesn't care about the product on the court. Forbes ranked the Knicks has the most valuable franchise in the NBA, and it has increased 3% each of the last couple years- and the team has sucked. So why would Dolan want to change this?
The man probably has not one athletic bone in his body, yet when Daddy's big cable company bought the Garden, he decided to give his kid a little toy. And Jimmy is running it into the ground. And since apparently thousands of people voicing their opinion for Thomas to go isn't enough, then there's only one thing left to do.
Boycott the Knicks.
Yup. boycott. Don't go to games. Don't buy tickets. Let the dumbasses in Corporations buy tickets. But true Knicks fans DO NOT buy any tickets. This is the only way to save the team- by hitting Dolan in his wallet. The only way to make him fully get that we as fans have had enough.
Don't worry. you're fanhood will not be questioned. That's for those losers who would rather see a game than want to see a winning product. That's what matters to Knicks fans. Winning. We are not abandoning the team by calling for this- we're trying to get rid of crap so we can make it better.
So Knicks fans, follow me with your signs and help me say good-bye to the Knicks until the Knicks say good-bye to Thomas and Dolan. The only way he'll know it's serious is by the thousands of empty seats.
And Jimmy will have noone to blame but himself.
- Mike Tramontozzi, WCWP Sports Director
I'm calling for serious action here folks. The problem here is that Dolan actually told Isiah his job was safe following the Knicks 28 point loss to the Sixers- SAFE!!!! How is this man's job safe!?!?! The answer is because Dolan doesn't care about the product on the court. Forbes ranked the Knicks has the most valuable franchise in the NBA, and it has increased 3% each of the last couple years- and the team has sucked. So why would Dolan want to change this?
The man probably has not one athletic bone in his body, yet when Daddy's big cable company bought the Garden, he decided to give his kid a little toy. And Jimmy is running it into the ground. And since apparently thousands of people voicing their opinion for Thomas to go isn't enough, then there's only one thing left to do.
Boycott the Knicks.
Yup. boycott. Don't go to games. Don't buy tickets. Let the dumbasses in Corporations buy tickets. But true Knicks fans DO NOT buy any tickets. This is the only way to save the team- by hitting Dolan in his wallet. The only way to make him fully get that we as fans have had enough.
Don't worry. you're fanhood will not be questioned. That's for those losers who would rather see a game than want to see a winning product. That's what matters to Knicks fans. Winning. We are not abandoning the team by calling for this- we're trying to get rid of crap so we can make it better.
So Knicks fans, follow me with your signs and help me say good-bye to the Knicks until the Knicks say good-bye to Thomas and Dolan. The only way he'll know it's serious is by the thousands of empty seats.
And Jimmy will have noone to blame but himself.
- Mike Tramontozzi, WCWP Sports Director
Thursday, December 6, 2007
"Did I ask for this?" - Athletes
For those of you who may or may not remember, I wrote a couple of articles for the school paper last year, voicing my opinion on athletes such as Pacman Jones and Chris Henry, who constantly and consciously get themselves one way or another mixed up with the law. I wrote about how professional athletes are convinced that they are in a light of invincibility and that none of their actions will serve any repercussions. Frankly, I am sick of it. However, for this article, I am not going to harp on this topic any longer. What I will do is address a different but very similar issue involving athletes. I will address the issues of professional targets being labeled as targets in society. Most of these guys are the good guys around the league, the guys who don’t get their “Pacman” on and start fights at strip clubs. The possibilities of burglary, robbery, and killing, all factors in as to why athletes today live in fear of living like a normal human being. And frankly, I am sick of it.
A few weeks ago, the NFL lost one of its brightest stars in Washington Redskins safety, Sean Taylor. He was shot after his house was broken into. Coming out of the University of Miami, Taylor was known for his rough and tough attitude. He was associated with guys he should not have been associated with. I mean, a 20-year old young male, who is about to make millions of dollars, really wouldn’t have his head on straight right? Even at the beginning of his very short NFL stint, Taylor had his run-ins with other players. He was highly criticized for “jacking up” a punter in the Pro-Bowl game, a game in which players would rather take their families for a nice vacation to Hawaii, take a break for 3 hours of football, and then get back to vacationing. Taylor also was ejected from a playoff game after spitting in his opponents face. He even had his own troubles with the law, being accused for pointing a gun during an altercation over all-terrain vehicles. Unfortunately, he was showing all of the signs of being the stereotypical, immature, foolish, and selfish type of guy that we as fans are just completely tired of seeing. However, once he and his fiancé had their first child, Jackie, Taylor quickly made a promise to himself and teammates that he would become a changed man. All of his teammates acknowledged that promise when they tried to overcome that one horrific morning.
On November 26th, while not with the team because he was nursing a knee injury, Taylor was shot in his bedroom after being awakened by intruders. The next day, he died after the wound in his leg, which severed the main artery, just lost too much blood. Let me again remind you that Sean Taylor, at age 24, was slowly starting to turn his life around. He was becoming more humble, more professional, and most importantly, more of a man. All of this was quickly taken away because of his profession. Whether the suspects wanted to just rob him or they had connections with Taylor from back in the day in Miami, Taylor was in one way or another a target. As Sean Taylor’s family friend, Richard Sharpstein put it, “They stole his life thinking they were going to steal a few dollars from him.”
Today, professional athletes are repeating the same question in their head: “Am I next?” It seems being envied and being wanted is a price you pay for being an athlete. Recently, this past summer, the homes of two basketball players, Antoine Walker and Eddy Curry were robbed. In July, the robbers duct-taped Walker’s hands and feet together and took off with thousands of dollars and jewelry. Later that month the same thing happened to Curry and his wife at their house. Last year, on New Years Eve, Darrent Williams of the Denver Broncos died after the car that he was riding in was sprayed down with bullets. Williams did not start any trouble and was merely out for a birthday/New Years eve celebration.
It is examples such as these athletes that show the overwhelming anxiety that a player must feel now. It seems weird to say this, but if you are forcing the attention on to yourself such as starting fights at strip clubs, waving guns in the air, or driving under the influence, then players get what they deserve. However, it is the innocent ones that make our heart sink and our stomachs turn. It is stories like Sean Taylor sleeping in bed or Darrent Williams celebrating his birthday in which no one can see the rationality in it all. The saddest part about it all is that it will never change. Athletes are icons in public society. You will have the good people that embrace them, and you will have the bad that will, in any type of way, try and take advantage of their fame.
Matt Soldano - check me out on "Off the Glass" on Wed. 9-10pm along with Mike T. and Gabe Gomez
A few weeks ago, the NFL lost one of its brightest stars in Washington Redskins safety, Sean Taylor. He was shot after his house was broken into. Coming out of the University of Miami, Taylor was known for his rough and tough attitude. He was associated with guys he should not have been associated with. I mean, a 20-year old young male, who is about to make millions of dollars, really wouldn’t have his head on straight right? Even at the beginning of his very short NFL stint, Taylor had his run-ins with other players. He was highly criticized for “jacking up” a punter in the Pro-Bowl game, a game in which players would rather take their families for a nice vacation to Hawaii, take a break for 3 hours of football, and then get back to vacationing. Taylor also was ejected from a playoff game after spitting in his opponents face. He even had his own troubles with the law, being accused for pointing a gun during an altercation over all-terrain vehicles. Unfortunately, he was showing all of the signs of being the stereotypical, immature, foolish, and selfish type of guy that we as fans are just completely tired of seeing. However, once he and his fiancé had their first child, Jackie, Taylor quickly made a promise to himself and teammates that he would become a changed man. All of his teammates acknowledged that promise when they tried to overcome that one horrific morning.
On November 26th, while not with the team because he was nursing a knee injury, Taylor was shot in his bedroom after being awakened by intruders. The next day, he died after the wound in his leg, which severed the main artery, just lost too much blood. Let me again remind you that Sean Taylor, at age 24, was slowly starting to turn his life around. He was becoming more humble, more professional, and most importantly, more of a man. All of this was quickly taken away because of his profession. Whether the suspects wanted to just rob him or they had connections with Taylor from back in the day in Miami, Taylor was in one way or another a target. As Sean Taylor’s family friend, Richard Sharpstein put it, “They stole his life thinking they were going to steal a few dollars from him.”
Today, professional athletes are repeating the same question in their head: “Am I next?” It seems being envied and being wanted is a price you pay for being an athlete. Recently, this past summer, the homes of two basketball players, Antoine Walker and Eddy Curry were robbed. In July, the robbers duct-taped Walker’s hands and feet together and took off with thousands of dollars and jewelry. Later that month the same thing happened to Curry and his wife at their house. Last year, on New Years Eve, Darrent Williams of the Denver Broncos died after the car that he was riding in was sprayed down with bullets. Williams did not start any trouble and was merely out for a birthday/New Years eve celebration.
It is examples such as these athletes that show the overwhelming anxiety that a player must feel now. It seems weird to say this, but if you are forcing the attention on to yourself such as starting fights at strip clubs, waving guns in the air, or driving under the influence, then players get what they deserve. However, it is the innocent ones that make our heart sink and our stomachs turn. It is stories like Sean Taylor sleeping in bed or Darrent Williams celebrating his birthday in which no one can see the rationality in it all. The saddest part about it all is that it will never change. Athletes are icons in public society. You will have the good people that embrace them, and you will have the bad that will, in any type of way, try and take advantage of their fame.
Matt Soldano - check me out on "Off the Glass" on Wed. 9-10pm along with Mike T. and Gabe Gomez
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Zach Randolph is the Knicks best player, but....
... he has ultimately done more bad than good.
Z-Bo is averaging 18 points, 11.2 rebounds and has a field goal percentage of 44 in 13 games this year. Good? Yes! He has been the Knicks most consistent player by far. Good? Yes! Zach is disrupting what the Knicks started in 2006. Good?...Well.... actually it's not good at all.
1. Last year Eddy Curry was one of the most feared big men, on the offensive side of the ball. Not just in the East, but in the whole NBA. He would have been an All-Star if the Knicks weren't so bad. He bullied the rest of the league like they were Milhouse from the Simpsons. Like they were the weird kid in school that everyone used for a traget in dodgeball. But now Randolph has stepped into Curry's playground. Curry does have pretty good numbers right now, (averaging 16.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in 16 games) but does not have near as much space to play as he did last year. And with two of the games biggest and best scorers, what is Isiah Thomas to do?
Does he bring one off of the bench? No. That hurts egos. I seem to remember something bad happening the last time Isiah benched a star player.
Does he trade one of them? Maybe. But the only trade to be made is a Kobe Bryant trade. It would be good for the Knicks to get Kobe, but it would dismantle their young core of talent. Most likely David Lee, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson and another player would go to L.A. along with Randolph or Curry.
Sidenote: Many fans are barking for the Knicks to get Ron Artest. It most likely would not involve Curry or Z-Bo, but it would cause the Knicks to lose either Lee of Renaldo Balkman. Although Artest bring more energy and defense than Lee or Balkman, the Knicks definately don't need another headcase. Imagine that starting five deciding who will get the last piece of meatloaf. But I digress...
This Curry/Randolph situation has Isiah's hands tied. He can't do anything about it right now.
2. Randolph has severely deminished David Lee's minutes. Lee was one of the league's most effective players last year, and the acquisition of Zach Randolph has effectively made Lee an insignificant player in 2007. Lee has 8.7 points in 16 games. He is only averaging 23.5 minutes. Now that's not a way to treat one of your best players. Due to the lack of minutes, Lee only has a mere 7.4 rebounds a game. Last year he had 10.7 points, 10.4 rebounds in almost 30 minutes last year.
Lee has not played with the same intensity as he did last season. He looks like a completely different player. I believe he feels insulted that Isiah would pretty much replace him after having such a good season. Or maybe he feels uncomfortable after his coach said some questionable racial remarks.
On the bright side for David Lee: the lack of minutes gives him more time to chill with Eli Manning while gettting strip teases from Paris Hilton, and playing pick up basketball in Queensbridge. Yeah... that's how he rolls.
Before the trade, the Knicks had the perfect roster to go forward with. (Not including Stevie Francis) Channing Frye was the type of role player that fit the Knicks perfectly. He knew his place, and was perfectly spelled by David Lee. They had Quentin Richardson to be the spot shooter. Curry was the dominant big man. Crawford was the second option and an above average scorer. And Marbury wasn't doing interviews while high.
Now there's an overcrowded roster with role players hardly being able to play a role. But At least Q-Rich knows his place.
Zach Randolph's effectiveness at making other players ineffective ultimately goes back to Isiah Thomas. Everyone thought it was a good trade when it happened. Even David Lee. But it has proved to do more bad than good.
I was never an Isiah Hater. I still don't mind him that much. But there needs to be a change, and it starts with him. He lost me when he had a player vote go unanimous for Marbury not playing, and went against it. In doing that, he lost all of his players.
Quick Notes:
-Good job by the Detroit Tigers in getting Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, but Cameron Maybin will be a star for the Marlins.
-Hank Steinbrenner is doing an excellent job playing hardball. 1st with Alex Rodriguez and now with the Twins. Although I think the Yankees should not trade Phil Hughes, you can't blame Hank for proposing the trade.
-Sean Taylor's funeral did not need to be televised. It's kind of weird seeing so many people cry their hearts out, for real, on national TV.
-I'm still laughing at the Mets for trading Lastings Milledge.
-Samari Rolle needs to stop complaining. If he wants to see the real scapegoat, he should look at the team picture in the Ravens media guide.
Hope everyone like my 1st blog. Took me long enough, right?
Max Caster
Over The Ropes
http://overtheropes.mypodcast.com/
Off the Glass
Wednesdays 9pm - 10pm on WCWP.
Z-Bo is averaging 18 points, 11.2 rebounds and has a field goal percentage of 44 in 13 games this year. Good? Yes! He has been the Knicks most consistent player by far. Good? Yes! Zach is disrupting what the Knicks started in 2006. Good?...Well.... actually it's not good at all.
1. Last year Eddy Curry was one of the most feared big men, on the offensive side of the ball. Not just in the East, but in the whole NBA. He would have been an All-Star if the Knicks weren't so bad. He bullied the rest of the league like they were Milhouse from the Simpsons. Like they were the weird kid in school that everyone used for a traget in dodgeball. But now Randolph has stepped into Curry's playground. Curry does have pretty good numbers right now, (averaging 16.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in 16 games) but does not have near as much space to play as he did last year. And with two of the games biggest and best scorers, what is Isiah Thomas to do?
Does he bring one off of the bench? No. That hurts egos. I seem to remember something bad happening the last time Isiah benched a star player.
Does he trade one of them? Maybe. But the only trade to be made is a Kobe Bryant trade. It would be good for the Knicks to get Kobe, but it would dismantle their young core of talent. Most likely David Lee, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson and another player would go to L.A. along with Randolph or Curry.
Sidenote: Many fans are barking for the Knicks to get Ron Artest. It most likely would not involve Curry or Z-Bo, but it would cause the Knicks to lose either Lee of Renaldo Balkman. Although Artest bring more energy and defense than Lee or Balkman, the Knicks definately don't need another headcase. Imagine that starting five deciding who will get the last piece of meatloaf. But I digress...
This Curry/Randolph situation has Isiah's hands tied. He can't do anything about it right now.
2. Randolph has severely deminished David Lee's minutes. Lee was one of the league's most effective players last year, and the acquisition of Zach Randolph has effectively made Lee an insignificant player in 2007. Lee has 8.7 points in 16 games. He is only averaging 23.5 minutes. Now that's not a way to treat one of your best players. Due to the lack of minutes, Lee only has a mere 7.4 rebounds a game. Last year he had 10.7 points, 10.4 rebounds in almost 30 minutes last year.
Lee has not played with the same intensity as he did last season. He looks like a completely different player. I believe he feels insulted that Isiah would pretty much replace him after having such a good season. Or maybe he feels uncomfortable after his coach said some questionable racial remarks.
On the bright side for David Lee: the lack of minutes gives him more time to chill with Eli Manning while gettting strip teases from Paris Hilton, and playing pick up basketball in Queensbridge. Yeah... that's how he rolls.
Before the trade, the Knicks had the perfect roster to go forward with. (Not including Stevie Francis) Channing Frye was the type of role player that fit the Knicks perfectly. He knew his place, and was perfectly spelled by David Lee. They had Quentin Richardson to be the spot shooter. Curry was the dominant big man. Crawford was the second option and an above average scorer. And Marbury wasn't doing interviews while high.
Now there's an overcrowded roster with role players hardly being able to play a role. But At least Q-Rich knows his place.
Zach Randolph's effectiveness at making other players ineffective ultimately goes back to Isiah Thomas. Everyone thought it was a good trade when it happened. Even David Lee. But it has proved to do more bad than good.
I was never an Isiah Hater. I still don't mind him that much. But there needs to be a change, and it starts with him. He lost me when he had a player vote go unanimous for Marbury not playing, and went against it. In doing that, he lost all of his players.
Quick Notes:
-Good job by the Detroit Tigers in getting Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, but Cameron Maybin will be a star for the Marlins.
-Hank Steinbrenner is doing an excellent job playing hardball. 1st with Alex Rodriguez and now with the Twins. Although I think the Yankees should not trade Phil Hughes, you can't blame Hank for proposing the trade.
-Sean Taylor's funeral did not need to be televised. It's kind of weird seeing so many people cry their hearts out, for real, on national TV.
-I'm still laughing at the Mets for trading Lastings Milledge.
-Samari Rolle needs to stop complaining. If he wants to see the real scapegoat, he should look at the team picture in the Ravens media guide.
Hope everyone like my 1st blog. Took me long enough, right?
Max Caster
Over The Ropes
http://overtheropes.mypodcast.com/
Off the Glass
Wednesdays 9pm - 10pm on WCWP.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Fire Isiah....Fire Isiah....
The New York Knicks are my team folks. More than the Yankees, Giants or Islanders ever will be. I bleed Orange and Blue- have been since I was 7 years old and saw Patrick Ewing dunk home John Starks' miss to send the Knicks to the 1994 NBA Finals. I was there with Allan Houston's runner against the heat- paving the way for LJ's 4 point play and that improbable Spring of '99. I have also been there through the Charles Smith play, the "finger roll" and of course the brawl with the heat in '97. I've been through it all with this team, every up and down, constantly looking optomistically at the team. However, enough is enough- this team blows. And there is one man repsonsible: Isiah Thomas.
Isiah rode into the city in 2004- On a wave of goodwill form knicks fans because he replaced Scott Layden. And not even 2 weeks into his tenure, Isiah pulled off the blockbuster trade that brought home Stephon Marbury. All looked good, I mean Isiah got Stephon Marbury! Ah but what tangled webs we weave. Isiah then got trigger happy and decided to trade Keith Van Horn and Michael Doleac for Tim Thomas and Nazi Mohammed. Now, the Knicks did make the playoffs in '04, only to get swept by the Nets. Then the wheels fell off.
Lenny Wilkens left early in the next year, and the team finished out of the playoffs. Isiah then felt he still needed to make moves, getting rid of Tim Thomas, Nazi Mohammed, Kurt Thomas and Penny Hardaway while adding Jalen Rose, Malik Rose, Quentin Richardson and Steve Francis. Then they brought in Larry Brown to coach the team- a move everyone questioned because "how could he co-exist with Isiah?"
Well they didnt. Isiah claims Brown begged for the Rose and Francis trades, and after just won 23 win season, Brown was gone- and Isiah came to the bench. Now, after just 37 wins in 1+ years as coach, the fans are calling for Isiah's head. An dit just doesnt have to do with the sexual harrassment suit, or the crazy deal with him and Marbury early in the year (where Marbury threatened to dish dirt on Isiah if he wasn't put back in the lineup), it's the fact that Isiah is a bad coach, and an awful GM.
For all his pluses in the draft- finding David Lee, Renaldo Balkman and Nate Robinson- not to mention Tracy McGrady and Damon Stoudamire, Isiah is ahorrible coach, and his time is up.
Please, for the love of god- the team clearly has quit on him, as evidenced by the historic no-show against the Celtics, where the Knicks needed a 40 foot heave at the buzzer by Nate Robinson to not set the team record for fewqest points in a game. Now, on the heels of Sunday night's poor defensive performance agaisnt the Suns (where the Knicks were completely out-played in the 4th quarter) Isiah's time has run out.
Please Jim Dolan, the fans are begging you. Open yuor eyes and get rid of Isiah Thomas. It will only be step one to fixing your team- but it's a move in the right direction.
- Mike Tramontozzi, WCWP Sports Director
Isiah rode into the city in 2004- On a wave of goodwill form knicks fans because he replaced Scott Layden. And not even 2 weeks into his tenure, Isiah pulled off the blockbuster trade that brought home Stephon Marbury. All looked good, I mean Isiah got Stephon Marbury! Ah but what tangled webs we weave. Isiah then got trigger happy and decided to trade Keith Van Horn and Michael Doleac for Tim Thomas and Nazi Mohammed. Now, the Knicks did make the playoffs in '04, only to get swept by the Nets. Then the wheels fell off.
Lenny Wilkens left early in the next year, and the team finished out of the playoffs. Isiah then felt he still needed to make moves, getting rid of Tim Thomas, Nazi Mohammed, Kurt Thomas and Penny Hardaway while adding Jalen Rose, Malik Rose, Quentin Richardson and Steve Francis. Then they brought in Larry Brown to coach the team- a move everyone questioned because "how could he co-exist with Isiah?"
Well they didnt. Isiah claims Brown begged for the Rose and Francis trades, and after just won 23 win season, Brown was gone- and Isiah came to the bench. Now, after just 37 wins in 1+ years as coach, the fans are calling for Isiah's head. An dit just doesnt have to do with the sexual harrassment suit, or the crazy deal with him and Marbury early in the year (where Marbury threatened to dish dirt on Isiah if he wasn't put back in the lineup), it's the fact that Isiah is a bad coach, and an awful GM.
For all his pluses in the draft- finding David Lee, Renaldo Balkman and Nate Robinson- not to mention Tracy McGrady and Damon Stoudamire, Isiah is ahorrible coach, and his time is up.
Please, for the love of god- the team clearly has quit on him, as evidenced by the historic no-show against the Celtics, where the Knicks needed a 40 foot heave at the buzzer by Nate Robinson to not set the team record for fewqest points in a game. Now, on the heels of Sunday night's poor defensive performance agaisnt the Suns (where the Knicks were completely out-played in the 4th quarter) Isiah's time has run out.
Please Jim Dolan, the fans are begging you. Open yuor eyes and get rid of Isiah Thomas. It will only be step one to fixing your team- but it's a move in the right direction.
- Mike Tramontozzi, WCWP Sports Director
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