tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28870729733040078272024-02-08T09:51:47.306-08:00Sportsaholics AnonymousSportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-30946298732616251402008-07-16T13:40:00.000-07:002008-07-16T14:16:06.158-07:00Why I would be the best right hand man an athlete could have<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/07/14/rose.bulls.ap/index.html">http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/07/14/rose.bulls.ap/index.html</a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Bulls' Rose fined after pleading guilty to speeding charge</span></strong><br /><br />CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago Bulls No. 1 draft choice <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/players/4387">Derrick Rose</a> pleaded guilty Monday to driving more than 40 mph over the speed limit on an Illinois highway back in April.<br />Kane County Associate Judge Robert J. Morrow ordered Rose to pay a $1,000 fine and attend traffic school, according to the county's state's attorney's office.<br />The misdemeanor speeding charge happened in April, when Rose was pulled over after the Illinois State Police clocked him driving 106 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 88 in Kane County.<br />In June, the Bulls selected Rose with the overall No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.<br />A Chicago native, Rose played one season at Memphis. He led the Tigers to this year's NCAA Division I title game before falling to Kansas.<br /><br />Right Hand Man Speech:<br /><br />Derrick. You just got yourself a brand spankin new Porsche 911 Turbo to celebrate your big new contract. I understand that. However, since your body is now worth millions and you're a public figure with an image to maintain here's what we're going to do.<br /><br />I'm going to get you access to this racetrack and send you to BMW driving school. If you want to go fast go to the track and go bananas in this nice racing car with a rollcage and people waiting with fire extinguishers. When on public roads let's keep it to a relatively mild 20 mph over the speed limit like a normal person.<br /><br />Go talk to David Wesley about what happened with Bobby Phils.Sportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-33596476285503677352008-04-28T12:57:00.000-07:002008-04-28T12:58:09.808-07:00Billy King...competent?<p>I recently read an article on potential GMs for the Knicks being interviewed and read the name "Billy King" and the phrase "whose stock is on the rise" in the same sentence.</p><p><br />Now I know that scrapping to make the Leastern Conference Playoffs out of the Atlantic Division is not a monumental accomplishment, but the kids in Philly are looking alright. Can we safely remove Billy as keynote speaker of next year's atrocious GM summit and install Chris Wallace as his successor? Can anyone step into the Shaq-Size 22s shoes vacated by Isiah? </p><p>I posted this question to Bill Simmons. We'll see if it makes the cut. </p><p>It is an interesting question isn't it. How much of the 76ers current "success" can be attributed to Billy King? </p>Sportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-46557303262409008532008-02-28T13:42:00.000-08:002008-02-28T13:59:40.327-08:00Playoffs, here we come!Somehow the Knicks had the good fortune to play a team whose defense is more porous than the Knicks efense. Much of the game looked like a layup line with guards Crawford, Robinson, and Jones getting to the hoop at will. Even Renaldo Balkman got into the act late in the game.<br /><br />Random observations and questions:<br /><br />- Wilson Chandler sighting. He got a whopping 6 minutes of burn along with Mardy Collins.<br /><br />- Michael Jordan. G.O.A.T as a player, absolute mess as an executive. Isiah Thomas, arguably the best player at 6' tall ever, horrible executive, horrible coach.<br /><br />Both were tremendous competitors, workaholics and extremely talented. It would seem they would also have a really good understanding of the game of basketball and what it takes to be a champion.<br /><br />Perhaps the talent part of the equation was a much bigger factor in their success as players than all the other factors. Avery Johnson isn't in the same league as MJ and Zeke in terms of talent but it seems he is much better at getting his players to buy into a philosophy and preparing them to execute.<br /><br />It does make complete sense that the skillsets and tempermant required to be a superstar athlete has only a little in common with what it takes to be a great coach or executive.<br /><br />- The last rumour to emerge from the ever churning mill in NY is that James Dolan is considering installing Kiki Vandeweghe (I'm hoping I spelled that right from memory. Which would be kind of scary, no?) as GM while retaining Isiah as coach.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />Throughout this season I have witnessed and heard about numerous things that would point to coaching being woefully inadequate:<br /><br />1. 18 wins - 39 losses<br /><br />2. Players unsure of what their roles are<br /><br />3. Lackadaisical pre-game shooting routines. It's not like this team is in a position to take any part of pre-game preparation lightly.<br /><br />4. A tendency to self destruct in the stretch..when execution counts<br /><br />5. Too many incidents like 24 second violations AFTER a timeout.<br /><br />6. Feel free to pile on here.<br /><br />I would pay $500 to be on a televised panel of Knicks fans just asking James Dolan questions on live TV. There could even be a moderator to make sure the entire session doesn't consist of name-calling. One question to start with:<br /><br />" With the highest payroll and one of the worst records in the league, how could you define this season as anything other than a disaster? If it is a disaster why does Isiah still have a job?"<br /><br />There you go. Civilized question I would love an answer to.Sportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-59256779607873638382008-02-25T11:40:00.000-08:002008-02-25T12:07:51.717-08:00Knicks Raptors II: Tussle In TorontoI spent most of Sunday on my couch recovering from Saturday night. After watching the Pistons absolutely manhandle the Suns, it was time for a rematch of the two teams that gave us an exciting finish the last time they played.<br /><br />What followed was a pretty competitive 2 quarters, followed by an absolutely atrocious 3rd quarter, highlighted by Q throwing a hissy fit on the bench following back to back to back 3 point makes by Toronto.<br /><br />I was surprised by the fact that Isiah actually called a time out. Too many times this season I've been absolutely confused by the fact that Zeke doesn't call a timeout when the situation absolutely demands one. Forgive me for forgetting the details but I remember one game where the Knicks went from being up by double digits to down double digits without Zeke calling a timeout to stop the bleeding or make a substitution.<br /><br />I know Phil Jackson ocassionally let's his teams play through their mistakes but Zeke is NOT Phil Jackson and these Knicks don't have veteran leaders with winning experience a la Shaq, Jordan, Pippen, etc.<br /><br />I don't know what Isiah does during timeouts. He appears to scribble on a clipboard sometimes but last night there was one play following a timeout that resulted in..<br /><br />a 24 second violation. Sweet.<br /><br />Looking at the rest of the game:<br /><br />- The Curry/Randolph mess continues. How do you add together a potential all star center (Various Knicks' players/coaches words from last season, not mine) and a 40 minute, 20-10 regular (not many of those in the league) and not find one player worthy of staying on the floor for at leat 30+ minutes a game?<br /><br />- Nate and Jamal 8 assists: 2 turnovers. I like it. Nate's improved play has been one of the bright spots this season, towel throwing timeout fights aside...<br /><br />- The young bucks get buried. Again.<br /><br />Now I know that the Knicks coaching staff sees these players every day in practice. Minutes should go to those who deserve them. At the same time, this team isn't going anywhere this season. I can not fathom why Isiah's draft picks aren't getting any floor time. Isiah's supposed to be a brilliant drafter. Why not see what Randolph Morris or Wilson Chandler or even Renaldo Balkman can do over a full game? Why not at least insert them in the 4th quarter, down 84-67?<br /><br />At this point in the season what reason do fans have to watch? I am genuinely curious about seeing what we have in the young guys. That would give me a reason to watch.<br /><br />Next up: At home against Charlotte<br /><br />Thing I'll have fun watching: Who tries to stop Jason Richardson AND Gerald Wallace. Will Eddy Curry take a look at Emeka Okafor and realize it's okay to play defense and rebound?Sportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-43288841162824572782008-02-21T08:27:00.000-08:002008-02-21T08:46:09.413-08:00A few hours to goIf the Carter rumours and the Bucks rumours and Orlando rumours have any substance to them, I am in absolute disbelief.<br /><br />I was of the opinion that the only reason Isiah still has a job is because Jimmy Dolan wanted him to lie in the bed he had made, knowing even Isiah wants out. Picture a weird version of chicken with Zeke and Dolan driving semis towards each other, only the Knicks faithful are smack in the middle. Also, Zeke is on drugs and Dolan is blindfolded.<br /><br />How can this man still have trading priveleges?<br /><br />Mindboggling. Seriously.Sportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-25310849235274826762008-02-20T09:57:00.000-08:002008-02-20T10:33:00.754-08:00Vince Carter rumor."Another source said there had been preliminary discussions on a three-way trade that would include, among other things, Carter going to the New York Knicks, Eddy Curry to Miami and the expiring contracts of Jason Williams and Ricky Davis to New Jersey."<br /><br />Source: The Internets<br /><br />My intial reaction was...NO NO NO NO NO!<br /><br /><strong>Reasons why:</strong><br /><br />- I would much rather have the expiring contracts of Williams and Davis. Why is New Jersey in this equation at all? Is Rod Thorn still so hyped up from getting everything but Cuban's ATM card from Dallas for ason Kidd, he decided to call Isiah because..hey! who knows?!.<br /><br />- Vince Carter is a part time superstar. How motivated is he going to be with a long term contract playing for the worst team in the East's Atlantic division?<br /><br />(Note: Miami has the worst record but they also have D-Wade and Marion to our...Marbury and Curry?..uhh..our Marbury and Randolph?..our Crawford and Randolph?..uhhh...uhhh)<br /><br />- Would you not rather spend the money on another free agent? Someone who has the potential to be a TRUE franchise player who brings it every night on both ends of the court.<br /><br /><strong>Facts:</strong><br /><br />1. Vince Carter:<br /><br />'08-'09 Season: 15.2 M'<br />09-'10 Season: 16.3<br />'10-'11 Season: 17.3<br />'11-'12 Season: 18 (team option)<br /><br />2. Eddy Curry:<br />'08-'09 Season: 9.7 M<br />'09-'10 Season: 10.5<br />10-'11 Season: 11.2<br />'11-'12 Season: 0<br /><br /><br />'09-10: Player option aka Curry takes this unless the Knicks are so bad, he doesn't want the money. I doubt any other GM gives him 10 mill per unless he learns to rebound and defend and not be fat. Yes, I'm promoting this as a fact.)<br /><br /><br />2011: Hallelujah praise the lord! Same year Zach comes off. Please let Zeke be gone and for there to be no more Allan Houston/Marbury/Curry type contracts. Please. I'm begging you.<br /><br />So I guess with Vince Carter our cap situation only gets slightly more FUBAR. Do we even have any room to sign any FAs next season or the season after that?<br /><br /><br /><strong>Free agents:</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=2008freeagents">ESPN's 2008 FA List</a><br /><br />Significant restricted free agents:<br /><br />Josh Smith (love him, except the rumoured 'tude problem)<br />Josh Childress (i like him)<br />Emeka Okafor (the anti-Curry)<br />Luol Deng<br />Ben Gordon<br />Monta Ellis<br />Ryan Gomes<br />Andre Iguodala<br />Jose Calderon<br /><br />Significant unrestricted FAs:<br /><br />Allen Iverson<br />Baron Davis<br />Jermaine O Neal<br />Elton Brand<br />Stephon Marbury (he used to belong on this list..funny huh)<br />Shawn Marion<br />Gilbert Arenas<br />Antawn Jamison<br />Ron Artest<br /><br />I won't bother going through the 2009 class.<br /><br />2010: Some guy named Lebron, must be french or something. After Frederic Weiss I don't want any more Frenchies. Also D-Wade. Ray Allen.<br /><br /><a href="http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/1062820.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193CC300C081D9F470053FCB039673AF98759C094F8A0452653E30A760B0D811297"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 418px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px" height="229" alt="" src="http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/1062820.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193CC300C081D9F470053FCB039673AF98759C094F8A0452653E30A760B0D811297" border="0" /></a>Sportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-1421237863334850052007-12-03T07:49:00.000-08:002007-12-03T07:53:11.917-08:003/4s of goodnessIt was a sweet game for 3 quarters. I'm happy we competed. Nothing really new comes out of this game for me. Old truths that were reaffirmed:<br /><br />- The Knicks have enough weapons to be a pretty good offensive team. They're just not as good as the Phoenix Suns (but who is?) so they can't just rely on outscoring teams to get Ws.<br /><br />- Eddy Curry CAN rebound.Sportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-39431280547489877312007-12-01T08:27:00.000-08:002007-12-01T08:32:26.117-08:00Just when i though i was out...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20071201/capt.654f6f7786c14a6986632826f7637020.bucks_knicks_basketball_nyeb109.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20071201/capt.654f6f7786c14a6986632826f7637020.bucks_knicks_basketball_nyeb109.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />They pull me back in ! <img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/JOEYLE%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" />Sportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-86948066728104614612007-11-30T09:58:00.000-08:002007-11-30T10:01:25.675-08:00The 2nd to last straw?From a New York Post article by Marc Berman:<br /><br />In an incredible display of surrender, with 8:09 left and the Celtics mounting a 50-point lead on Eddie House's jumper, a Knicks fan sitting behind the basket ripped off his blue Knicks jersey, threw it onto the court in a rage and marched up the stairs and out of the building as Celtics fans applauded.<br /><br />here here...Sportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-51986746409125913572007-11-28T17:54:00.000-08:002007-11-28T17:55:39.869-08:00Yes he was rocking the same high top fadeI have no idea how to respond to you other than by doing this. How did you find me?Sportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-36760982557531389482007-11-26T13:46:00.001-08:002007-11-26T13:46:38.381-08:00Also...<p>I met Allan Houstin in person this Saturday..and could not bear to ask him about that atrocious contract</p><p> </p><p>Long story short he was at a family wedding I attended. May write a longer post later.<br />So many questions sprung to my mind:<br />- "How were you so good without really being able to dribble left?"<br />- "When you went to training camp to try to get a roster spot, did you already see the season would be a disaster and make the decision to wash your hands of the whole mess?"<br />- "Do you giggle every time you see James Dolan?"<br />- "Can I have a small share of the money you got paid while not playing a single game?"<br />Then I realized..it's not his fault Dolan gave him that monster contract. He played as hard as he could and never did anything to disgrace the uniform. We have a team full of players with all the athletic ability in the world but can't get anywhere. Allan Houston seems to be a person who took whatever ability he had and worked his ass off to maximized what he was given.<br />Maybe I'm looking at the past with rose colored glasses on. Maybe my standard have sunk so low due to the current state of the team...<br />But compared to the attitude/effort from the best players on the Knicks this season,was Allan Houston really such a horrible Knick?<br />Is there any player on this team that you would not trade straight up for an in-his-prime Allan Houston right now? </p>Sportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-37823789208428660252007-11-26T13:34:00.000-08:002007-11-26T13:37:30.659-08:00How to fix the Knicks..today.I am @ work and do not feel like cutting and pasting the entire piece but..I felt this was both a realistic and optimistic way to change the team for the better without any trades/FA signings.<br /><br />A lot of it is just common sense. Common sense says that having Eddy Curry and Zach on the floor at the same time is redundant. Common sense says that having 4 guys standing around watching ANYONe, be it Kobe or Starbury or Zach or Eddy does not make for good team basketball.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=6138">Click here for the goodness </a>which shall probably never be put into placeSportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2887072973304007827.post-6658458345167736062007-11-24T17:54:00.001-08:002007-11-24T17:54:51.370-08:00Glass half full?<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">There have been very few happy moments for Knicks fans the past few seasons. A few hours after the Knicks’ inspiring win over <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Denver</st1:place></st1:City> at home, I was feeling optimistic and inspired by a rerun of Rocky IV. If a street tough turned boxing champion could inspire communists to open their hearts to change, in the midst of the Cold War’s winter, maybe even the Knicks can turn things around! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.25in;">During this season, I hope to see a lot of changing, in the way you feel about the Knicks, and in the way the Knicks feel about DEE - FENSE!....I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if Nate can change, and Crawford can change, everybody can change!<br /><br />Here is a list of the optimistic hopes I harbored:<br /><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Eddie Curry wakes up one day and says, "Holy crap, I'm a big bad 7 foot, 285 lb mofo! I should be getting at LEAST 10 boards a game. I'm pledge to start working on my free throws and caring about defense too! “<br /> <br /> <span style=""> </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""> </span>Crawford continues playing way smarter than he did last season,<br /> drives to the hoop when his J isn't falling and continues to swish and<br /> dish with the best of them. Ditto for Nate. Hopefully all that tape he watched of Nash and other elite point guards during the summer stays with him and he doesn't revert to the guy who tackled a naked Malik Rose in the shower. Ewww.....<br /> <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""> </span>Marbury plays like he did against <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Denver</st1:City></st1:place>, never has to sulk with a<br /> towel over his head again, and continues to entertain the masses by<br /> taking Gilbert Arenas' spot as kooky yet lethally effective SUPERSTAR. That’s right. I said it. Get paid like one. Play like one.<br /> <br /> Here is a list of pipe dreams I harbored:<br /> <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""> </span>Isiah becomes fiscally responsible and continues to distribute<br /> playing time according to merit and not contract size.<br /> <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""> </span>James Dolan is content to quietly fade into the backdrop. Perhaps<br /> Daddy hands him the reigns to anything other than MSG...<br /> <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""> </span>Jerome James is hypnotized into thinking it's a contract year.<br /> <br /> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /> <!--[endif]--></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""> </span>Knicks fans do NOT regret Fred Jones/Jerome James having a roster<br /> spot over Demetris Nichols.</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are still 70 games left to make some kind of progress; however, after seeing the Knicks look completely unmotivated and lost against <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Golden</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> my optimism is fading. A true fan sticks with his team through thick and thin. A true fan always roots for his team to succeed. Ideally, this season is the beginning of a turnaround. Ideally, Isiah will be vindicated of all wrongdoing, both in his treatment of female employees and the salary cap.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">However, if you are a Knick fan and have come to the conclusion that success is impossible with Isiah and Dolan at the helm, is it ok to want the Knicks to continue losing so that rebuilding can begin with a new GM and Coach? If James Dolan and Isiah are cancers to the organization, losing could be part of the painful process needed to rid the body of it’s unwanted guests. Bringing in new players would be comparable to a patient with a chronic disease buying new clothes. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The advantage that pessimists have is that they are perpetually either right or pleasantly surprised when wrong. At the end of 82 games, which one will it be? </p>Sportsaholics Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569505031660117764noreply@blogger.com0