The Knicks Fix

Hey Alan, I once suggested you have a future in teaching (adjunct somewhere). Now I see you as a true b-ball diplomat. I imagine you squashed a few beef back-in-da-day!

Welcome to all the new Fixers. If I was IT, I would not touch DanD either. Not until the major summer player moves are done and folks settle on their final roster. It's not the most terrible problem to have (16 players under contract) with the need to do a 2 for 1 or 5 for 2 open and viable going forward. Seems like the diehard KFL have insisted that IT do something as a reponse to the action/moves from the other team. There's no reason to be reactionary. The fellas have not laced up their shoes yet.

Word is that Zach is at home in Indiana and if his reputation holds true, he's punishing some parkay floor and backboard with his work-outs. We need to first see how the guys run against Tel Aviv (at least) before we can fix on who IT et al. need to bring in through trade. Steady as IT goes. Stay the course.

KFL

Great post Alan,

By the way why aren't you guys allowed to watch practice?

Is it something the entire league does with it's media or is it a Dolan policy because the media (not you) bashes the Knicks?

I like what Isiah is doing with Dickau. Wow, where did that horrible leak come from? Sometimes I think there are people that have 1 job and that's to leak false info.

Man, if he holds the roster together until the season opener and then he has to make a decision, I can't see who he would cut.

2 weeks ago I would've said James but I was convinced that he should stay because we can never have enough 7 footers.

By the way, has anybody thought about this?

What if James comes into camp in remarkable shape? Notice how I said remarkable and not great? Oh yeah....there is a difference.

If that happens then Isiah is really stuck. He would have to cut Nichols. There is nobody else on the team that you can just come out and cut. Not even Malik Rose.

In this case, I think Isiah would have to make the decision to cut Nichols only because he's a rookie and he was a second round pick. Then the unthinkable would happen and he would go to the Celtics.

I don't think Isiah is going to wait till then. I think he will have his roster done either by the start of training camp or shortly after.

I like how he's holding on to all his players in case an emergency trade demand suddenly pops up.

(hisssssssssssssssssss)

Here I go talking to myself agian......

Don't get it twisted, I'll take Ron Ron also.

Peaceman....I don't know if you've been watching the team USA games but if you have....have you been impressed enough with his defense to warrant a trade for him? I pose the same question to Drossman...

Wait....is Dross even on this blog? Dross are you here and just go by another name?

Dross tell me if your not here....(my attempt at being funny...I didn't hear any laughs though).

They say Miami is close to signing Pietrus or should I say still in negotiations. I hope they go ahead and get him just so they don't go after Ron.

For some reason I feel safe thinking he's going to be a Knick because everybody including all the GM's know he wants to be a Knick. That one fact is going to make it darn near impossible to move Ron to another team. Not to mention he's in the last year of his contract.

So yeah like I was saying....let them sign Pietrus. I still think we're the deepest team in the East. Like someone above said...we have an expansion team's starting 5 on our bench.

I meant to say in my previous post that if James doesn't come to camp in shape....Isiah's decision will be a lot easier.

No way I say we keep a fat and out of shape James over Nichols. Nichols is just to talented for a out of shape player to take his spot on the roster.

Tomorrow I'm going to be in the New York Journal News on a story concerning the Mike Vick ordeal. Should be an interesting piece. I'll forward you guys the link.

I know you guys probably won't stay up to watch but maybe you can tivo....tomorrow we got Puerto Rico at 11PM, then Wednesday we got Uruguay at 11PM also.

I love this FIBA tournament because it's taking us all through to the beginning of the football season.

Since I can't watch my homey Vick....I'll have to check out my 2nd favorite player who just happens to be the best WR in the league.....and I'll take it a step further and say he's the best WR of all time for what is considered a small WR.

Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers.

All the fantasy football players in here know I'm exactly right.

Oh yeah.....I'll be back suckas !!!

Wow...I just saw the sports ticker and it says the USA team won by only 27 points tonight.

I didn't watch that game tonight and I didn't even know it was on. I'm mad I missed it but I just set my Tivo to catch it tomorrow at 8:30AM on ESPN classic....

I'm not trying to be funny guys I'm serious with what I'm about to say.

There is no explanation for us to win by only 27 points. Hold on...let me rephrase that.

There is no explanation as to why I would still defend my statement that this team could compete with the original dream team.

That team never won by only 27 points. Now, I don't remember all the scores from 1992 but I know they always won by more than 40....maybe I'm wrong.

In their defense we have to really judge from next years olympics.......but still to only win by 27 is horrible.

So with that said...I retract my statement about this team not being able to compete with the original dream team.

Don't think for one second this means I will fold on any other debates we may have. However, when the #'s are no longer on my side.....I wave the white flag on my argument.

(I typed that last statement with throw up in my mouth)

Oh yeah..........I'll be back suckas!!!!!!!!

Error Post:

@Peaceman
I said earlier

"Peaceman....I don't know if you've been watching the team USA games but if you have....have you been impressed enough with his defense to warrant a trade for him? I pose the same question to Drossman..."

It should've been:
Peaceman....I don't know if you've been watching the team USA games but if you have....have you been impressed enough with Kobe's defense to warrant a trade for him? I pose the same question to Drossman...

@dablog

I said in my last post:
"So with that said...I retract my statement about this team not being able to compete with the original dream team."

It should've been:
"So with that said...I retract my statement about this team being able to compete with the original dream team."

We all know that Isiah has given James the time the oportunitty to come and play and not just get pay. I think he is a bumm. A person that has talent but has elected to only use it in his last year of contract to lure teams and get paid. He took Isaih for a fool. He should be out of the team as of now. take my word he will come to camp with a big mack in one hand and a whopper in the other one. He will not surprise any one of us by comming in shape. He wiil be hurt in trainning camp due to the whopper situation. He is a waste of talent and I hope he reads this. Im sure that Isaih is trying to trade DD But teams are waiting to see who we cut and who we stay with. I say stay with the kid Nicoles give a new face a shot. We dont need negativity in our team by keeping James. Yeah 7 footers are hard to find But Im sure we can find a better 7 footer in the D league that is willing to come in shape to camp and give his heart out to find minutes to play.

Hey Alan,

The heck with training camp...preseason is only a month away !!!

Well actually more like 4 weeks and change. My math was never good but I think I'm right....but I could be wrong.

We play Boston and NJ twice in the preseason.

Whoever mentioned the starting 5 of Marbury, Jamal, JJ 1.0, Zach and Curry...that's actually a great line up to go with.

That would give us Lee, Q, Balkman, Nate and Collins off the bench. Not to mention Chandler, Nichols and Morris. Woooooooow !!!

Odd men out...meaning the players that could be (not should be) traded in my eyes are Rose, James, Jones and Dickau...also available are next years draft pick. I would try to swap picks instead of just giving up one but for Artest I think I would pull the trigger....no I know I would pull that trigger.

Imagine that pound.....

Amen Peaceman !!!

Yo Rey T it took me so long to write this because I was laughing so hard.

Good stuff man....

Oh yeah and welcome to the graveyard shift.

I don't know about this blog but I do know from experience of being on that other blog that once the season starts. we will have a lot more company on the graveyard shift. Maybe not during the week but for sure on Friday and Saturday games.

Radio Raheem: Give me 20 D Energizers.
Sonny: 20 C Energizers?
Radio Raheem: Not C, D.
Sonny: C Energizers?
Radio Raheem: D, mf, D. Learn to speak English first, all right?
Kim: How many you say?
Radio Raheem: 20, mf, 20.
Sonny: MF you.
Radio Raheem: Mf you? You, you all right, man.

DaVonn, you crack me the f'k up. But, a good way to start the morning.

Peace all. Have a great day.

DaVonn,
We saw the white flag last week. It was the veil over your eyes. I'm proud to know that my read of you was on target. You're a stand up fella. What are you doing in the upstate newspaper, the Journal News? Please send the link.

Could someone with the knowledge if there's such a thing as a Game Check in the NBA or "Paid to play"? That would explain much about this balleyhoo over JJ's big contract.

KFL

DaVonn:
You're alright, but you were flat-out embarassing yourself with that athleticism vs basketball smarts debate, and the Dream team debate.
I didn't want to add to the fire, so I just lurked. Now that you've conceded, you can have some of your credibility back. Wish I could say the same about some of these so-called reporters in this city.
Alan:
You're by far the most objective of the reporters around, but that's not saying much.
I guess I'm not as easily swayed as some of my co-bloggers. I pay attention to the little things. I totally disagreed with you on the Stephon take, and you added fuel with the blog post of "Stephon explaining himself(Sort of)". That "sort of" should be left off. No need. That was pure "Isolaesque." Stephon didn't even need to explain himself, because what he said was quite accurate.
I'm not trying to revive that debate, just want you to know that the village is watching.

Gentlemen,

Saw this at HoopsWorld:

Pietrus must now decide to either take the qualifying offer for one year with the Warriors or pursue the limited options he has in restricted free agency. The Cavaliers and Knicks are rumored to have interest and could offer the Mid-Level Exception deal Pietrus was looking for from the start of free agency. Sign-and-trade options will be available in the latter scenario, but it would depend on what the Warriors would be receiving in return, as they are seemingly being careful with who they add.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_23146.shtml

Alan - heard anything on this? Another Small Forward?

African,

That's a very interesting and astute observation. I believe that the bloggers were so scarred from the other blog that any other voice would be a relief. I refuse to allow the slang/hip-hop lingo to convince me that objectivity is a given. I do not expect AH to be part of the knicks PR staff but I have seen some of the swipes that he has taken at Isiah and they are as Isolaesque as you can get. The jury is still out on AH.

Also to you former kk bloggers. I understand that AH does not want his blog to fall to the level of the other blog, but I do find the free-flow format at the other place more interesting. Restricting the number of questions and containing the comments does not lead to thought provoking discussions. I believe that running from Mark/Isola was a mistake. The way to handle him is to completely ignore what he writes, treat him as if he does not exist. He's only there to incite. REAL WARRIORS DO NOT RUN.

Peaceman your last exchange was off the chain. Your comebacks were priceless.

I don't have a problem with criticism of the Knicks. What I can't stand is people who are paid to cover teams and franchises they obviously do not enjoy.

When's the last time Frankie Ice answered any of your questions? Since when did ignoring Mark/Isola work? Ignoring Dross didn't do anything either.

We're here now. The mailbag is on. Get your questions in and make them good cuz AH is not a psychic. Some of the questions are going to be interesting to see him answer cuz he's already answered them. I'm interested to see how he works it.

Amen BARF !!!

Be A Real Fan
(priceless)

Here's the article from the Journal News I was telling ya'll about....

http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070828/NEWS01/708280357/1023/NEWS07

Why would Isiah go after Peitrus? Who is he going to trade? Golden State doesn't want any of the players we can offer. It's not like we can send them Jones and Dickau because their contracts are worthless to the Blazers with Peitrus coming off the books next year anyway.

They won't take James or Rose and Peitrus is not worth one of our first round picks.

So who do we trade?

Do we trade Jeffries?

I wouldn't !!

I think we should give Jeffries another year. We all know he's a good defender. A lot of people say he was a bust last year. I guess you can call it that but I look at it thinking and knowing to myself that he got a very, very bad break by missing the first 20 something games of the season. It's funny how people know that but they still think of him as a bust. I thought he was a very good free agency pick up by Isiah. Jeffries will prove himself this year.

@Statesman

I agree with some of your comments but in regards to running from Isola I feel you are wrong.

Nobody ran from him....I just don't choose to share my views with a brick wall. Isola's passion for the Knicks will never match mine or 95 percent of the bloggers on his page.

I'm not saying Alan can...but you can't deny when a reporter covering your favorite team takes the time to answer his bloggers questions and actually keeps his blog updated every other day with new information is what I call an upgrade.

Error:
I said:
"Why would Isiah go after Peitrus? Who is he going to trade? Golden State doesn't want any of the players we can offer. It's not like we can send them Jones and Dickau because their contracts are worthless to the Blazers with Peitrus coming off the books next year anyway"

I should have said:
Why would Isiah go after Peitrus? Who is he going to trade? Golden State doesn't want any of the players we can offer. It's not like we can send them Jones and Dickau because their contracts are worthless to the Warriors with Peitrus coming off the books next year anyway?

DaVonn J

I'm glad that you're a stand up guy. Wish you had shouted me out when you waved the white flag though, as this was the exact point i've been trying to make to you for days now.

That 2nd quarter, by the way, was 28-20 in favor of Mexico. See a troubling pattern going on here DaVonn? I attribute it to a lack of focus, which is their weakness...

My mother (SRIP) taught me, "you tell on yourself by the company you keep". By your insightful observations here African and Statesman, I'm convinced that I'm in good company. Tman is one other prolific and insightful blogger at the other place who is missed here. I'm satisfied to know that not everyone is googoo-gaga over an allegedly hip, passionate reporter to the point where s/he will allow him to police the thoughts of a blogger while typing thoughts about b-ball.

Maybe this whole blogging thing is not for me; its definitely not for everyone. I, for one, refuse to view anything at any place where, by chance, some idiot typed about possettes and slandered people's character for no good reason.

Hahn may be dealing with mingled sentiments. I'm certain that he has suits (editors) who police him and listen to the stuffy shirts and bloomer-clad readers of the printed paper. So yesterday, he does this "I may have SAID this thing, so I guess I have to face up and DO something else" in order to stay true to the blog ethic. I spinned it for him calling him a diplomat. On the (sort of) bunk, I blogged that I did not need an explanation from SM. Recall, however, that a blogger challenged Hahn to post the SM (unnecessary) spin or risk losing credibility as an objective non-hating NY reporter. So Alan Hahn does it tongue in cheek. And you guys properly called him on it.

Now if this blog stream does not allow for people who come together because of a shared affinity to the NYK and allow them to share openly, then we'll have some decisions to make individually. I for one am not swayed by those who type "this is a basketball blog" and "let's talk b-ball". Let us. We're fans of the NYK and we're coming with multiple views and from several vantage points. If someone thinks that a blog can be controlled that way and then take a moment (deserved and appropriate I might add) to make a soliloquy or read about a deceased coach and his impact on a player/the game, then we have to look and lift the "Veil of Hypocrates" once again. Exchanging with a hypocrit certainly would be bad company and my momma (SRIP)would not have liked that.

On the b-ball tip, Willis, BARF, DaVonn, I think we're wittnessing some General Managing through the media. GMs do this all the time. They set up leaks and provide anonymous sources. Pietrus and Yi to NY? Snow in a 2 for 1?

Steady as IT goes.

Credible journalists burned that way prefer to report the news as opposed to risk their name reporting "leaks". Meanwhile, the fans buy newspapers where journalists come up with these "leaks". Look how we created a whole industry of news sources with a Rumor Mill. That is not old-fashion journalism as some of us know it. Those standards are maintained to some degree in the NYT and Washington Post. Now the concern is that with the new sale of the WSJ, it too may go down the drain like other publications owned by the same owner of FOX.

I trust that I typed about enough b-ball to qualify this blog entry for this blog site.

KFL

EDIT Post:

add " before (sort of) and " after the ) to read: On the "(sort of)" bunk...

KFL

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7164050

skip to my lou slashed a dude's neck at a night club? what's up skip? did the dude say something to him about francis coming back?

well it sounds unfortunate...

I'm with you Steady - it just doesn't make sense for either team. I just try to get anything out there that I see recorded on this blog. Get any and all facts or fictions in one place so our collective conciousness can ruminate on them and try to divine what these GMs are up to. Some smoke, some fire, lots of fake outs, but if you keep track of it all, it can add up to a better understanding of what teams are doing or trying to do. Sometimes the purpose of the diversion is more important than the diversion.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to having a pack of long armed attack dogs at the three - Balkman, Jeffries, Chandler, with Q as the anchor and Lee mixing in with the right matchups. I don't want to give that up with LeBron and Rashard in the East. We certainly have enough guys to score, we don't need Pietrus. And I hope that Zeke will coach/substitute according to defensive matchups. Given how deep and young the Knicks now are, it makes sense for guys to get burn based on matchups and defensive effort. And now with Randolph and Morris, Curry can get his instructive pine time as well. Same goes for Crawford - John Starks redux - when he's hot he rolls, when he's not and he start's turning the ball over and dogging it on D, he sits. I love that cat, but he's too inconsistent, so I'm loving the emergence of Mardy and Nate getting a clue so we don't live and die with Jamal.

Great movie. BTW, Clifton was wearing a Bird jersey.

[Repost; 2 cents on the "athletic" stuff]

You guys really go at it! Just reading all the posts on N8 topic and man, funny, funny stuff. The etymology of the word "athlete" could be explored further. Maybe the youngsters who are fresh out of college and still sharp with their research skills can do that.

Steady, nice as usual. I think through all of that stuff I read, the negative connotation of the word athlete was the most interesting.

BTW, the dreadful C's of the 80s had to be the least athletic of our generation.

But they won three times.

McHale, Parish, Bird. ESPN loves them, but can't show any of their highlights. Why? Wasn't flashy enough. They didn't dunk like Dominique or Dr. J, Larry Nance. But Knick fans: do you remember yelling at the screen "how the F*k did Ainge go backdoor and score an easy layup? Why did he go for that McHale fake? Or how about Parrish dunking with his left foot still on the ground? Ugly as hell, but they won. Not only did they beat the pretty teams, they made you get into a fight with your teammate. Because everybody knows, a layup destroys morale more than a hot shooter. And the 80's Celtics always had a high number of assists and layups.

I'm not a Celtics fan, but I had to go ol' skool against this athletic stuff.

I can remember many pretty players that couldn't hit a foul shot with the game on the line. I can remember looking in their eyes and they didn't have a killer look like Bird had. Bird didn't want to just beat you, he wanted to lynch you. And he did it often.

I'll take that over a 360 windmill any day.

African,

I agree, but I think the host will eventually have to treat us like men.

Good read Statesman and Steady!
In reference to Assola, (as he's commonly known), I think the volume of his hits were due to the commnity wanting to be together. There were some astute minds there, but I for one, don't think that he deserves the traffic.
I went back and forth with him via personal e-mail and phone conversations for about a month every day, and this guy is really jaded. He actually hates Isiah and Dolan. Believe it or not, he actually tones it down in the blog!
He flat out stated that he doesn't care about the bloggers that populate the site, so when he boldly proclaimed victory in the Berman/Asssola fued due to the many hits he has, that was just going too far. He feels there's no obligation to maintain the blog of a 33 win team in the offseason. I've still got that e-mail thread.
Alan on the other hand is better.(That's not saying a whole lot) He actually does some work, But like I said, I'm not easily swayed. I've picked upon a few things, but we can't all always agree on everything.
I'm just happy I'm not the only one that have noticed. At the end of the day, the general operative phrase is "tabloid journalism."

HEY GUYS DONT WORRY SAC JUST GAVE MARTIN 55 MILL.SO NOW THEY COULD SEND ARTEST TO THE KNICKS SO THEY WILL FREE MONEY UP YRS TO COME ITS FUNNY HOW THEY DID THAT DEAL
AROUND THE SAMETIME JONES AND DICKAU CAN BE TRADED NOW THE PROBLEM SAC IS HAVING IS CHOOSING FROM THE LIST OF PLAYERS ISIAH HAVE AVALIABLE BUT EXPECT A RON ARTEST TO THE KNICKS ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO.
LETS GO KNICKS!

Hey Taiwan

I saw your post about yahoo's fantasy league. So are you saying you prefer the yahoo one to the nba.com one? If so, why?

The nba.com seems pretty nifty. But the private league feature you wrote about where it's invitation only sounds good. tell me more.

MY SOURCES TELL ME ISIAH IS REALLY WORKING THE PHONES AS OF 12OCLOCK MIDNIGHT YESTERDAY ALL THE TEAMS AROUND HIM IS MAKING A SPLASH AND WE ALL KNOW HE HATES NOT BEING IN THE SPOTLIGHT ONLY THING WE HAVE TO HOPE IS HE DONT GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING CRAZY LIKE A KIRALENKO TRADE THAT MAKE NO SENSE ISIAH IS AT HIS WORST WHEN HE PANIC BUTT WHEN HE RELAXES HE IS AT HIS BEST LETS JUST HOPE WE CAN GET RON FOR A BAG OF MARBLES
LETS GO KNICKS!

HEY GUYS BAD NEWS I JUST HEARD ISIAH IS INTRESTED IN JOSH SMITH FROM THE ATLANTA HAWKS HE DOES NOT FIT ON THIS TEAM IS HE REALLY A SMALL FORWARD?ISIAH HAS A HARD ON FOR ATHLETIC PLAYERS NOW YAR SEE WHAT IM TALKIN ABOUT WHEN HE IS AT HIS WORST WHEN HE PANIC I HATE TO SAY IT BUT HE IS GOING TO MAKE A DEAL SOON BECAUSE HE IS DYING TO PULL THE TRIGGER ON HIS GUN LETS JUST HOPE IT IS THE RIGHT DEAL THAT MAKE SENSE WITHOUT GIVING UP TOO MUCH YOUNG TALENT.

Alan - are you hearing any of these rumors about possible trades?

HEY ALAN I HEAR THESE RUMBLINGS FROM MY UNCLE HE WORK IN THE PR DEPT.AT MSG I CANT TELL YOU HIS NAME BECAUSE I DONT WANT HIM TO GET FIRED BY RELEASING TEAM INFORMATION WE TEXT EACH OTHER TIME AFTER TIME DURING THE DAY AND 9 OUT OF 10 HIS INFO IS ACCURATE BUTT ANY BREAKING NEWS IWILL KEEP U GOOD GUYS POSTED FROM HOZ THE KNICK U KNOW WHERE YAR HEARD IT FIRST.........

HOZ THE KNICK

That would be a great pick up!!!

I'd rather have him than Jeffries...

I think Jeffries is going to have a good year if he stays but Josh Smith is more than athletic...

Wasn't he top 3 in blocks last year?

That says a lot about his ups and athleticism.

I welcome Mr. Smith to the Garden....

African, Statesman, Harlem..., When I make the statement about "the company you keep", I meant it on multiple levels. For one, I do believe that there is a "community" of loyal NYKF out there and here. I will not waste the energy to do a compare and contrast with the Cs, Nots (not a typo) or Lakers. I just see us as King/Queen of the F'n Hill.

Next, Hahn has already given his history/frame of reference when he mentioned FA as a "big brother" figure who "took him under his wings" in the early years. This fact is admirable as professional/collegial camaraderie goes. I'm for succession planning and bringing the youth along. You may have seen that from my reaction when it looked like someone was about to dismiss and disrespect our 29 yr-old blog brother. You saw how Peaceman, BARF and George M worked a perfect pick-n-roll to slam that cancer at the other blog. I believe that loyalty is a two-way street and now Hahn is in a pickle as he establishes a persona that is different than that of his "big brother" FA. Maybe it means nothing to continue our exchange regardless of the parameters/"rules" established by our host. The exception is that we're the civil kinds here and generally apply the "don't start none, won't be none rule".

When fans are breaking down elements of b-ball defense like cooleyhigh did (erroneously under the mail bag blog lol), you get to appreciate the extent of the knowledge that is here.

And then, Harlem, that piece about the layup? It just tore me up. I actually transfixed into the moment and felt the exact pain you referenced. Layups would just kill me and my spirit during the game. That Princeton offense $#!+ would just frustrate me to no end leading me to want to clotheline someone. That's why we love the game. If one has never been in that mode or able to see the WHOLE game in any way (for nonplayers as they too can be true), one will never know or share that passion.

Say Hoz, what's good with the pay for play or gamecheck scenario in the NBA? Sounds like you got mad connects. How many Dolan bennies has JJ actually folded over the years? I would say, "not the number that is reported to the public".
I would also say that the Martin deal is not really telling. The Bibby move, if it happens may have a greater implication on what happens with Ron Ron. And if IT listens to you, he will not jump in and do something foolish with his pieces until DVJ's idol settles somewhere.

KFL

@Hoz The Knick

Glad to hear someone has an inside track. If this is true, Smith could be a great addition. But where would we play him? Crawford,Q,J.J,Balk and the rookies have the 2 & 3 spots locked up. Who would be leaving? Do you have the 4-1-1 on that?

I still like Ron at the 3,if we can hand-off 2-3 guys (including Dickau,excluding F.Jones).Let's hear more if you got it!

I AM GOING TO POST AT THE BEST BLOGS!!! Part I
By Lives In New Jersey, Loves New York

Evening Fellas,

I pray everyone had a good day. It’s dinner time for some of us and the beginning of another shift for most of the rest. Whatever you are doing, peace and blessings to all.

I wanted to drop a few words on this blogging about blogs issue for your consideration. Since I was one of those, along with Peaceman, who initially shouted AH out in a wacky multi-part series colloquially known as “Day of the Shiny Stuff” and since I am looking forward to us having a great posting season and post-season posting, I wanted you to consider a the following points when you decide where to post.

You know that we all blog and post for different, various reasons, but I think most of us have at least one thing in common – and that is our love of basketball. We have posters with different needs and objetives. We have posters who clearly just want to be acknowledged, others who want engaging discussion, others who want to test their ability to exert influence over people and others who just want to vent. But, almost everyone wants to do it in the context of a community that loves basketball.

Today there are thousands of private, independent and commercial blogs and websites on basketball in general and professional basketball more specifically that reflect a great passion for the sport and the Knicks. To date I have counted over 30 New York Knick related blogs including Knick Knation, Knickerblogger, KnicksFix, Knick Knacks, Ultimate Knicks and the list goes on. Some of them are pretty good, but I have yet to read a community as consistently insightful, funny, damning, intelligent and nerve-racking as a community with the likes of African, the MDboys, Steady, Peaceman, TMAN, Harewood, Statesman, DJ, BARF and on and on.

I point that out because for me the critical component in determining how and where I post is not the blogger, but the community of readers and posters that make it interesting, educational and a helluva good time.

Anyone Read Ken Berger's story about interviewing Artest today in mid town? He stated Crawford was his close friend and that Balkman was his boy! His exact quote to Balk was "I wouldn't trade me for you!" He also stated that he hasn't asked for a trade but wouldn't mind playing for the Knicks this year! Berger states there will be more to tomorrow , but it looks like Ron Ron will be a Knick within 24 hours! Holy SHYT! It's gonna happen!

@Peaceman

Who would we give up?

Peaceman where did you get the slop from ?

LOL

Give us a link or something man..

Don't leave us out in the field like that while you in the house eating left over pork chops.

Give me a link lol...

Peaceman is bluffing...

I'm looking all over the net and I can't find it...

SHOW ME NOW SUCKA!!!

Peace,
What will you do next if Ron Ron does happen?

Lives,
Does that mean that you will no longer post at that other blog? Cool.

Hoz,
What's da real-to-real on Ron Ron. In future, drop your knowledge and NEVER reveal your connects. If it happens, then it happens. If, as is the case of the hair-deficient NY hack, you're more often wrong than right, then trust that this Bad Boys II Band of Brothers @ the Fix will call you out and have you wishing you had the veil of hypocrates for cover.

Oh how I loved being young with p!$$ in my vinegar!

KFL

LIN/LNY,

I'm glad you guys migrated over here. I've never been to either one of the other blogs that are often mentioned, mainly because I know the hosts' feelings about NYK.

I don't need the snark and negativity regarding this team. We (NYK fans) have been through a long dark period since the last Finals appearance, and I like the feeling of being on the verge of being in the daylight again.

I stuck with this team even when most of my friends just gave up. My philosophy is you gotta stick with them when they're bad so when they get good again the taste is sweeter.

I was a member of the alt-sports Knicks newsgroup on USENET during the Ewing era, and that was a great group. The level of knowledge among that group was amazing - and I see the same level of knowledge here.

And AH has turned into a great host. As someone who's been blogging since before they were even called blogs, I've developed a good sense of when someone gets it and when they don't. Alan gets it.

This'll be my home base throughout the season - and the post-season, because I believe that this team will get there.

Good blog, good crowd. What more do you need?

Steady...

Peaceman didn't see no story like that?

Did you really Peaceman?

I'm excited now to find out who's on the table.

Your talking about in the next 24 hours and it's nowhere on the internet.

It's not on any sports tickers....

Peaceman your killing me over here bro...

LINK PLEASE !!!!

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/basketball/nba/blog/

Fellas, Fellas, chill out. If Artest is headed this way so be it,a s I mentioned before I don't know that I would swing this deal, but if IS can get him on the cheap, I'm all for it...If we have to give up Balkman, Chandler, Collins, I'm not down...They can have Jamal, Dickau, James, and Malik Rose. Anybody else, and it's mortgaging the future. Plain and simple...Although,I'd still be patient and wait for Kobe...

We need Artest, therefore trade Lee to Sac town and go get P.J.Brown who is a very smart veteran with very good rebounding skill and better defence than Lee. We would instantly become top 2 or 3 team in the Leastern conference, possible going all the way to the Nba finals. Lets go Knicks

I mean Brown is a better defender than Lee and he is a very smart player. Give him a four million dollar deal for 2 years. The overall team would become better balance with veterans and young players. At this point we don't have very experience veteran in the front court. James and Rose needs to give back their salary and come sit next to me and watch the game. Lets get ARTEST today!!!

We don't need Artest, you guys just want Artest...And that's fine if the right deal is made. On any given day this dude could decide to become a Rap producer again or quirkier if he heads to NYC, or be a model citizen; that is the Artest quandry...Great baller, but a head case...Be careful of what you ask for...You just might get it...

Zeph...don't you ever let me hear you say that again.

Lee isn't going anywhere...just ask Peaceman LOL...

PJ Brown in NY?

Do you remember the 99 playoffs?

PJ Brown is not welcomed here my friend.

Amen Cooleyhigh !!!

Yo me peeps, check yourself before you wreck yourself! Dis be Ali-G, and respeck to da Alan Con! As me main man unsteady hab a beter qotation! Say it unSteady! Alan, you be da biggest HOOP BLOG IN DA WORLD! Da bestest by far! it's time to let Mr. Vick's "youth in Asia" of da dogs go! It's time to cease da racalist subjects! Me Knicks are da talk ob da league! Me hab a great Idea! Alan Con, use you influence to git all your boys seats at a Nets-Knicks game at Jersey! You hab da juice to do dat! We would even pay if you could reservealisum a group seating wif big disscounts for all you new boys in da middle of da cheap Jersey field house! Den after da game we could eat at mickey D's or KFC's and bond as bro's! Me told you you wood be da new main man, Da mac daddy of da knicks! And it has come be true! Keepin it real, holla back, Respeck, Westside!

Guys look in Berger's story in todays Newsday! It's in the sports section before you go to Alan's blog! The 24 hour time table is my speculation, and also reading between the lines! I'm not bluffing! Look it up damnit!

The Link, NBA insider with Ken Berger, Ron Artest in NY!.....BTW this interview took place today at 50th ST and 8TH ave! Ron's already HOME!

Amen DaVonn; P.J. Brown is not welcome here. Never was, never will be.
He would be the 2nd Knick I've booed at the Garden. Greg Kite, former Celtic stiff, was the first.

Cooleyhigh,
you claim you were down with street ledgends of Mt Vernon and da Bronx! How man of them were head cases? Artest may be a head case but in NY he will be all business and a millionare to boot! Get off Ron Ron, I'm worst than Davonn when you diss my Boy! Right Davonn?

Davonn
I hope by now you have found the Link! Now tell me that article is not a ZEKE set up for the transition of Artest becoming a KNICK! I don't bluff, so an apoligy is in order! Thank you!

Ali-G, you be da king of the F'n hill but dat Ron-Ron trade rumor be whack. He called and said he ain't comin' no moh'.

DVJ,
Did you know if the author was going to take that angle with the story in the Journal News. I was glad to see you keepin' it real as you posted that opinion first here. They took an angle like the community of his peers were throwing him to the "dogs".

America is a nation of second chances--unless you're tappin' the feds' feet in public restrooms or lookin'/tokin' at innocent children in a sick/perverted way. That's why we don't want Patterson in NY. And I agree with you DVJ, my heart and roster is CLOSED for PJ Brown. I would (using an entitled word) TOLERATE him if IT brought him to our side.

In the meanwhile, I'm staying the course. Steady as IT goes. No deal is worth the rush until DVJ's boy lands somewhere.

KFL

You tell em Peaceman...

I read the article and I am very, very excited right now.

I'm literally at the point where I have 3 windows open on my computer...

1 for realgm.com

1 for rotoworld.com

1 for this blog

I have my TV tuned into ESPN and I have my PIP (that means picture in picture for you non big screen havers) on ESPNNews.

Let's see if they talk about it tonight when the national team plays Puerto Rico. Does anybody else like Bill Walton as a commentator? I love the way he does games. I wouldn't want him with us but I think he is hilarious with his ancient sayings.

Oh man....Ron Ron is coming home.....

Like I said before...I don't think he should get in trouble because he never got in trouble before when he played close to home.

High School and College he was precint (did I spell that right...anyway I mean police station) free !!!

Great pick up today Peaceman...

This is turning out to be the most interesting off season in a looooooooooooooooooooong time.

Rashard Lewis, KG, Zach, Ron Ron, Ray Allan, Jason Richardson and maybe more to come have all been moved to other teams. These are very big names!!

Am I buggin or am I right?

Steady
I'm very good at reading between the lines! if that happens, I'll start planing the place where WE WILL ALL WATCH THE TICKER TAPE CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE!

* Artest still hasn't asked the Kings to trade him, but he reiterated that he wouldn't be upset if he got traded to the Knicks. He did point out for the first time that he DOESN'T think a trade will happen this offseason because, "I don’t think anybody will give me up the way I’ve been working out this summer."

No where in this article is it hinted at that a trade is immenient, or that a trade is even under discussion.

Yes you guys talked me into changing my name....I'm getting my Diddy on.

Steady, he actually called me after I e-mailed him with my comments.

Here is what I sent him:

My name is DaVonn Jefferson and I live in White Plains NY. I'm 29 years old and I am probably the biggest Mike Vick fan outside of Atlanta. I think what Vick did was horrible. I am not an animal lover but I do not condone killing any innocent dog let alone animal. I think he should do his time and when he is released he should get a fair shot at returning to the league.

Now, there is a flip side to this story as well. I think he is getting an unfair amount of press and exposure. As far as it being a racial issue I think it is. Why is he getting so much negative attention in this when a current NFL player in the league who in 1998 killed a woman while driving under the influence was given a second chance at his life AND HE GOT CAUGHT AGAIN....somehow that just got swept under the rug. Yes, there was a different commissioner then but you have to take that into perspective.

What about the lady that shot her pastor husband in the back while he was in bed because he was "to mean" and all she got was a trip to a mental health hospital? Somehow that got swept under the rug also...

Those 2 crimes are both terrible acts against other human beings....

Vick's crimes were against dogs....do you see where I'm going here?

Once again, I think he should go to jail for what he did but I do think he should get another shot at getting his life back.

Remember this guy is going to lose over a year of his life and he's going to lose over 135 million dollars in future earnings....Plus the Falcons are talking about going after 22 million dollars in bonus money they already gave him.

Let the man serve his time and then let him get his life back...
___________________________

I was at a comedy club last weekend down in the village on Mcdougal street (I think it was called Comedy Cellar) and Chris Rock made a surprise appearance and all he spoke about for 30 minutes was Vick. He really put it in perspective from a different side. He looked at it the way we black people look at it. In other words we see it as terrible but for some reason.....black people and white people differ in opinion when it comes to the punishment.

I had no idea that when Vick was hit with the charges it was a misdemeanor (spell check someone).....get this......

8 days later it was changed in the law books to a felony.

Oh guys you have to do the research on this whole Vick thing.

Anyway, I'm glad you see what I mean about Kobe guys. I don't think we should trade any of our players except Rose, James, Jones and Dickau until the Kobe situation is settled.

I think Artest scored Major points claiming that ZACH and E-City can work and be formidable! That has ZEKE'S HAWK EYES ATTENTION! WELCOME HOME RON RON! MABYE ZEKE REALLY SET THIS UP? COME ON, RON RON LEADING A CHARITY FUND FOR CHILDERN OF A LESSER GOD! PERFECT TIMEING FOR ARTEST'S ADDITION!

HEY GUYS I DONT KNOW WHERE PEACEMAN GETS HIS INFO. FROM BUT HE IS ACCURATE MY SOURCES SAID BALKMAN IS HOLDING UP THE DEAL BECAUSE ISIAH DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE UP HIM AND N8 BUT IF THEY BACK OFF BALKMAN ANNOUNCEMENT CAN BE MADE AS EARLY AS TOMMORROW
LETS GO KNICKS!

Sorry David,
But no where was any article that stated Randolph would become a Knick on Draft night either! READ BETWEEN THE LINES! It's NOT LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE IN SACRAMENTO! RON's APPROVAL OF ZACH AND CURRY,= I WANT IN, WITHOUT DISRESPECTING THE KINGS! DO YOU REALLY NEED A SLIDE RULER, MR. DAVID? DAVONN, YOU CAN READ BETWEEN THE LINES AS WELL AS I CAN! HELP A BROTHER OUT!