The Knicks Fix

Wonder if Jimmy D is going to try to recoup some of that settlement money now that Larry Brown breached the gag order agreement in an upcoming issue of Philadelphia Magazine? I'm sure that will get more attention from the Garden suits than the overzealous security guards who got a little pushy with some reporters during Monday's game.

But by now most of you have read the reports regarding LB's comments about his one season in hell with the Knicks.

"They had security people standing close to me at press conferences," Brown tells the magazine, "and spies throughout the arena."

Brown may sound like a paranoid man, but that would only be the case if no one else had experienced the Gestapo-like information control that exists within the Garden. As you all know, that point has been made several times before.

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I was unable to find any reports that confirm whether or not Eddy Curry's contract is insured, but an interesting article on Curry's battle with the Bulls before his trade -- "Knickel and dime issues: an unexplored loophole in New York's genetic discrimination statute and the viability of genetic testing in the sports employment context"; Albany Law Review, March. 22, 2007 -- suggested that when Curry agreed to undergoing tests of his heart condition and passed these tests, the contract was insurable.

The Knicks don't just give out this kind of information, but there were reports back in October 2006, when the Knicks acquired Curry, that suggested the Knicks were close to getting the contract insured. Generally, 80 percent of NBA contracts are insured to protect from career-ending injuries, but there are some that come with footnotes. The contract with Quentin Richardson, for example, is not insured if he has a career-ending back injury.

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The Nets are a mess, aren't they? After their sixth striaght loss last night against the Kings, our Fixer friend Al Iannazzone of the Bergen Record is reporting the Nets have interest in Chicago's Andreas Nocioni. Rod Thorn is clearly trying desperately to do something to shake up this underperforming team. But the problems there might be more than just what they lack in personnel. It's the complacency that has developed within their leadership (read: Jason Kidd).

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Speaking of the Kings...seems like now that they're healthy (their Big Three of Mike Bibby, Ron Artest and Kevin Martin were all in the lineup last night against the Nets), there is a belief they may be able to make a run at a playoff spot in the West. That might be enough to keep Geoff Petrie from making a move, though the more success they have, the more value his assets (Bibby, Artest) will gain.

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Knicks assistant coach Dave Hanners approached me on Monday and asked if I had a favorite Dr. King quote. I was caught off guard and embarrassed that I couldn't come up with one aside from the trademark stuff; me being someone who loves to quote movies and songs.

Hanners, who came up through the Tarheel pipeline, said he knew many of the more famous quotes because Dean Smith used to always post inspiring and thought-provoking quotes for his players to read. One MLK quote that stood out to Hanners was, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

The conversation motivated me to get some education on some of the sayings and teachings of Dr. King. Why have a holiday for someone and not understand the depth of his character? So I read...and found several comments that stood out to me. One in particular I thought to share:

A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan.

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Anyone see the story about OJ Mayo possibly getting in trouble with the NCAA because he attended a Lakers-Nuggets game compliments of Carmelo Anthony's personal tickets? The NCAA bylaws prohibit a student-athlete from accepting discounted or complimentary tickets to a professional event unless they were also available to the general student body. I can understand that this is a way to keep college athletes from supposedly gaining perks for their fame as a player, but let's be honest: a friend giving another friend two tickets is one thing. What about all that gear these dudes get? Free clothes and shoes isn't a perk?

Lost in the Los Angeles Times story was the conversation Mayo had with 'Melo when he attended a party the Nuggets star threw on Sunday night in LA.

"Man, you're out pretty late," Mayo said to Anthony. "You've got a game tomorrow against Kobe."

"Nah," Carmelo replied, "it will be all right."

Kobe's Lakers beat 'Melo's Nuggets, 116-99. Carmelo left the game in the second quarter with an ankle sprain. He had 13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 turnovers in 14:25.

But it probably was a great party.