Watchdog

Thanks as always, WatchDog Nation, for another powerful month of page views in June.

We recorded our fifth best month ever - with four of the top five coming in the first six months of 2009.

WatchDog finished third overall behind monthly champ TV Zone and second among sports blogs to a monster performance by Alan Hahn's Knicks blog.

I have a feeling Hahn's blog is going to do even better next June 30/July 1!

The Knicks City Dancers who, like Newsday, are owned by Cablevision, have been holding auditions for the 2009-10 squad.

Over 350 talented young women showed up for Sunday's first round.

Shockingly, the group's Web site has posted pictures of the process. Which works out well, what with this being the final day of my page views month.

Did I ever mention how I watched Game 5 of the '94 Stanley Cup finals with the Knicks City Dancers on a ranch outside Houston? I'm quite sure that I have. So never mind.

Photo: MSG

Looks like I scheduled my vacation a couple of days too soon.

Sunday the Knicks City Dancers will hold open auditions at the Garden, with registration from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by tryout activities.

At right is a picture from last year's tryouts. I sure hope the woman in the picture made the team. She deserves it, no?

(Cablevision owns both Newsday and the Knicks City Dancers.)

Photo: MSG/Chad Batka

Meanwhile, former Jets game day hostess Jenn Sterger is scheduled to appear along with Packers running back Ryan Grant Monday night as part of the "12 Angry Mascots" show at the Comix Comedy Club in the Meatpacking District.

Previous athletes/guests in the show have included the Giants' David Diehl and the Jets' Kerry Rhodes.

Photo: Getty

Gotta admire Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni's honesty in admitting he was disappointed not to land Stephen Curry Thursday night.

At least the Knicks said nice things about Jordan Hill.

In 1996, the Giants' decisionmakers displayed a glaring lack of passion about taking Cedric Jones with the fifth overall pick, after the Ravens stunned them by grabbing Jonathan Ogden at No. 4 rather than Lawrence Phillips, as most expected.

And that was even before they learned from an ESPN report that he was blind in one eye.

The Giants would have taken Ogden, who went on to become a future Hall of Famer. Jones did not.

In today's Newsday Sports Blog Post of the Day, Hahn reports that Steve Nash told Letterman he'd love to play for the Knicks.

Umm, no thank you, Steve. Five years ago, sure. Now? Nyet.

"MSG Vault" debuts its new season at 10 p.m. Wednesday with a look back at the 1999 Knicks' shocking run to the NBA Finals.

Allan Houston and Mike Breen appear with host Al Trautwig.

The 1990s generally went well for the Knicks. Less so the 2000s.

I participated in a conference call last week with film director Spike Lee about his new documentary, "Kobe Doin' Work."

It veered off into some non-Kobe directions. Such as . . . What team does Spike believe will win it all this season?

"As long as it’s not the Celtics, I'm happy," he said. "But I’d like to see, along with the networks, a Los Angeles Lakers-Cleveland Cavaliers final, LeBron against Kobe. I think that’s what everyone is hoping for if you don’t live in those other cities, like Houston and Boston and Orlando. I know I'm leaving out a team. Atlanta."

Speaking of Houston, "Ron Artest is from Queens, New York," Lee said. "He's crazy - I'll just put it bluntly. I love my brother, but the brother's off."

Then there was the Brazilian reporter who asked Spike, on the 20th anniversary of "Do the Right Thing," whether he would make that film the same way today.

Click below for his response.

Photo: Getty

Continue reading "With Knicks out, Spike Lee roots for anyone but Celtics" »

Went to the Knicks game Wednesday to see how the Knicks City Dancers were holding up after their narrow first-round loss to Toronto in NBA.com's annual dancer bracket.

They still seemed, um, bouncy and upbeat.

Nothing to do now but get behind the Nets Dancers - featuring Dix Hills' own Taylor Walker (left) and Laura Torres - in their second-round matchup against the Pacemates this afternoon.

I found the Knicks' loss to the Clippers quite entertaining, actually, in a twisted, semi-comical way. Most impressive was the fans' willingness to get wildly enthusiastic over a late-March game involving two out-of-contention squads.

Brush with greatness: I sat across from SNL's Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis.

Larry Johnson got a huge ovation when he was introduced to the crowd at his courtside seat. Also courtside was Micheal Ray Richardson, subject of still my all-time favorite Newsday backpage headline, written by Eric Compton on one of the rare occasions Richardson actually avoided trouble over a drug test:

Coke Free Sugar

Click below for one more thing about my adventures in the big city Wednesday.

Photo: SI

Continue reading "Knicks dancers bounce, Sugar waves, Mad Dog hugs" »

Uh, oh! The Knicks City Dancers are in a battle with their counterparts from Toronto in the first round of NBA.com's annual dance team tournament, with the Raptors ahead 52 percent to 48 as of 9 a.m.

I believe voting goes until 2 p.m., so make your voice heard here if you are so inclined.

Support not only your team and metropolitan area but your nation!

(The Knicks City Dancers and WatchDog both are wholly owned subsidiaries of Cablevision.)

Little or no blogging rest of today.

Going old school and acting like a newspaper reporter, just for a change of pace.

Read our other fine sports blogs here.

(UPDATE: The Raptors won, 51 percent to 49. A national embarrassment! No matter. They'll get waxed by the three-time-defending-champion Heat in the next round.)

Photo: MSG

Nets fans responded to Tuesday's post rallying them to vote for their team's dancers over those of the 76ers in the first round of the NBA's annual dancer bracket.

The pressure now shifts to fans of the Knicks dancers, who face a first-round match against the Raptors Tuesday, the winner of which will draw the three-time-defending-champion Heat.

The Knicks dancers and Newsday columnists both are under the Cablevision umbrella. Look forward to meeting them at the company picnic.

(Did I ever tell the story of watching Game 5 of the 1994 Stanley Cup finals with the Knicks City Dancers on a TV plopped down in the middle of a Texas ranch? I believe I have. Never mind.)

Photo: Getty

Will Ferrell talked to David Letterman last week about his recent night at the Garden interacting with Nate Robinson (about 4:30 in).

Hey, gang, check this out: Our Knicks - who have the same parent company as Newsday, BTW - have had their April 10 game against the Magic "flexed" onto ESPN2, replacing the Washington-Toronto tilt.

This will bring the total number of Knicks games this season on ESPN or ESPN2 to one.

The game still will be seen locally in what is known as a "co-exist" with ESPN. But the move is a sure sign the Knicks no longer are considered toxic for a national audience.

The Knicks are scheduled to wear this style of jersey Wednesday night as part of the NBA's Noche Latina program.

Yes, you can buy your own replica.

The Knicks and Newsday both are owned by Cablevision, a connection that has absolutely, positively nothing to do with this post.

The Yankees ran another pricey half-page ad in the Sunday Times to showcase their most expensive seats, which have been selling a tad more slowly than the team expected back during the innocent, carefree days of early 2008.

And the Knicks are running ticket promotions, including "DLee's Double-Double Ticket Deal," in which two ducats and two meals cost $42. Pretty good!

The Knicks and Yankees advertising tickets!?

These are interesting times, people.

Photo: AP

(Click below for official Newsday/Knicks/Cablevision disclaimer.)

Continue reading "Yankees, Knicks peddle tickets to cash-strapped NY" »

Last season, the Knicks and Rangers returned to their ancestral TV home with two games apiece on Ch. 9.

This season, MSG has partnered with Ch. 11 to show two of each team's games on over-the-air TV, starting Saturday.

The schedule:
Feb. 28: Rangers vs. Avalanche, 8 p.m.
March 7: Knicks vs. Bobcats, 7:30 p.m.
March 13: Knicks vs. Timberwolves, 8 p.m.
March 21: Rangers vs.Sabres, 7 p.m.

I will spend the next few hours returning emails from Yankees fans kind enough to have shared their ticket thoughts with me over the past three days.

Enjoy Tiger's return.

Photo: AP

Nate Robinson scored 41 points off the bench Monday night, then presented a green replica jersey commemorating his slam dunk title to Will Ferrell, then wrapped up an interview with Tina Cervasio by saying, "Shake and bake!"

None of the above is among the things you normally see in the course of watching an NBA game.

Well, that didn't take long.

These T-shirts will be available at the NBA Store and at NBAStore.com for $22 starting Tuesday.

Nice call by MSG's Walt (Clyde) Frazier Sunday, anticipating based on the Knicks' personnel depoyment before the Trail Blazers' final play that New York would not foul - with a foul to give - to force Portland to waste precious seconds.

Sure enough, Jared Jeffries watched Brandon Roy dribble 30 feet from the basket, missing an opportunity to foul before Roy drove for the winning hoop.

I (and everyone else watching) yelled at Jeffries to foul during the play, and Frazier weighed in immediately afterward, stating the obvious: "Foul!"

So did Al Trautwig and Kelly Tripucka in the MSG studio later, with Trautwig expressing bafflement after listening to coach Mike D'Antoni's explanation in his news conference.

Tina Cervasio asked the Blazers' Greg Oden about the final play, and Oden said they had called two plays, assuming naturally that the Knicks would foul to end the first.

Terrible loss, but good TV!

Photo: AP

Willis Reed is on Wheaties boxes as part of the celebration of Black History Month.

Michael Phelps was not as fortunate in the cereal endorsement area this week.

The main item in my Friday newspaper column is about the Knicks' efforts to attract and retain fans despite challenges such as the team's recent struggles, the down economy and the fact the organization is trying to balance winning now with pointing toward the summer of 2010.

It is one of several business-related stories in the Friday sports section.

Rieber rounded up some others here.

Photo: AP

In addition to rubbing elbows with Jay-Z and P. Diddy at the Garden Wednesday night, I got to see Alan Hahn of Newsday, who still is taller, younger and feistier than me.

Nice line here from Hahn about LeBron James' visit to the big city:

At this point, New York at least has LeBron's feet. For the second time this season, LeBron James wore a signature sneaker to mark his Garden appearance. In December it was a candy apple red shoe and last night it was a Checkered Cab motif with yellow trim.

Considering the King's obvious shoe fetish, they should have called it "Chex in The City." Carrie Bradshaw, who would appreciate such taste, is sometimes seen courtside here.

Sorry it took me so long to get around to the excellent material from Reggie Miller that TNT sent Tuesday, but here is the Scourge of the Garden on the standing ovation and "M-V-P" chants Kobe Bryant got Monday night:

“Playing at the Garden is the number one venue for any NBA player to play in. I was watching the game last night, and I was texting Spike (Lee) as the game was going on and saying how disappointed I was in the fans chanting 'MVP' to Kobe, ‘How the mighty have fallen.’

"In times past, I never got cheered, I’m sure (Michael) Jordan never got cheered and now they are chanting 'MVP' for Kobe. (Spike Lee) kept texting back saying, ‘Times have changed; the climate has changed.’"

What did TNT's Marv Albert think? This:

“At the Garden these days, it’s a combination of appreciation, and even though the Knicks are better this season, there is frustration that they are under .500 and that they have not been good in quite some time.

"The climate is so different these days, the guys like Kobe (Bryant) and LeBron (James) and Dwyane Wade, these guys are so popular and they get so much exposure, all three come across so well in commercials, interviews and they are very likeable. In most arenas it has become similar to applauding for a popular entertainer, these guys are like rock stars.

"A few years back when Reggie Miller was lighting it up against the Knicks at the Garden, perhaps even he would have been well received. Then again, maybe not.”

The best thing about Kobe going off at the Garden Monday night was that it educated young fans about this guy, even as he was bounced from the record books.

(Speaking of the Knicks and Kobe, several readers alerted me Monday to an unusual graphic on MSG. Deadspin has the image here.)

Football season was fun. Time to move on.

Lakers Monday, Cavs Wednesday, Celtics Friday. Wow!

The Garden, the Knicks and Newsday all are owned by Cablevision. So I need to look into the employee discount on tickets.

Starbury interview video from ESPN.

He seems calmer and more rational than usual.

Cablevision owns Newsday, the Knicks and Steph's contract.

A couple of interesting reads for your New Year's Eve morning:

1. The economic issues facing our nation and world have seeped into the usually sturdy sports business, according to Forbes. This will be excellent news for shrimp, as the NFL plans to cut back on Super Bowl festivities this year, and thus on the terrible carnage that usually visits the shrimp population before the big event.

2. Even Stephon Marbury is blogging now. How can I compete with lines such as this: "It's the principle of the whole thing. It's really not about the money but it's about the money. Feel me?"

Um, no thank you.

WatchDog wishes for a very Merry Christmas to all readers who celebrate the holiday.

For those who don't, enjoy your Kung Pao chicken.

I'm out.

After Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a game nearly two years ago - in pre-WatchDog olden times - I wrote a newspaper item on the only known audio account of Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in Hershey, Pa., in 1962.

Now, through the magic of blog links and in honor of Carmelo Anthony's 33-point quarter Wednesday, here is the fourth quarter of the Big Dipper's historic performance.

The drama is riveting as Chamberlain tries to reach 100 and the Knicks try to figure out how to deny him.

The back story is good, too.

The recording exists only because a UMass student heard about the 100-point game, then heard that WCAU in Philadelphia would be replaying the final quarter of Bill Campbell's call in the wee hours of the morning. He decided to tape it from his dorm, which fortunately sat at a high point in Amherst, Mass.

LeBron James called Charles Barkley "stupid" after the TNT analyst criticized the current Cavalier and future Knick for playing footsie with the rest of the NBA while committed to the Cavs through the end of the 2009-10 season.

Call me stupid, LBJ, but I'm sorta with Chuck on this one.

Next time someone asks you about July 1, 2010, just say "no comment."

No worries, Knicks fans.

Only 23 more months to go!

OK, this is weird: Tuesday's Cavs-Knicks game was selected by fans on NBA.com to appear on NBA TV over four other games as part of the network's "Fan Night" promotion.

America is catching Knicks fever! Or maybe it had something to do with LeBron. Whatever.

Here is a list of the loudest basketball arenas I ever have been in, in three categories.

Why? Because I've run out of other ideas for procrastinating before doing my real job.

WatchDog kudos to first person who can say what this picture has to do with anything.

High school: Molloy 54, Shenendehowa 49, state semifinal, March 27, 1987, Glens Falls Civic Center

College: Rutgers 91, UNLV 85, in OT, Dec. 7, 1991, Louis Brown Athletic Center

Pros: Bulls 105, Knicks 95, Eastern Conference finals Game 4, May 31, 1993, Chicago Stadium

Oh, my goodness gracious. If you had Day One in the pool for Mike D'Antoni's first New York media moment, you win!

Even with competition from the World Series mini-game, the Knicks' opener attracted an average of 1.45 percent of New York-area homes, which surpassed last season's home opener against Minnesota by 101 percent and the overall average for Knicks games last season by 48 percent.

Speaking of Wednesday's game, I did some further inquiring about the unusual spectacle of Al (Franklin Square) Trautwig interviewing Jamal Crawford at halftime.

It turns out the Knicks have given permission to MSG to talk to a player on his way to the locker room at halftime . . . as long as the team is leading.

Hmm. What about a tie score? I was told that counts. We'll see.

MSG also now is allowed to speak to inactive players during the game. Hence the interview with Jarred Jeffries.

It's a bright, shiny new day!

The Lakers and Celtics met in the most recent NBA Finals, so their fans probably are OK with them ranking first and third in the new Team Marketing Report standings for "fan cost index."

Less easy to swallow is that Our Knicks are second, at an estimated $420.04 for "four average-priced tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-size hot dogs, parking for one car, two game programs and two least-expensive, adult-size adjustable caps."

Hmm. Well, things are more expensive in New York, in fairness. And I never in my life have driven a car to a Knicks game, or bought an adjustable cap at one. So maybe that figure is a tad higher than it needs to be.

I don't know. I'm just randomly throwing stuff out there now because I have been told with 36 hours left, WatchDog is tantalizingly close to its first overall Newsday.com monthly page views championship.

Whatever you do, DO NOT read the TV Zone blog again until 12:01 a.m. Saturday. If you must discuss the season premiere of "30 Rock," feel free to do it here.

Just kidding, obviously. Read TV Zone early and often.

Read WatchDog more, though. Thanks.

What was up with that halftime interview of Jamal Crawford by Al Trautwig on MSG Wednesday?

An interview with an NBA player during intermission?! What is this, the NHL?

Anyway, it was a promising sign of the improved media vibe around Our Knicks. MSG even showed footage of Mike D'Antoni's pregame locker room talk.

It's new! It's fresh!

It's the Knicks, undefeated! Thanks, Donnie. On to Game 2.

I won't be able to blog much if at all this Wednesday, so I will leave you with a link to my fellow Newsday blogger Jamal Crawford.

Mr. Crawford does not post quite as often as I do, perhaps because he is tired from all that running hither and yon mandated by the new coach. But Baumbach suggested I take a look at Jamal's entry from last Thursday, which provides yet another example of the fascinatingly twisted state of modern media.

It's a prominent local professional athlete using his blog in one newspaper to dispute a report about him in a competing paper. Cool! I think.

Gotta go. Enjoy the World Series.

Philadelphia is hosting a film festival this week. I will not be attending, because the locals will be even more worked up than usual during the World Series and it could get dangerous.

But I have seen several of the movies on the schedule, and can particularly recommend "Kassim the Dream," showing Saturday night.

The festival kicks off Thursday with "First Basket," a film about Jews in basketball, including the the first Knicks team of 1946-47, which was full of New York Jews.

I could have been a Knick, but I was born 40 years too late. In addition, I am awful basketball player, and always have been.

The film has its New York debut Oct. 29.

MSG announced its 2008-09 Knicks schedule today. Conveniently, the national networks aren't interested in the squad, so every game is slated for MSG.

I posted the entire schedule for those inclined to click below, but I didn't know how to format it neatly so it's a complete mess.

Continue reading "Undaunted, Knicks still plan to play in 2008-09 season" »

What is the best Knicks blog on the World Wide Web?

Duh. Isn't it obvious?

According to one objective site, it's this one.

In my Tuesday newspaper column, I naively fret about what the backpage editors of New York's tabloids will do this autumn now that baseball season is over.

It appears I needn't have worried.

Ken Berger, whom Laveranues Coles once memorably referred to as "little media man," again has caught the attention of one of our town's highly paid professional ball-maneuverers.

Evidently caught up in the spirit of the Jewish holidays, Stephon Marbury is praying for the wayward scribe.

(Maybe he's also welcoming Berger into the Cablevision family.)

It's good to see athletes and journalists bond over their shared humanity. I'm getting a little teary just writing this.

Thank you, Steph for putting it all in perspective. Let us pray. More this afternoon.

(UPDATE: Steph once put his hands upon another Newsday sports scribe!)

The intrepid Bruce Beck, who famously tried to make sense of Stephon Marbury on "Mike'd Up" last offseason, takes another crack here at the Point Guard from Another Planet.

Steph says he won't accept a penny less than he's owed, and insists he is ready to play basketball at a high level and help his hometown team. But he is aware other teams could use a point guard.

There's also something in there about nurturing the planet. I assume he means Earth, but who knows?

(At one point Bruce refers to "Mike'd Up" as "my show." Uh, oh. Mike Francesa doesn't read this blog, does he? Bruce also admits to Steph that he thought he was being "crazy" that night last summer.)

NBA TV in the coming season will offer fans a chance to vote on NBA.com each week to decide which game will be shown nationally on Tuesdays.

The voting begins Oct. 28 and the first game will be shown - appropriately - on Election Day, Nov. 4.

The Knicks currently are scheduled to be on NBA TV five times, but if America clamors for more, it will get more.

If not, then not. Is Stephon still on the team? I have kind of lost track this offseason.

Wow, the Knicks have added another Northport guy to their staff, this time Ken Atkinson.

The Atkinsons are an athletic dynasty in Northport that dates to my days at Northport High, when our quarterback was Dave Atkinson, and extends to a couple of years back, when Ben Atkinson played basketball there with my nephew.

Well played, Coach D'Antoni! I sense greatness in the 2008-09 Knicks.

Interesting stuff here from JVG (around 1:45 into it) in an interview with SNY's Gary Apple, in which he takes issue with a fellow former Knicks coach.

Bill Bradley, Willie Reed and Earl Monroe are scheduled to appear on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 127 at 1 p.m. Tuesday, direct from the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street.

The 1972-73 season is bound to come up. Maybe the 2008 Presidential election will, too.

This makes three out of four Knicks-related posts. Uh, oh.

I promise my next post will not be about any team or newspaper Cablevision owns.