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Here's my take on the present relationship of Knicks fans with their team. The column appears in Friday's edition of amNewYork (as it does each week).
My initial intention was to bash Isiah for foisting blame on Knicks fans, but conversations with Knicks fans, and some extra reflection, led me to take the topic in a different direction.
Have a great weekend!
— Max
Here is a Q&A I conducted with my friend Sam Amick, a fine beat reporter who himself blogs for The Sacramento Bee.
By the way, The Bee was my newspaper growing up in the River City. On school days, I used to shower earlier than my brother before school each morning so that I could beat him to the paper, grab the Bee, bypass everything but its sports section, and then check the agate to see whether Kings shooting guard Mitch Richmond's scoring average had increased.
Hey, stop snickering. Michael Jordan has said that "The Rock" was the toughest cover among his NBA opponents.
Still laughing at me? Well, that's because I'm worthy of ridicule after all.
— Max
New York-area pro teams on Facebook.com fan applications developed by Watercooler Inc., as of Wednesday:
1. Giants, 55,687 fans
2. Yankees, 53,287
3. Mets, 34,875
4. Rangers, 30,040
5. Devils, 17,545
6. Jets, 14,586
7. Islanders, 9,493
8. Knicks, 8,441
9. Nets, 4,222
Here the the most-subscribed pro teams overall among the four major sports, as of Wednesday.
NBA: Boston Celtic, 100,410 fans
NHL: Montreal Canadiens, 235,983
NFL: New England Patriots, 226465
MLB: Boston Red Sox, 84606
Read more on page 46 of the Thursday, Dec. 20, edition of amNewYork.
Out!
—Max
Bill Simmons' annual NBA trade value rankings is always must-reading--if only to see how badly he messes up (as he notes himself, 8 of last year's top 40 players aren't even on this year's expanded 50-player list, including his #14 and #19 picks).
There's no doubt, though, that the best thing in this year's list is the YouTube clip of Rasheed Wallace 'leading' some Pistons teammates in their version of Jingle Bells.
What a great bunch of guys.
Both the Daily News and the Post decided they wanted to talk to the fan kicked out of MSG last night for his "Fire Isiah" sign. Now, I can't promise that I'll make you famous or allow you to cry all over the front page of the paper about what an injustice you were done, mystery dude. But I think you're pretty cute, and I DO need a date for New Years. So if you see this, give me a call. We can discuss the Knicks and the Yankees and sexual harassment over PBRs.
We're live-blogging George Mitchell's 2 pm press conference, and Bud Selig's 4 pm response.
1:57pm: ESPN confirms that Roger Clemens is indeed mentioned in the report. Other names are Paul Lo Duca, and Miguel Tejada
2pm: Per George Mitchell, every single club in MLB has had a player who used steroids.
2:07pm: 6 percent of players have used steroids.
Directly from the Mitchell Report: "McNamee injected Roger Clemens in the buttocks four to six times with testosterone from a bottle labeled either Sustanon 250 or Deca-Durabolin that McNamee had obtained from Radomski."
The number of Yankees from their last World Series team named in this report is shocking.
Andy Pettitte
Roger Clemens
David Justice
Jason Grimsley
Chuck Knoblauch
Glenallen Hill
Denny Neagle
Mike Stanton
4:30pm-Bud Selig speaks. He claims "if there were problems, he wanted them revealed."
24 notice for tests eliminated.
Active players will be dealt with as "performance abusing users."
Decisions will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
An HGH summit will be announced to fight and detect the undetectable HGH.
-Here's a list of all 15 current or ex-Yankees, and 12 current of ex-Mets.
Some fans are saying 'I told you so', others are shocked, others are angry--a source is telling us Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite are both named in the Mitchell Report steroids investigation today.
Read the full article here; and come back at 2:00 p.m., we'll be live-blogging the press conference where more than 50 names are expected to be released.
AP Photo by Chris O'Meara
For my final fantasy football column of the year in Thursday's paper, I've included a 2008 mock draft. I enlisted the help of nine other fantasy fanatics -- colleagues, friends, friends of colleagues -- in the five-round mini-draft.
While the newspaper version includes just names, positions and teams, below are my comments on each and every pick. My team, in case you're wondering, is the Mighty Rynos.
FIRST ROUND
1. Da Bears – Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota
Ryan says: Peterson is certainly deserving of being the top overall pick. But don’t be afraid to take LaDainian Tomlinson here either.
2. Alabama Hawks – LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego
Ryan says: I still like Tomlinson a lot because he has more of a proven track record than Peterson, and I think he’ll put up bigger numbers in 2008 than he has this season.
3. Kalamazoo Killer Whales – Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia
Ryan says: Because of his skills as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield, Westbrook is solid year after year. You just have to get over the fact that he’s never played a full 16-game schedule and seems to constantly be battling some sort of injury.
4. Playoffs?!?! – Tom Brady, QB, New England
Ryan says: : Brady was clearly this season’s fantasy MVP and will shoot up the draft boards next year.
5. Brady’s Baby Mama – Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis
Ryan says: Having two QBs go in the top five is usually unheard of. But because 2007 was a down year for running backs overall, I fully expect more QBs to creep into the first round than ever before.
6. Aussie Ballaz – Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis
Ryan says: Great pick. Addai is talented enough to go as high as third overall.
7. Mighty Rynos – Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis
Ryan says: If he stays healthy in 2008, Jackson could amass 2,000 total yards.
8. Adequate Spiral – Tony Romo, QB, Dallas
Ryan says: Like I said, QBs will be highly sought after early in the draft.
9. Sweet & Sour Ginkgo Nuts – Jamal Lewis, RB, Cleveland
Ryan says: The biggest reach of the first round by far. Surprisingly, Lewis is the fifth best fantasy RB this year. But you have to ask yourself: Do you think he’ll match those numbers again in 2008? I don't think he'll come anywhere close.
10. Working Man – Randy Moss, WR, New England
Ryan says: Randy Moss’ career resurrection is complete, and he should indeed be the first receiver taken in 2008.
It can't be long now.
Seriously. Like honest to God.
We all know what a unique brand of psycho ex-girlfriend nuts Isiah Thomas is. However, in recent days he's taken to a whole new level of Norman Bates crazy. First, when Madision Square Garden decides to walk away from the Anuscha Brown Sanders case and pay up (which they should), Crazy Isiah comes out and declares his innocence, despite what the organization decided. Then, last night, during the nightly bout of "Fire Isiah" chants at another pitiful Knicks performance, he decided to get into it with the fans.
Come on, James Dolan. It's time to put Isiah to pasture. Since losing your job is a wicked downer, no matter who you are, I've decided to enlist a few friends, and figure out some things Isiah could do with his time once his days ruining the Knicks are over.
-Finagle a way to become head coach in Cleveland. Kill LeBron James' talent development.
-Write book entitled "If I Sexually Harassed Anuscha Brown Sanders, Here's how I'd do it." Enlist OJ, and make it lifes work to find "real MSG sexual harassers."
-Become Knicks season ticket holder. Begin head of "Fire _______ " for whomever replaces him.
-Become manager to Britney Spears/Amy Winehouse/Foxxy Brown
-Become Rudy Guiliani's running mate for president.
-Team up with Omar Minaya and offer a class on how to effectively build a sports franchise.
Got any more ideas? Leave us one in the comments.
Adam Abramson of Newsday was a major contributor to the funny in this entry.
-Lizzy
Photo courtesy Newsday
Slid this 2004 classic into my DVD player last night. It tells the story of Houston Rockets center Yao Ming's trail-blazing trip to the U.S. as a 22-year-old rookie center from Shanghai. It would be an overstatement to call this 88-minute documentary boring, but it certainly fails to captivate an audience that might be interested in Yao's experience during that rookie campaign six seasons ago, after which he was the NBA's Rookie of the Year.
The subject is fascinating, but the filmmakers, James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, seem to have gone in with little plan, rolling their cameras in the hopes of finding something to choppily edit in as voice-over materials between sound bites from Yao's American translator and the Rockets' p.r. director.
What most intrigues are Yao's clashes with Shaquille O'Neal, then just exiting his prime with the L.A. Lakers. Unfortunately, the film relies too much on using characters like Shaq, the doubting commentator Charles Barkley (who certainly got his comeuppance), and the self-absorbed teammate Steve Francis as foils to Yao, rather than adequately fleshing out the 7-foot-6 Chinese athlete himself.
I've kept my gloating around here to an absolute minimum, just because after being a Boston sports for so many years, nothing is ever a guarentee. Just ask Anthony Smith.
So looking at the Pats schedule for the rest of the season, they have the Jets, the Dolphins, and the Giants. The team on paper with the best chance to beat the Patriots is obviously the Giants, but there's a lot more to football than just numbers. The key to beating the Patriots, as was exposed in the Philiadelphia and Baltimore games, is keeping Brady rattled, and get as many bodies on Randy Moss as you can. Basically, shut down the passing game. Nobody has filled Corey Dillon's shoes in that Patriot locker room, and the Pats running game has suffered because of it.
The Miami Dolphins might as well forfeit. My high school football team could put up a a better fight.
However, the Giants defense is ranked 7th in the NFL, allowing on average 96ish rush yards a game, and 209 passing yards. Granted, when faced with some of the NFL's premier offensives (Green Bay, Dallas) the G-men weren't able to shut them down and deliver. Giants haven't been much of a big-game ballclub this year, which leads me to be a bit more nerved about the Jets coming to Foxboro this Sunday.
After Belichick fleeing New York for New England, Mangini leaving New England for New York, the overblown fiasco that was "videogate" earlier this year, there is no shortage of bad blood between these two teams. What will likely happen? Brady, Moss, Walker will blow the Jets into the Charles River. What could happen? The Patriots could get rattled early, Kellen Clemens could have the game of his life. As my colleage at Newsday, Kevin Dennehy, just said to me, "this game is more important to the Jets than any Super Bowl could ever be." Imagine that, Jets fans.
Breaking down the numbers, the Jets and Giants secondary are about even allowing on average around 208 pass yards per game. The Giants defensive line is much better, but the Patriots lack much of a running game, only going for 22 yards Sunday against the Steelers. Keep Brady out of the pocket, double team Randy Moss, and force the Patriots to run the ball. It could be an upset of astronomical proportions.
--Lizzy
The Miami Dolphins are 0-12 and have a chance to be the first team since the Steve Spurrier-quarterbacked Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976 to finish an NFL season winless.
Hey, why stop there?
The Dolphins should really go for history and zero in on the NFL’s all-time dubious team record: 26 consecutive losses, also set by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1976-77).
Dating back to last season, Miami is currently on a 15-game losing streak. They could be at 19 by season’s end. And then if they play their cards right in 2008, who knows?
As Rob Schneider might say, “You can do it!”
If the Dolphins succeed (some might consider it failing, but I’m a glass-half-full kind of guy), they would be in company with these other famous losers:
Hey, this might be Cleo Lemon's only chance to etch his place in football history!
AP photo by Alan Diaz
Earlier in the season, I was fortunate enough to have both Tom Brady and Brett Favre on my team. Of course, I began shopping Favre around as trade bait, targeting teams with poor quarterbacks. When one team shot down two or three of my offers, I decided it was time to move on and sent its owner a snide little comment: "Good luck winning with Derek Anderson at quarterback."
I was convinced he was a flash in the pan and would have bet my life on the fact that he would have crashed back down to earth and that Brady Quinn would be the Browns' starting quarterback by now.
Boy, was I wrong!
The reason for this little anecdote is because I have named the 2007 All-Surprise Team in my column this week, and no one was a bigger surprise than Derek Anderson.
Check it out, along with my picks for players to bench and start, at this link:
http://www.amny.com/sports/am-fantasy1206,0,7865278.story
AP photo by Matt York
My intern Erick and I have compiled this guide to next year's early movers in terms of NBA fantasy value.
The online version is totally unillustrated but nevertheless able to be read. (I tested it out.)
In other news, I'm priming an 18-foot-square piece of canvas with gesso so that I can begin work on my painted tribute to Orlando's Dwight Howard, whom I damn well should have drafted in October when I had a chance in the second round.
— Max
There are few mugs as recognizable as Joe Paterno's--check out these photos of him getting inducted into the college football hall of fame.
Oh yeah, some guy named Doug Flutie got in too... I think he threw a pass once?
Woo hoo! A chance to write about a Midwest team in reference to New York.
The Amazin’s are set to play the Jon Garland-less White Sox in Memphis, Tenn., next spring in the second ever civil rights exhibition game. The March 29 game will be preceded by a panel discussion on civil rights in baseball led by Harvard University’s Charles Olgetree.
The first such event was held this year pitted the Cardinals against the Indians, who got pounded.
“We decided to make it an annual event,” commissioner Bud Selig told the Associated Press. “It was a proud moment for baseball.”
--Emily Ngo
As of this afternoon, we have no inside information on Yankees' headlong pursuit of the great Minnesota Twins left-hander Johan Santana. But we can offer this Santana news.
— Max
Here’s what I know so far today:
Lions receiver Roy Williams’ season appears to be over. He sprained the PCL in his right knee, and coach Rod Marinelli expects him to miss “several weeks.” Wait until you get official word before releasing him (in some leagues, he’s still on the can’t-cut list right now). But this would increase the value of Calvin Johnson and Shaun McDonald.
Giants running back Derrick Ward’s broken leg has him out “indefinitely,” according to several reports. If he’s on your team, it’s time to look for another running back. Brandon Jacobs could return from his hamstring injury next week. If not, Reuben Droughns would be the main back against Philly.
The Dolphins’ bad luck continues. Running back Jesse Chatman reaggravated his injured ankle. No word on the severity of the injury. Miami already lost Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams to season-ending injuries. Samkon Gado, who the Dolphins cut last week to make room for Williams, would figure to be the starter if Chatman can’t go next week. Look for rookie Lorenzo Booker to see some carries, too, but not enough to make him fantasy relevant.
No word yet on Broncos running back Selvin Young, who left yesterday’s game against Oakland with a knee injury. Doesn’t sound too serious as of right now. Travis Henry came off the bench to score two touchdowns, but there’s a lot of speculation that he will finally begin serving his yearlong drug suspension as early as this week.
Texans quarterback Matt Schaub dislocated his non-throwing shoulder. The injury might end his season, but coach Gary Kubiak says there “a little hope” he can return this season. Sage Rosenfels would start in his place.
No news yet on Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, who left yesterday’s game against Cleveland with a dislocated toe. If you’re in need of a receiver, the injuries to Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald increase the value of Bryant Johnson.
Early reports yesterday said Titans running back LenDale White suffered a shoulder injury. Turns out it was a dislocated middle finger, which may prevent him from using hand gestures while in traffic but shouldn’t cause him to miss any time on the football field. Chris Brown has been playing well in recent weeks, and I’d expect to see the Titans use him more regardless of White’s health.
AP photo by Paul Sancya
Our sister paper the Orlando Sun-Sentinel has coverage of the heartbreaking Sean Taylor funeral today:
-Updated photos from the funeral are here
-Updated story about the funeral is here
-You can watch mourners from a vigil below, in the video box
Getty Images photo by Matt Stroshane
Former Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley was elected to the hall of fame this morning, and what better way to remember the man that moved the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles than with a tortilla bearing his face.
The Baseball Reliquary Inc. has such a probably not so tasty snack, as it is estimated to be around 40 years old.
Check out the Baseball Reliquary here: http://www.baseballreliquary.org/omalley.htm
Fresh off the AP wire (with some edits for grammar... the AP stresses speed above all else):
Andy Pettitte has decided to pitch for the New York Yankees in 2008 andMore details here.
put off retirement.Pettitte’s agent, Randy Hendricks, said Monday that the 35-year-old left-hander had started telling teammates on Sunday.
Hendricks then informed Yankees general manager Brian Cashman of the news.
Wang, Pettitte, Chamberlain and--hopefully--Santana... not bad.
It's already been a horrible season for Stephon Marbury and the Knicks--and now comes this.....
Marbury's dad dies during Knicks game
Don Marbury was watching his son in a losing effort against Phoenix before being taken from the Garden at halftime to an area hospital.
Getty Images photo by Chris McGrath
Nintendo Wii-related injuires are nothing new, and I'm not blaming anyone but myself, but I got my first game gash this past weekend.
Here's a graphic look:
I was executing a violent, simulated smash when my hand connected with the support shelf of the video projector above and behind me.
It hurt.
I applied some bacitracin ointment to the two knuckle cuts, some gauze and medical tape, and then proceeded to spitefully rip off nine straight wins in this addictive little Ping-Pong game.
Typing is labored now, though.
1. OHIO STATE (11-1)
The Buckeyes are a no-brainer for the BCS national championship game.
2. LSU (11-2)
The Tigers should play for the title, too. Of all the two-loss teams, they have played the strongest schedule and have more wins over current Top 25 teams.
3. OKLAHOMA (11-2)
With two wins over Top 10 teams (Missouri counts twice) and three over Top 25 teams, the Sooners should probably be getting mentioned more for a shot at the BCS championship game. But they don’t stack up when compared head to head with LSU.
4. GEORGIA (10-2)
The reason the Bulldogs didn’t play in the SEC championship game was because they were blown out by Tennessee, which was beaten by LSU. If the Bulldogs sneak into the BCS title game, they will have benefited because they lost to Tennessee and avoided having to play in the SEC championship game, which would make absolutely no sense.
5. MISSOURI (11-2)
They’ve beaten everyone they’ve played but Oklahoma -- twice.
6. VIRGINIA TECH (10-2)
The Hokies avenged their loss to Boston College. But they can’t avenge the 48-7 whipping LSU put on them earlier this season.
7. WEST VIRGINIA (10-2)
Experienced the biggest choke job in program history Saturday against Pitt.
8. HAWAII (12-0)
What an exciting comeback win over Washington on Saturday night (or should we say Sunday morning?) The Warriors deserve to be in a BCS bowl game.
9. USC (10-2)
The Trojans will likely be ranked higher in most other polls based on their reputation. But the bottom line is that they’ve only defeated only one currently ranked team (Arizona State).
10. KANSAS (11-1)
Because the Jay Hawks played the 88th toughest schedule, didn’t beat a team currently in the Top 25 and failed to reach their conference championship game, they don’t deserve to be in the national championship discussion.
11. ARIZONA STATE (9-2)
Losses to USC and Oregon are nothing to sneeze at.
12. BYU (10-2)
If you ask other pollsters why BYU is ranked much lower than we have them here, they’ll likely say it’s because of the Cougars’ strength of schedule. But their 65th-ranked schedule is in the same ballpark with Ohio State (60th) and Oklahoma (59th), and no one is penalizing them for their schedules. Chalk up the discrepancy to Mountain West bias.
13. ILLINOIS (9-3)
The Illini’s strong finish and wins over Ohio State and Wisconsin this season make them the best three-loss team.
14. BOSTON COLLEGE (10-3)
Stumbled late in the season, but the Golden Eagles’ body of work for the whole season is still fairly impressive.
15. CINCINNATI (9-3)
The Bearcats validated themselves down the stretch with wins over South Florida and Connecticut, and a close loss to West Virginia.
16. SOUTH FLORIDA (9-3)
Still can’t overlook the wins over West Virginia and Auburn.
17. FLORIDA (9-3)
A Top 10 team in many people’s eyes, the Gators seem to be benefiting from their reputation and Tim Tebow’s stardom. The truth is they’ve only beaten one team that is currently ranked (Tennessee).
18. VIRGINIA (9-3)
19. CONNECTICUT (9-3)
20. BOISE STATE (10-2)
21. CLEMSON (9-3)
22. TEXAS (9-3)
Ranked lower here than in most polls, but the Longhorns have not defeated any current Top 25 teams, and their strength of schedule is not impressive either (56th).
23. WISCONSIN (9-3)
24. AIR FORCE (9-3)
25. OREGON (8-4)
The Ducks fell apart when quarterback Dennis Dixon got hurt. Considering they’ve played the seventh toughest schedule and have wins over USC and Arizona State, they still deserve to be ranked.
