The Knicks Fix

Could one of these be used to deliver extra oxygen to the brain of Curry or Marbury? Just bloggin.'

Hey, I got one too.
Been using one since 1946.

Let's see...

Gallo out...check
Curry out...check
JJ out...check

The smart money says either Big Snacks or Houston will be hurt in tonight's scrimmage.

So that's it? Camp's over?

What happens next?

I've had Division III track preseason camps that were longer than that...

Let's hope thats the only advice Jared Jeffries takes from the pshyco crybaby TO.

I stand corrected (call me Alan Hahn):

A reported deal sending Indiana Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley to the Denver Nuggets for Steven Hunter and Chucky Atkins did not happen, according to a Nuggets team executive.

Just bloggin'...and kiddin'.

Peter Vascectomy ha ha, thats funny - LOL
good one Peaceman

with jj down need another big body
hope big snacks can provide sum quality minutes

REPOST REPOST REPOST

in defense of peter vecsey:

he is a fine a funny writer, and his basketball acumen in unparallel in the business. the guy has been eating, breathing and playing basketball in this city his entire life. the depth of his perspective on the game, particularly it's sociological thread as woven through the second half of twentieth century new york city, is a gift of sports journalism that no true basketball fan should be dismissive of. he is also a marine veteran and one of the toughest players i have ever competed with on the court.

"he is a fine a funny writer"

slow down there, hoss. no mas.

i would like to add that vecsey basically posits the same (unanswered) questions i asked in here weeks ago: what was the basis of alan's reports regarding steph and zbo? i believe my phrasing was "where does the rubber meet the road?".

like i said, my question went unanswered, will vecsey's? i mean seriously, these are the two biggest stories to date of the walshtoni era, and when they turn out to possibly be inaccurate, i think it is reasonable to ask questions and expect answers, especially when the question comes from a devoted fixer.

i'm not trying to cause trouble here, i love this blog: all of the great writing and passion from my fellow fixers, and alan's incredible energy in providing us with with this refreshing forum. i think of the regulars here as my knick brothers and sisters. but being here is not about acting like a bunch of knee-jerk sycophants, it is about sharing ideas and stimulating thought. it is the give and take between contributors that is often the most stimulating contributions: someone makes a statement, someone else either calls him on the carpet for it or offers insightful support. you throw garbage in here, you better be able to defend it, that's all i'm saying.

peace out.

Sorry, I couldn't resist sec1.

I have been watching, listening to and reading Peter Vescey for years and I have been reading and studying sports journalists since 1972, or maybe a little earlier and that Peter Vescey is no George Vescey -- who as you know happens to be his talented brother. (nor is he David Halberstam or Red or Frank Gifford, etc.)

In fact, Peter is one of the worst notable sports journalists I have ever had the displeasure to read. (I do not count Mitch Lawrence as a journalist and I am still searching for redeeming qualities regarding Frank Isola's work only because some of my friends, who work with him, say he actually a nice person). Peter is one of the reporters that turned sports reporting into vapid tabloid-style journalism. He is arrogant without cause and a mean-spirited writer.

I thought Alan was just into another professional hissy fit, that seems to consume New York journalists who don't ride in the same car together, but after I read Vescey's piece on Alan, I think Alan's response was soft like Biden's response to Palin. Vescey's piece was unnecessary junk -- his signature best.

Vescey should be happy that he has touched someone positively. But personally, I could do without the majority of his work which is just garbage.

Vescey is certainly no Frank Gifford, but I meant Frank DeFord. And for those who don't know, Red is a reference to Red Smith, not Red Skelton. Although Vescey is almost as good as a miming Skelton.

@Lives

your points are well taken, i certainly understand that vecsey rubs many of us the wrong way (frequently). yes he errs on the side of self-involved megalomania, and yes too often he digresses into childish name calling. i did not mean to suggest that he should be next in line for a pulitzer. where he shines is in when he writes of the game and the city and the lives that that have been shaped by them. he was eyewitness to much of it, and has often written eloquently on these subjects.

and you are more than correct, vecsey is nowhere near the quality of writer as red or frank or allen (barra) or david (halberstam) or michael (lewis). but he is undeniably a must-read for any basketball junkie, as the amount of comment in this thread is testament to.

my greater concern here is that vecsey might be being used as a bogeyman in order to deflect serious consideration from what i consider to be a valid question: what was the basis for the reports of zbo's likely trade and marbury's imminent buyout? inasmuch as fixernation was a focal point for the origin of these memes, i feel it is disingenuous for us to let this matter pass without shedding the brightest light possible on the process.

I'm sure someone in authority in the Knicks organization talked to Alan in some hallway somewhere about speculative discussions on waiving Marbury and trading Z-Bo. Perhaps they thought it was a serious possibility, but didn't know that Walsh/Dolan would kibosh the one, and the Grizzlies would kill the other.

Alan certainly could have sat on the story until he heard from Walsh or the Grizzlies front office, but that is sort of like waiting to act on a stock tip until it is echoed on CNBC -- by that time it is too late.

This isn't Woodward and Bernstein stuff. It's back page sports. Vescey should lighten up. The purpose of the article was to get us all dreaming and talking about the possibilities. Someone in the Knicks front office thought it was a serious possibility.

These aren't called tabloids for nothing. Vescey and we should just take these stories for what they are - entertainment.

Randolph
Lee
Chandler
Crawford
Duhon
--------
Q
Curry
Nate
Gallo
Houston
Ewing
Rose
-------
JJ
JJ

I'm still holding out hope Marbury gets cut

"Posted by sec11rowH | October 3, 2008 21:10 "

HEAR HEAR

@ Bruno,

I co-sign your starters: Randolph
Lee
Chandler
Crawford
Duhon

I hope we don't have to put Bubble lip Q in the starters lineup
because he used to play for the Suns. I'm sick of Q.
Don't be surprized if Nate starts @ the 1 with Duhon
the first off the bench. Also Roberson is a D'Antoni style player
who is "Cheap" on our Cap, this guy needs some PT off the
bench.

Sec1, I think your main point and question is a very valid one and you have my co-sign on raising the question.

On Vescey, you are right, he must have some redeeming qualities or he wouldn't still be in the business, I guess. But, I also think Palin has some redeeming qualities or she would have been replaced by Romney three interviews ago. Just bloggin'.

More seriously, if you have any particular piece of Vescey's in mind that captures the following, let me know about it: "when he writes of the game and the city and the lives that that have been shaped by them. he was eyewitness to much of it, and has often written eloquently on these subjects."

The request is not to put you on the spot. If you don't have the time, don't bother, but if you do, I would like to read it. I think you are probably right because that may be what he is really passionate about. Which may explain why his work on professional basketball is so full of contempt for people and the sport. If you don't have quick access to the work you're referencing don't worry about it and we'll drop the topic.

Thanks.

It would be stupid to cut Marbury. You have to get something in return for him. I think he will look amazing for a half season (he still their best player) and then you move him for something. Never underestimate a player playing for a contract (see Manny Ramirez).

WE HAVE THE SOFTEST BIG MEN IN THE WORLD

Besides his perceived arrogance, Vescey’s biggest downfall was doing a ‘Geraldo Rivera type of sensationalize reporting’ regarding the alleged impending firing of JVGundy as coach of Knicks live on national TV.

JVG was not fired that night or that season for that matter. Vescey was then, I believe, removed from the TV broadcasting team that same week.

PVescey, like everyone else, has his plus side and negative side.
I find it funny that nicknames that he has christened Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, to name a few, are stuck in our vocabulary. You see them all the time on any b.ball blogs.

Vescey is like the Don Rickles/Stephen Colbert of basketball writers.

Only those who take his schtik seriously get offended.

Internet Killed the Print Media Star aka Video Killed the Radio Star.

There was a time when Vecsey was a huge resource for anything about the NBA that wasn't a game recap or box score. That he over indulged his "humor" has always been a part of his shtick. The only reason I ever picked up the Post was to read Vecsey; I used to love to see what was new in the league on the way to work. Every 15th zinger was a good one, the other 14 were kinda whince, nod your head, hope he doesn't expect me to really laugh, stuff. He did break alot of trade news, injuries, feuds, etc... But like everything else, his little corner of the world got overpopulated and food grew scarce and the only exclusive he had anymore was his "wit"

As we are so fond of going after Berman (favorite recent throw away line re. keeping Marbury "as their only star, they need him to get fans in the seats." or something to that effect - grotesque toady), I guess its part of the territory to when you are in this game. Alan's response was pretty good, humorous, but not burning his "anonymous sources". I'm ok not finding out who they are and why Alan got burned on this - he's not Judith Miller writing propaganda for the Bush administration on Iraq's WMD program or aluminum tubes destined for nuclear centrifuges and mushroom cloud smoking clouds. That's the kind of s#!t I take serious. What remains to be seen is how Alan fixes his game. He's clearly not New Meat anymore, he's getting quoted all over, Vecsey's given his "blessing", he's been out in front of some stories that didn't come to pass. Are Walsh and crew that cynical? Are they playing our boy? Is he too disingenuous? No need to talk, just roll out the ball, we'll find out who's got game, and who doesn't. Play, Playa.

The thing about Vescey is that he has had stretches where his own reporting has been way off the mark. I remember back a ways, before the blogs and forums, most discussion about Knicks basketball on the net was found on the Knicks newsgroup - ASBPNYK. Any rumor or story that came from Vescey was universally discounted unless confirmed elsewhere. We would see a topic heading about some great trade rumor and then read the body stating that it was from Vescey's column and react, "Oh, Vescey again" and the thread would peter out or go off-topic.

I see Vescey's article as the pot calling the kettle black. Alan's star is rising and Vescey is trying to keep from being eclipsed

MNKnicksfan:
By cutting Marbruy we ARE getting something, addition by subtraction. Remove the cancer from the locker room, and let his $21m clear the books after the season.

Peaceman:
I forgot about Roberson. so buyout James, let Houston wear a suit and keep Roberson at the end of the bench.

@ Sec 11: you are absolutely right. Alan can't reveal his sources, I understand that, but he was way off on his predictions and not just in the blog section but in stories that ran as regular articles and should explain it. I hate mindless following as I've said many times and those who attack the person asking the questions rather than listening to the very valid point being raised. We all praised Alan for his "scoop" now he should explain why it was in error. This blog can become like the Bush administration sometimes.

That being said, Peter V is a hypocrite who never does a mea culpa of his own, yet is asking Alan to do one. A very valid point but the messenger is ruining it.

As for basketball, @ Peaceman and Bruno, that is a small lineup that isn't very tough and will never block a shot, but I don't think we have much of a choice. I would NEVER start Jeffries so his absence shouldn't affect the starting lineup, but Curry's being a fat piece of garbage means we probably don't have much of a choice. They will be scrappy, will play hard, and will keep us in games (hopefully) but there is no closer there and Crawford is the only one that can create his own shot. I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of heat but if he's still here you might have to start Marburry just to keep Crawford from being triple teamed. At least Curry (when in shape) comands a double team and gives you 16-19 pts a game. I'm curious to see what other people think but w/o Curry, I think you need Marburry's offense unless you want Zach shooting 3's and dribbling for 1/2 the shotclock. All our inactivity this summer, and Curry's lack of dedication to the game, means if we want to win some games, we may need Marburry. A healthy Q also helps to stretch the floor because Duhon, Chandler, and Lee don't have the best J's.

And I'm starting the fire our trainer movement, who's in!!

@ WILLIS

as always, brilliant and poetic. i'm telling you dude, you've got to read Lethem. loved the judith miller reference. what rock do you suppose she crawled under? good riddance.

@ LIVES

you may be right about needing marbury around just to keep jamal from being triple teamed, inasmuch as the rest of the team is a bunch of bricklayers. but as one of our jackass congressmen said this week about the budget deal, this is like eating a crap sandwich. as for me, i'd rather lose than suffer watching that jerk anymore.

as for vecsey's "eloquence" (i fear i will never live this down in here), i did do a bit of research on the subject, and it appears there is no published anthology of his work (that won't come as a shock to most of us). i have contacted the source himself to see what he has to say on the matter.

what is amusing though, is the incredible vitriol i unearthed just by going through his opening google page. for starters, there is "the official peter vecsey is a moron" site.

moving on to wikipedia, his short bio there includes, " His nickname is "The Viper & is known for his bitter acidic spiteful style."

and then there is this pearl, written only yesterday by tommy dee @ the knicks blog. alan and all fixers are going to love this one:

".......my beef is purely with Vecsey. Here’s a guy whose smug humor is a nice niche, especially for the Post, of which reading is part of my daily routine. Vecsey’s trash-talking today would make his former coach at Archbishop Molloy, Jack Curran, cringe. Especially based on his what he’s done. At this point, based on Newsday’s coverage, Vecsey’s column is the equivalent of getting the better of the player guarding you in a game, and then having them talk smack after finally scoring in the 4th quarter of a game your team’s winning by 20."

(looks like you won this round in the eyes of your peers alan. but, no disrespect intended (and i suspect you've got some game), trust me, you wouldn't have wanted to play this guy 20, 30 or 40 years ago, he's an animal on the court, and what he lacked in talent he made up for in sheer brutality).

That was a sweet read sec1 and I was very familiar with the Viper reference although I don't know where it originated from.
**********
"No need to talk, just roll out the ball, we'll find out who's got game, and who doesn't."

That's the way we scroll. 'Nuff said.

The One that Got Away:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/trainingcamp08/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=Lakers-081003

Thanks again, Zeke.

Just another reminder of how far beyond f%@#ed Walsh has had to start from. I'm looking forward to losing with a straight face and getting a high lottery pick - If Chicago can get Rose, maybe we can get Rubio. Anything else is gravy.

@ Willis
In all fairness, looking at the 2005 draft, Bynum was a High
Risk/Reward pick. I don't believe the Lakers knew how good this High Schooler would be. Only Utah and New Orleans
Have no regrets!

2005

NO. PLAYER, SCHOOL/COUNTRY TEAM
1 Andrew Bogut, Utah Milwaukee
2 Marvin Williams, North Carolina Atlanta
3 Deron Williams, Illinois Utah
4 Chris Paul, Wake Forest New Orleans
5 Raymond Felton, North Carolina Charlotte
6 Martell Webster, Seattle Prep HS Portland
7 Charlie Villanueva, Connecticut Toronto
8 Channing Frye, Arizona New York
9 Ike Diogu, Arizona State Golden State
10 Andrew Bynum, St. Joseph (NJ) HS L.A. Lakers

I'm with you Peace. I was against drafting Bynum as well and, as I have been for the past 10 years or so, was praying we could move up in the draft to get one of the three PGs. I hope and pray that no matter where we are in the draft this year, Donnie takes a risk on a PG. If for anything, just to keep me from going into another draft night drinking binge.

I haven't really seen Rubio play Willis, what is your opinion of him. Another Tony Parker?

@Willis,
Thanks for that link.
Isiah did not select Bynum because Zeke lack good judgment, 24/7 and 365 days a yr.

We all know why Zeke passed on Bynum. He was directly quoted on it. I nearly fell off my chair in disgust when I read it and it was sickening, pure & simple.

I suppose no need to cry over spilled milk.
If Bynum stays healthy, we would greatly help the Lakers for many years, maybe a ring or two. His next contract will be worth $ 78 to $ 88.0 mil. if he can stay healthy.

Look at the bright side. We're stuck with Big Snacks Captain Doughnut. Thanks Zeke.

Bynum?

Heck no.

First, I saw Bynum play in high school and he was lazy and seriously overrated. He just happened to be bigger than everyone else.

Second, two years ago Kobe practically called Bynum out for the bum he was becoming.

Third, if he had been under Knicks management instead of being motivated by a pissed Kobe and Dr. Phil (In Your Head" Jackson, what makes you think he still wouldn't have become a bum in New York.

That complaint should stay out of the "Isiah Hate Hopper." I'm sure there are others that will fit, but Isiah wasn't wrong on that one.

I'm with you, Heri. Do you think a hyperbaric chamber would cure a buildging disc?