Who won the 1st battle of New York?
Earlier I wrote and completed a story regarding the first year of the Nets in New York, 2012-13 was the initial year of the “Battle of the Boroughs.” The Manhattan Knicks versus the Brooklyn Nets a rivalry that would hearken to the long ago days of the Yankees/Dodgers/Giants in baseball. My hockey knowledge is limited so I’m unsure if the Rangers and Islanders have ever been true rivals. One thing for sure if you are fan of the Knicks or Nets you will disagree with my assessment, it’s my belief the first year battles between the two boroughs was a draw. The Nets certainly became highly visible certainly more than all the years they claimed New Jersey as home (sorry Jersey fans). I believe the Knicks feeling challenged for the first time in ages rose to the occasion. Don’t know if it was a full season under Mike Woodson but they definitely played better. At the end of the season the won-lost record of both teams was nearly identical and both made the playoffs. 2012-13 was basically even in the books so we must look to the future.
The following is a brief but incomplete of happenings since both teams were eliminated in the playoffs. Knicks point guard Jason Kidd retired and moved from Madison Square Garden to Barclays Center to become head coach of the Nets. Later came the semi-drama of draft night, prior to the Knicks pick the Nets pulled off a blockbuster trade. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry would be headed to Brooklyn for half of the Nets bench. The only Net starter headed the other direction was Gerald Wallace; the Nets would also surrender draft choices. To bolster the Nets bench veteran Andrei Kirilenko was signed as a free agent. As for the draft the Knicks chose 6-6 shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. from Michigan a skilled shooter, he would be projected off the bench along with J.R. Smith. The Knicks then went out and acquired Andrea Bargnani from the Raptors. Is this the end for Amar’e Stoudemire as a Knicks player, both play the same position? A late addition as this story was completed the Knicks added veteran point guard Beno Udrih who last played for the Magic.
Does the NCAA have any credibility left?
The question becomes relevant once again. I’m not going to touch the Johnny Football story as it relates to the NCAA. At a point you think there is no more news one more story beckons. Jay Bilas who played basketball at Duke and now is an ESPN analyst tweeted information he’d discovered. Turns out the NCAA fan shop was selling jerseys of collegiate football players and also had available autographed photos of Reggie Bush. You remember back to the time the NCAA punished Southern Cal football revolving around the same Reggie Bush. The NCAA shut down that portion of the fan
site once Bilas brought this issue to light, as usual this policing organization was tardy to the party. In addition the Ed O’Bannon lawsuit against the NCAA is still pending; O’Bannon played basketball at UCLA and noted his image on a game approved by the NCAA. The NCAA appears to say; “you (athletes) can’t profit off your name but we can” how hypocritical can you be, an organization responsible for policing the actions of collegiate programs over a various numbers of collegiate sports. There was a need in the past, there is a need in the present, and there is a future requirement for a policing organization. I’m just unsure if that is the NCAA in the manner it’s currently operating.
“They don’t believe fat meat is greasy”
I have no idea where the above saying originated, the explanation is simple. It was meant
to simply state sometimes individuals fail to believe the truth of a situation even when they hear or see it. Last week I wrote Bill Self indicated he might be open to an NBA head coaching position. After the Kansas City Star reported the story it prompted a slew of letters. All I can state there’s a number of who live in the land of make-believe rather than the State of Kansas. I based this on the number questioning “how could Self consider leaving Lawrence for the NBA.” I’d bet money they would have no qualms changing employment if it meant greater financial reward and more prestige.
You take a chance
I just finished NBA TV’s David Aldridge discussion of the 2013-14 Lakers. It was his view losing Howard to the Rockets the Lakers gambled and lost. Gambled from the standpoint they traded for a player in his free agent year. Aldridge indicated a number of teams wouldn’t trade for Howard due to the possibly of him leaving as he did the Lakers. In baseball you cannot steal second base with your foot on the first base bag; in other words you must take chances in order to taste success. The Lakers rolled the dice on Howard and lost, win some lose some. In two or three years this would no longer be Kobe’s team it would become Howard’s team and that’s a question. Does Howard have the capability to lead? Philosopher Charles Barkley said on NBA TV July 5th; “I don’t think Howard has the mental toughness to be a franchise player.”
