By Mark La Monica
Mardy Collins was way out of line with that hard foul. The game was already over by then. And it was a regular season game. In December. And it's Mardy Collins.
Carmelo Anthony escalated things with his Stephen Jackson right-handed haymaker. If not for that punch, the scuffle would have ended there and the Pistons-Pacers brawl references would not exist beyond Sunday evening.
If not for that punch, the Knicks would have no point of motivation to wake up and realize they can actually make the playoffs this season. Sure, the team is poorly constructed, poorly managed and poorly owned. But have you looked at the Atlantic Division recently?
It's exceptionally ugly. Uglier than, say, the scene inside Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
The Atlantic Division is a combined 46-73 after Saturday night's games. Twelve of those wins have come against each other and another three came against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Knicks are 9-16. Seven games under .500 -- the line of demarcation for mediocrity for everything in life except batting average -- and still only 1.5 games out of first place. The Nets, Celtics and Raptors all have nine wins but have also played fewer games.
There is still 69.5 percent of the season left, but have we seen anything from any Atlantic team to reasonably believe the division title won't go down to the final week? If anything, we've been given reason to consider lobbying David Stern to ban the default Atlantic champion from the playoffs.
Isiah Thomas needs to harness the emotion displayed by Nate Robinson, Jared Jeffries, Channing Frye and the rest the players into positive energy. Use it to motivate the team into realizing what's possible this season.
So, what's possible this season? The playoffs are possible this season.
The Knicks likely won't advance beyond the first round of those playoffs, but getting there -- no matter how they do it -- would be a huge step in the right direction for the franchise. Fans would be excited with the sign of progress.
Since it's going to take quite a few more years to actually make the Knicks a good team and since owner James Dolan doesn't understand much about the salary cap, Knicks fans must find the small things to embrace.
A trip to the playoffs with this lot wouldn't be so bad, would it? No matter how short that trip is. It would also assure Thomas keeps his job for another season or so.
Then again, for some Knicks fans, maybe this brawl wasn't such a good thing after all.
Comments (43)
good news knicks fans the knicks are showing signs of life and energy maybe nate going at with smith will wake this stupid team up and ps isaiah: maybe you should start the players that give you hard minutes and points (aka his bench)
Has anyone seen anyone else back peddle faster than Carmelo Anthony?
One word: Pathetic - Sports and the fan-aticism that surrounds them are a reflection of society and these "professionals" are just providing fuel to the fire as how people act "off the court".
I do not see the big deal. I do not see this much uproar when that hockey players fight.
Nate Robinson is a punk. I'd call him a little girl, except that would be insulting to little girls everywhere.
His contract is for $5,576,499.
$5.5 million!!
Grow up, you big baby!
"Has anyone seen anyone else back peddle faster than Carmelo Anthony?"
Carmelo probably heard a voice in the back of his head telling him that every game he is forced to sit out will cost him $57,000.
Athletics in the 21st century means having no self-control, breaking laws and getting paid a zillion bucks. How can we expect our kids to learn respect and values? We tolerate and admire acting out behavior and poor judgement. (see the Knicks game and the article on Bobby Knight.)
Mardy Collins is a no skill hack. He could not even make a roster spot on any other team in the NBA
The NBA is so unwatchable now it's not even a bad joke anymore.
Stern needs to 1. Stop every player for getting tatoos where fans can see them. 2. Stop wearing those stupid looking headbands 3. All NBA players stop acting like overpaid punks!!!
This ain't the 'bad part' of the neighborhood... it's the NBA.
Who told these punks that having 50 tattoos was cool?
They look like a bunch of morons.
The knicks are the worst franchise is sports (presently) yes franchises have drop offs from championship years to mediocre but not those knicks. Power house to a rotating house. Memo to the rest of the nba if you don't need a player just give them to the knicks and they will over pay them to sit and rot and fight in brawls. D. Lee sits how the hell does that happen when he ranks amongst the leades in rebs?
for your info Nate is the only one on the team besides lee and curry who have haeart he is young but he is gonna be the pg for this team for years to come. ISAIAH DESERVES TO BE COACHING NOWHERE NOT EVEN AT THE PEE WEE LEAGUE HE SUCKS AND IS A DAMN LOSER!!
If Nate is the PG for the Knicks for years to come, then the Knicks are going to suck for years to come. Nate is a high strung punk, who instigated the whole brawl, and this is not the first incident with him started fights. Heart is one thing, stupidy is another. When stupidy is a stronger personality trait, over heart, (NATE), it is a disaster waiting to happen.
The Knicks players are over paid for years already and they still cannot win the champ. Now you see why.
Thank God for the Knicks and Isaiah. Just when I thought the last regime of the NY Islanders was the most pathetic excuse for a professional sports franchise, with Milbury at the helm, along comes Isaiah and this new Knicks team and helps me forget all about it!
THAT WAS A HELL OF A PUNCH BY CARMELO I HAVE 2 SAY !!!!!!!!!!!!
I must say, Carmelo is offically crazy. I am pretty sure losing 57k each game he sits out will not affect him really, but he needs to get some sense. He is lucking that after the brawl in detroit david stern didnt throw him out of the league. As for nate, i love that kid. I believe he was only defending himself. (did you see that body slam though)(nate is to strong for you JR) Anyway i cant believe they are trying to pin the whole thing on Isiah. he was just getting the people fired up. i guess the media really does not want to accept the fact that the knicks have tremedous potential and can make the playoffs. with so many games left, look for the knicks to take off and also watch out eastern conference. its no better time then now to use the energy from that game to exceed above expectation, from themselves and all the doubters. Even with the players that are suspended the knicks still have an excellent team
1 luv to my New York Knicks
guess it's all in your perspective. When Kevin McHAle clotheslined Kurt Rambis when he was going in for a fast break layup in the playoffs he was just playing hard 'Celtic' basketball. When a non-white player does the same, he's a 'thug' or there is to much 'hip-hop' influence in the NBA. A little media bias here? ..and don't say it's okay if a team is winning that's just plain ig'nant. Pistons Laimbeer was a dirty player that would elbow you in the gut then play the 'why me' when the refs only saw the retaliation. Pistons were considered thugs until they won. Then they became the 'bad boys' with a wink and smile. Newsdays writers were saying Knicks had no heart at home like they had with Ewing, Oak and Mase. Now they're out of conrtrol thugs. Do these writers actually watch games or just the video?
Young, immature, multi-million dollar contracts. Do the math. These young, rich, kids can barely wipe their A** yet the industry is so starved for entertainment and will recruit just about anyone who's 6'7" and has a decent jumper. Most of them probably have the table manners of my dog who has a pretty decent jump shot if I may say so myself. All things serious though, in the world of testosterone, tempers will fly, boys will be boys, and nobody will loose any sleep over this.
I'm still in shock. Even my 3 boys ages 9, 12 and 16 could not believe what they saw last night. The message the Knicks sent out to young people is that not only do they suck at the game of basketball but they also suck at brawling. The coach does a better job at talking trash then he does at getting these guys to win and not lose their control.
THE KNICKS CAN'T PLAY BASKETBALL AND ISAIAH CAN'T COACH. YOU DON'T LIKE THE LOB DUNKS OR EASY LAYUPS. TRY PLAYING DEFENSE. THE KNICKS WERE UPSET BECAUSE THE NUGGETS WERE RUNNING THEM UP AND DOWN THE COURT.TRY PLAYNG DEFENSE. THE KNICKS DIDN'T LIKE HEARING THE BOOS FROM THEIR OWN FANS. HELL YOU SHOULD BE USE TO IT. THEY BOO YOU EVERY HOME GAME. WHY DID IT TAKE THE KNICKS,1:15 LEFT IN THE GAME TO START CARING ABOUT THEIR PRIDE AND HOW THE FANS FELT ABOUT THEM WHEN THEY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THAT THE 46 MINUTES PRYOR TO THAT? ISAIAH'S PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE THAT HE HAS TO COACH THIS AWFUL TEAM. I DO FEEL SORRY FOR KNICK FANS WHO PAY THOSE PRICES TO WATCH THAT CRAP.WHEN ARE KNICK FANS GOING TO SAY "WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS WNBA".
I find it quite ironic that the same NY sportswriters who are using this fight as an another reason to call for Isiah Thomas's head over the play by Collins loved it when Charles Oakley routinely hammered other players when they drove to the basket. While we're talking about the racism against the players, it would be good to discuss the racism being directed at Isiah Thomas.
When Larry Brown did the worst possible coaching job imaginable last year, none of these syncophants called for him to be fired. They blamed Isiah for the personnel instead of blaming Brown for not finding a way to make it work. They turned the media against Stephon Marbury, even though Marbury tried to do everything Brown asked him to.
They tried to make it appear that Marbury was the only player who had a problem with Brown, even though most of the players detested him. When Channing Frye and David Lee spoke about having undefined roles and inconsistent playing time last year, the media said that they are too young to have an opinion (By the way, Frye played for Lute Olsen and Lee played for Billy Donovan; they know what god coaching is).
Whatever happens to the Knicks, the players, management and the fans deserve media coverage that is fair and balanced.
One other thing: Is there any sane person who doesn't believe that the nuggets were trying to run up the score on Saturday night?
Nate was the culprit not the hard foul by Collins that caused the brawl!Mr.Bravoda or Napoleon was
egging on everyone within earshot and playing the
make believe enforcer when
on the floor.Nate finally
saw the opportunity for showtime after the foul.
Larry Brown had Nate's number.
First off- enough with the racism. Not everything that happens is due to the color of a persons skin. Secondly- Collins foul WAS flagrant, but it was NOT vicous. I'm sorry but if you are going to try and embarass a team, especially on their home court, then you do so at your won peril. This is the same hard nosed approach that we embraced with Oakley/Starks/Mason etc in the 90's (expect they actually played defense as well). The Knicks need to get some toughness and swagger back and if this is step one so be it.
If you don't want the nuggets to score 145 pts....HOW ABOUT PLAYING DEFENSE?? Thomas said...
" They were running up the score when we had surrendered" - Priceless. That should be the Knicks motto this year -
"We have surrendered"
The 2006-2007 New York Knicks!!!!
I can't believe anyone can justify violence just because their feelings were hurt. This is NOT J.V. (Although it looks that way playing the Knicks.), and there's no crying in Basketball.
I can't even complain about Thomas though. That bonehead helped create our Nuggets. He traded Camby and Nene for McDyess. And now he's sad that Camby & Nene DOMINATED the Knicks.
Who the hell is Marty Collins anyway? The team goon?
What a pathetic state to see your NY Knicks in. I feel bad for you guys. I am sure you all want him gone.
But the rest of the NBA doesn't. I hope he's there forever. Maybe he will take Kenyon Martin...........
I think they all aught to come out and lay flowers in the center of the floor,sit down and have a glass of kool-aid,maybe pass around a plate of cookies and invite fans down to the floor to join them in having a real good time at the game.After all,it's the fans that pay five dollars to get in and see them and right now they're not getting their money's worth.(And free balloons for the kids)
Or better yet,turn out all the lights in the place and put one little spotlight on the guy that started it,and everyone in the house start yellin."He did it,He did it.Get him,get him!!!!!(Then carry him out on a stretcher)
Or on third thought,make him spend 15 minutes with my ex-wife.
Last thought(#4)
Just 5 minutes with her or the ACLU will get on all of us.
It was good to see some life at the garden. You usually don't see that during a Basketball game at the garden. It’s not only the players; the reporters at MSG Network also make everything boring. So why wouldn't the fans boo. Booing is the only source at that time to bring some waking up at the garden.
The fact is that the booing starts late. If it had started to rain in the first quarter, the player's would play much energetic trout the game. Nate Robinson tried his best to bring some energy. But he got suspended for 10 games. I feel that the fans should protest. The fan’s slogan should be “bring our energizer bunny back”.
You all need seriously, to get life...some of you are so upset right now in your tones that if you were in the same building you'd probably end up in a brawl...the Knicks is no contender and no amount of crying is going to help that Isaiah just need to develop the team and when he moves on he moves on. Whether that's today or at the end of the season...so be it.
Listen everybody is crying about Isaiah this and Isaiah that but the bottom line is this every player that got suspended deserved it.
Collins made the choose to commit the flagrant and the player made the choose to fight. Everybody wants to blame the coach for all the problems but the players are the ones on the court.
Forget the fight, the real fight is the line up and minutes. Ny just beat one of the best teams with a core of players who should be on the court. BALKMAN, everytime he is in the game, blocks, tips, defense. i dont care if we get AI, balkman needs to be on the court. I hate that the fight happened but if it takes this to see who to play, so be it.
There's alot more going on in the world that's bad to see get over it!
so sad that these are who our kids to look up to? to the players, they know better. being professionals means displaying a sense of sportmanship. to add to the problem we have a sore loser couch who should be called a chihuahua.. what kind of coach says we lost already before the game is over!! lesson they are trying to teach why try, we should just give up.. screw the fans...
Thanks, Vince F, for jumping in front of the mob chasing Isiah and pointing out that during Larry Brown's insane "coaching" tenure, the team was worse, but the level of vitriol was considerably less. Also for pointing out that the NBA seemed to have no problem with tough play when they could package and promote it with the "Bad Boys." In an emotional, physical game, occasionally, someone overreacts to tough defensive play.
I also agree with John Starks. Stop the racism, including the thinly veiled references to "thugs" and personal styles, such as body art, hairstyles and headbands, that originate in hip hop culture. One thing that's wonderful about going to the Garden is that we all belong to the same group, Knick fans.
WATCHING PLAYERS SMILING AFTER A LOSS PISSES ME OFF.ITS BEEN A WHILE EVER SENCE IVE SEEN SOME HARD FOULS TRASH TALKING EMOTION LIKE THERE SHOULD BE IN A GAME.HOCKY IS A WHITE SPORT FOR WHITE PEOPLE WITH OUT FIST FIGHTS NO ONE WOULD BE WATCHING THAT BALERINA BULLL CRAP.I MIGHTS AS WELL WATCH HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL IF THE PROS DONT PLAY LIKE REAL MEN. TOUGH HARD HITTING NO FREE SHOTS BASKETBALL.THIS SHOULD BOOST THE TICKET SALES FOR THE KNICKS THIS SEASON.
Calling someone a thug is racist? A thug is a thug in any race. Why do apologists for thugs always bring up the racism excuse? You must be telling me that Nate Robinson did NOT act like a punk when he challenged Smith. Smith did nothing wrong. He was rightfully angry that Collins could have broken his neck, but his hands were down and he was just yelling. Robinson comes in with that "let's go, let's go," thug bs. He's a punk, period. A thug. Smith meanwhile, who is black, did nothing wrong. So anyone who thinks Robinson is a thug is racist but anyone who rightfully thinks Smith is blameless is...what? half a racist?
I think that actions like these bring a great disgrace upon the NBA players and mangers as a whole. They show their level of immaturity and no professionalism. I think that they all should enroll in life long anger management and self control classes.
hockey fights = entertainment ? ... basketball fights = thuggery ? ... what a bunch of racist hypocrites ... Tie Domi is a hero and Nate is a thug ? ... Clark Gillies is revered and Carmelo reviled ? ... the hate and racism is at an all-time high in the NY media ... jealous racists ...
The difference is that Fighting, unfortunately, has always been considered a part of professional Hockey. I remember watching Flyers games on NBC in the 70's. After 2 or 3 commercials the gloves would still be on the ice.
Fighting has never been considered part of Basket or Base ball. It's not racism it's the way each game is played. I would have liked to see the papers after Reed had a fight in game with Lakers in the 60's.
I doubt anyone called him a thug or suggested that Holzman was responsible, or a NY paper would put a quote from another coach on the front page of a NY daily with Holtzman in Donkey ears. There is just a genuine lack of respect by the Sports media for today's players. Whenever there is adversity, code words like 'hip-hop generation' and thugs are used to describe players in sports where the majority is non-white like the NBA and MLB. It's like in the 50's through 80's the Celtics ran a 'fast break'. After the ABA merger and other teams with non-white stars started to run it was called 'schoolyard' and 'playground' basketball by the game commentators. This hostility is going to get worse before it gets any better. We must watch the games and make up our own minds and stop blindly repeating the tabloid and talking head garbage
Pitiful! So much money being made by the players, and so much money being spent by the fans. To be blessed with so much talent and ignorance supercedes that. Pretty sad. I want to see MEN playing sports. Is sportsmanship something of the past. And as far as the color issue. Yes I believe it is an issue. The color I'm talking about is green. Yes the money I spend to see a game, buy the paraphenalia. There are certain sports the are synonmous with "violence." (i.e. boxing, hockey) If that's what I want to see then that is the sport for me. I am sick of this stupidity. Come on fellas.....you make too much money for this type of immaturity!
David Lee for MVP. Let's talk about the one positive about the NY Knicks. We know the negatives: Marbury (loser), Robinson (punk), Francis (done), Curry (lazy, Isaiah (disingenuous, phoney, soft spoken thug-at-heart). But, David Lee plays the game. Old school/new school, it doesn't matter to which you subscribe. He plays the game "the right way." Did someone say "Larry?"
"Calling someone a thug is racist? A thug is a thug in any race. Why do apologists for thugs always bring up the racism excuse? You must be telling me that Nate Robinson did NOT act like a punk when he challenged Smith. Smith did nothing wrong. He was rightfully angry that Collins could have broken his neck, but his hands were down and he was just yelling. Robinson comes in with that "let's go, let's go," thug bs. He's a punk, period. A thug. Smith meanwhile, who is black, did nothing wrong. So anyone who thinks Robinson is a thug is racist but anyone who rightfully thinks Smith is blameless is...what? half a racist?"
you're an idiot