News alert! Allan Houston didn't practice today.
Wait, none of the Knicks did.
Off a back-to-back preseason defeats to Boston and New Jersey, Isiah Thomas gave his team off from practice on Friday. They'll go back at it Saturday in the Open Practice at Hofstra. For anyone interested, admission is free and it starts at 11 a.m. Hofstra's pretty easy to get to -- right off the Meadowbrook Parkway, which you can get from the Northern State Parkway (known as the Grand Central Parkway in the city limits). Getcha first live look of the season.
It's been a bit rendundant to have to ask Houston on almost a daily basis about his chances to make this roster. Before the game in Boston, I asked him if there was a part of him that was trying to take it all in -- being out on the road with the team, the charter, the bus, etc. -- because this could be the last time he gets to experience it.
“I’m not even worrying about that, no," he said, rather quickly. "I mean, everything happens for a reason. I don’t look at it like this could be my last so I don’t even think about it.”
Houston had to know this was a futile attempt, even if he isn't getting much of a look so far (6 minutes in the blowout loss to Boston). The man deserves respect and credit for working hard enough to even get back to the point where he could play the game again. But after being told not to dress for his second preseason game, that should be the end of it right there.
You would think that if Allan was looking good in practices, Isiah would want to get him some legit minutes in preseason action. His lack of playing time suggests otherwise.
I just wonder if Isiah will let him take the Garden court one last time in these final three preseason games. If he does, let Houston enter to an ovation. And then be done with it.
* *
Analysis of a couple of moves by Isiah in the loss to the Nets:
1. He sat Stephon, which he says was partly to rest him on a back-to-back but also to see Jamal at the point. In the first half, the Knicks offense moved the ball much better than it did in Boston. Crawford and Curry hooked up for several of those trademark lob oops we saw last season. Still no pick-and-pop stuff with Zach Randolph. Instead, the Knicks were doing a lot of isolation plays and moving the ball around the horn to get it from strong side to weak side. Very basic.
Jamal can play the point, but he's clearly more of a two-guard. Still not pleased with his defense, though he made more of an effort against the Nets than he did in Boston.
When Isiah said Stephon was sitting out the game, I actually was more interested to see if he'd start Nate Robinson at the point. Instead, he started Jamal and slid Quentin Richardson up to the 2 spot (quick observation, Q isn't quick enough for that spot but gets more looks on offense there). Nate did get time at point, but it wasn't anything extra. He came in off the bench to play 18:39, which was a little disappointing. Nate struggled offensively with an 0-for-8 shooting night and just one assist. He did have four steals and only one turnover.
But I wanted to see more of that guy we saw in Summer League. The guy who ran the offense, told guys where to go, fed players who needed to be fed. IMHO, the Knicks, with all of their low-post scoring, need a PG who looks like the guy who ran their summer league team. Isiah even said that Nate was consistently the best player every single day in practice. Why it hasn't carried over into the games yet is something a coach needs to address.
2. Jared Jeffries started at the 3. I actually thought Jeffries played well. He did a good job defending Richard Jefferson and then in the second quarter he started picking up Vince Carter. Jeffries, when he's focused and intense (not always the case with him, unfortunately), is a very smart defensive player with long arms who knows where to move on the court. Case in point, he was guarding Carter on one play and Carter used Magloire for a screen, which caused a switch. Magloire then posted up Jeffries and when the pass came in, Jeffries attempted Malik Rose's patented "pull the chair" move. Magloire was called for traveling. Jared couldn't hide his smile as he ran down the court.
Honestly, I don't want a smiling Jared Jeffries. I want the bearded guy from the summer with a mean streak. I want an athletic 6-11 guy who isn't afraid to throw himself into the paint and swat some shots aside or explode at the rim to dunk home rebounds. Jeffries has this in him physically, but its the determination -- the grit -- that he needs to display more often.
By the way, Jared only played 13:34, most of which (7:37 to be exact) was in the first half, so I wouldn't put too much thought into a theory that he was being showcased. That contract will be almost impossible to move.
Oh and get this: Jeffries was 6-for-6 from the line. See what extra practice does for you, kids?
3. Rookie Wilson Chandler played the most minutes off the bench; 29:11 to be exact. He hit a couple of threes and dunked on the fast break, had 8 points and 7 rebounds and three steals. He also had three turnovers (one for having his foot on the sideline when he received a pass....rookie mistake!). Isiah continues to heap praise on his first-round pick, who sported his new Pony sneakers for the first time in the game. They are actually pretty cool with patent leather black and that old-school chevron in orange. He snapped the laces in the first half, however, so they only made a short debut.
Isiah said he used Chandler early -- he entered the game barely four minutes in -- and often because he wanted to see the kid go up against Jefferson and Carter. "Just to see where he really is as a defender and a player," Thomas said. "I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw in terms of his competitiveness and his ability to go out and challenge those guys and not back away."
He went in for one dunk attempt that was stuffed by Carter. But, as I've said before, Chandler is physically strong enough to compete at the NBA level. He has a decent enough shot, even from long-range. His ball-handling skills need to improve and he certainly doesn't get it out of second gear when he's running back on defense. But physically? Yeah, he can handle it. And he's not shy about going after the ball. Of course where does he fit when Renaldo Balkman is healthy? That's the question.
* *
* - Back atchas:
@Wash 08 - Welcome. The pin Isiah wore on his lapel last season was for Autism Speaks. I guess he's not going with it this season.
@david - I was thinking what you were thinking about Artest during that third quarter. They really do need to get a perimeter stopper out there. But I think the concern is that there has been enough of a circus around the Garden recently.
@Trane - Sometimes you wonder about what goes on in practice and how much actual work -- drills, etc. -- the team does as opposed to putting in sets and scrimmaging. Doc Rivers said the other night that he had his team run through the offense where you were not allowed to dribble the ball. So it forced constant passing and motion. But we don't get to watch so we can only speculate. The Knicks, however, don't look like they are not in condition. They just don't look like an intense team. Also, Jerome's knee situation (James says some surgical screws from the '99 procedure came loose when he twisted it during an offseason workout) should have been handled in the offseason and clearly needs to be surgically fixed. The problem is, once he goes on the DL, he's still taking up a roster spot.
@director - Thanks for the post and making the effort, but that trade proposal is complete fantasy. Starts with Zach Randolph to the Lakers. If the Lakers wanted him, they could have had him when Portland was shopping him. It's an awful trade for the Lakers.
@Post-up Prince - We're cool, baby. Thanks for the positive vibes.
@Kandiman -- Eddy definitely looks thinner in the face, but you are right that in his uniform he still looks large. But when it comes to his game right now you have to keep in mind he's shooting with a resistence-cord brace on his shoulder, which pulls down on his shooting arm when he lifts it over his head. I thought he moved well against the Nets and got up high on some of those lobs. He always struggles with shooting centers such as Krstic, but he defintiely needs to figure out how to pass out of a double-team. I like the mean streak he's showing, though. He's tossed Kendrick Perkins and Malik Allen in consective games.
* - Good to see the conversation popping. Ken Berger's got practice this weekend. I'll be back at it Monday for the preseason rematch with the Celtics at MSG.
* - I dedicate this one to my Man, Al in-the-'Zzonie, the hardworking Nets scribe who is looking for some love on his blog, which I've linked to before. I know the Nets just aren't compelling (J-Kidd's afterhours alleged handy-work notwithstanding), but Al's blog shouldn't have to be. Def Leppard has your back. (I know the Fixers all love the shorty-shorts they're rockin' in this photo. Had to share). 
Is anybody out there? Anybody there?
Does anybody wonder? Anybody care?
Oh, I just gotta know
If you're really there and you really care
'Cause baby I'm not
F-F-F-Foolin', Ah F-F-Foolin'
Not F-F-F-Foolin', Ah F-F-Foolin'
Won't you stay with me awhile
(Photos from NBA.com, even the one of Def Leppard, who were, apparently modeling the uniforms of the ill-fated 1978-79 London Sock-Stuffers franchise)
Comments (39)
Alan:
I enjoy your articles, bloq and positive expectations of our Knicks, along with your fair and objective criticisms. I must admit that I am somewhat dissapointed with our Knicks out of the gate. I wanted them to hammer Boston and Jersey!
I have been thinking about this and believe that it will take some time to re-establish Jamal, Lee, and Q after their serious injuries, while fitting Zach into the mix. I am hoping that chemistry will return, after dealing with these ugly losses, committing to defense and getting sick of losing again?
If this team does not come together, it is because of a Coaching and / or a point guard problem?
1. Will Stephon lead this team with unselfish point guard play?
2. Who is / are the leaders on this team?
3. What is going on with Mardy Collins and will he emerge as the point guard who makes this team click??
Quick question, completely unrelated to this post (my apologies in advance). There was a ton of talk this summer about D-Lee working hard on his jumper. I read articles and heard interviews from him saying that he was putting up a few hundred shots a day from the baseline, foul line extended, etc. Watching last nights game, it looked like he still couldn't shoot his way out of a paper bag from anywhere beyond 10 feet. Do you have any sense whether or not his jumper is going to come around? Obviously, with Z-bo and E-City down low, David is going to need to play a lot of the 3 and it is even more important than last season that the defense respect his shot enough that they are forced to come out and guard Lee instead of sitting on the bigs. This was really magnified in the waning games of last season with our deplted lineup when sometimes three of Jeffries, Malik, Ro Show and D-Lee were on the court with Eddy. There were essentially three extra defenders who didn't need to guard the perimeter and could just collapse on Eddy when he received the ball or even deny the inbound pass. Speaking of which, why can Jamal so effortlessly throw his patented alley-hoop to Eddy from the top of the key, but can't make the simple pass to feed the post without turning it over? Isn't ballfake-step across the body-bounce pass one of the most rudimentary functions in the game?
So if Q is too slow for the 2 and too short for the 3, are you saying he should come off the bench ? Jamal couldn't guard anyone so what are our options at the 2 ? I see Balkman playing the 3 if Artest is not coming here. I think that solves the SF problem but there is still a glaring defensive hole at the 2 . Any suggestions, anyone ? anyone ? Bueller? Bueller ?
john q - it's fred jones.
that's isaiah's answer to having a defender at the 2 spot anyway.
this team is so confusing. too many players with different difficiencies to keep track of.
sorry to be cynical. i know its preseason (and i keep saying it), but its a litte worrisome that alot of the problems that we thought might be fixed are as glaring as ever.
Matt don't worry. Balkman, Collins and Chandler with Jones are very good defenders. When all of them are healthy there will be multiple defensive options to go to. And Marbury can run the half court way better then what we saw last night. Once EZ duo gets going we will win some games and we will certainly screw up a few as well. Looks like a .500 club so far.
@Patrick H. -- Good observation. I should have mentioned it in the blog. David had a rough night from the perimeter. Missed several wide open mid-range shots. Might be able to chalk it up to a bad shooting night, but you definitely want to see him be able to hit that shot on a consistent basis. @Phil, I'll get back atcha in the next blog. Too long to respond to here. I got my kids from school, so I'm out for a while now. Have a good weekend.
Matt,
I'm not feelin' all 6'2" of Jones as a starting 2. Would you be comfortable with that ? I think having him there and a defender such as Balkman or JJ at the 3 allows the oppositions defense to pack in on our bigs. There has to be another option.
Alan,
It' seems that when this team feels pressure they revert to one-on-one play and think "score instead of high percentage shot" creating a snowball effect which leads to TO's and poor defensive effort.
I wonder if Zeke is even aware of it? Could you put this little nugget in his brain in the form of a question?
It's clear to me that is the issue with the lack of continuity on offense over the last two games.
Thanks Alan, for once again providing the most insightful analysis of the Knicks and the NBA anywhere on the internet!
My point about Artest is simply that the Knicks play with no defensive intensity, and no defensive heart. Artest would change that fast.
And I am truly doubting the Randolph move. I don't think having two big men who can't play defense is going to end well for this team.
It just seems thus far this preseason, that's its same old, same old. No defense, poor passing, lots of turnovers. I think if the Knicks get off to a bad start, it will get ugly quickly for Isian and Dolan.
Forget Ron Ron for now please. I forget which blogger, who I give big ups to, called it on the money. The 2nd quarter line up of N8, Jones, chandler, zach and curry ended the periond with an 16-4 run. Both Carter and Jefferson did their damage on Q in the 3rd. By the time Thomas made changes, we're down 14. Teams will exploit the Knicks at the beginning of both halves. We have a tendency to start slow. We need to get Randolph off early and oftern. Pick and rolls as I stated before and then pound them with
Eddy. Alan, you did a good job with your insight but left off how Curry showed some moxie with a dirty Magloire and then abused him. The refs let Magloire ride with alot last night. He manhandled Lee last night. DLee was begging for help from the zebras and got no love. Holla!!!
David, Curry was active on defense last night. Alan that another one you missed. 3 blolcks and a couple of goaltends. Like I said earlier, a mean streak as well. Holla back!!!!
john -
nah, i dont feel comfortable with jones starting. i agree with your point about being weak at the 2. problem with these knicks are that there are not many - if any - complete players. there's hardly anyone that can even play on both ends of the floor. Q and who?
Its not a great situation, but one I guess we'll have to live with.
Matt B:
Marbury is that second complete player...and also I hope David Lee will be that player. Can you imagine him being able to hit the 15-20 footer?....and his defense will improve also.
Watch and laugh (or cry)...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TYfh1ryYY5Y
LET ME SAY THIS U GOTTA GO INTO THE SEASON WITH A WINNING MENTALITY I SEE THE SAME OLD KNICKS WITH A FEW NEW PLAYERS=COULD BE THE COACH.THE LINE UP NEEDS TO BE CHANGE AT 2 3 POSITIONS.I WOULD TRADE CURRY AN RUN THE POST THROUGH Z-BO HE IS BETTER ALL AROUND THEN CURRY GET A SHOT BLOCKER OR START LEE.SAME OLD KNICKS.ITZ SAD..ALOT OF TALENT BUT THEY SUCK..
Alan, I'm worried about David Lee. I saw him get out hustled on at least 5 rebounds on the first half alone. Is he a step slower? Did he lose his hops? Is his timing just off? Thats 2 uncharacteristically bad games from Lee in a row.
You've seen much more of him than we have. Is it just a few bad games or is it possible that he's regressed from last season? It's been worrying a bunch of people in the Knicks community.
Has anyone noticed the Knicks schedule in November? They have a brutal stretch of 10 games after the first 6 games - with a lot of them on the west coast. They better get their act together fast and be ready for the season. If they come out of the games slow, they could easily pile up around 12 losses in November and the season could go down the drain by December. Look at what the Yanks had to do to reach respectability at the end of the season after stumbling off the blocks in April.
Everyone is lambasting Jerome James for robbing NYK of $ 30.0 mil.
How come no mention of Zeke's so called "great eye for talent" on this one?
Giaps,
I was saying the samething about David after the game. It looks like teams are concentrating on him alot more. If this is the case he's going to need to add a new demision to his game in order to be productive. In the nets game this week, the nets had a body on him the whole game. Teams will start playing Lee like this watch.
Note:
Remember Fry had a breakout season similar to Lee during his rookie season. Player don't usually take steps back, the opposing teams just learns the player's strengths and then they try to force them into situations that limit their productivity
MAK what an insightful comment. You know I hadnt noticed that Jerome James sucked. Thanx for pointing that out.
Oh you forgot to mention that the knicks didnt have a player over 6' 9 when they signed him.
Awful waste of money? Yes.
An inconcievably blunder? No.
@Mak - we already know we’re basically in sync about Isiah’s job performance. James will never be a headline in his resume. Still, I’m curious why you focus on that, to the exclusion of the fact that since signing James, you’ve got to give him a lot of credit. (Yes, I typed that sentence.) C’mon . . . look at the subsequent drafts. We’re certainly not the most talented team in the league, but we’re a deep team. We’re young, talented . . . there’s an exciting core of players that could be together for a while. As most sports writers like to point out in situations like this . . . even Jerry West made a FEW mistakes . . . (Besides, when he signed James, we didn’t know Isiah wanted to become the NBA’s “All-JJ” team.)
This is definitely the best, Blog, Mak – and check out Alan in Newsday. Better than those other guys. Remember “Starburyfan”? He started a site that’s worth checking out, too. (Sorry, Alan.) You’ll know ALL the players without a scorecard. But he’s done a nice job with the blog. But my hunch is, if you stick around here, you’ll realize Alan has created something head and shoulders above The Post, Daily News, etc. He gets very involved in the conversation, and does a monthly “Mailbag” to answer questions, and respond even more directly.
As the season approaches: I’m going to be watching to see how the players respond to Isiah. Last year was all about Isiah gaining their confidence and support, which wasn’t easy after the atom bomb Larry Brown set off in that locker room. And you could see them playing HARD for him every night. I wonder if the players are holding back a little at the moment. It would be natural for them to be a little overwhelmed (circumspect) after all the headlines and bad publicity. I wonder if Isiah has to regain their trust, to some degree, after this summer. That’s all speculation. I have no evidence (except their recent performance) to base that on.
But if anybody can rally a team, especially a young team, especially a young team that he’s responsible for putting together . . . it’s Isiah. But, like Skot – I worry about getting off to another slow start. Excuses are going to ring awfully hollow . . . awfully quickly.
This team is a coach’s team. It’s up to Isiah to pull them together, figure out the right rotations, combinations. Because, as the roster goes, it’s still unfinished/unbalanced. And I don’t just mean too many contracts. Zach may not have been the perfect 4 to put next to Curry, but it was a move he had to make. Terrific pick-up. He’ll only help the team. Small forward is still the critical missing piece in the puzzle . . . that needs to be resolved. David Lee will never be the full-time answer at 3. I don’t think Q will be either. I worry about his body taking too much of a beating against bigger, stronger players. When Q was healthy last year, I thought he was our best all around player. Is he too slow for the 2? I hope not. I’ve never been shy about my opinion how Isiah should solve his roster problem. IMHO . . . the right small forward to complement this roster lives in Sacramento at the moment. But we’ve been here before . . .
THE KNICKS SHOULD TRY TO GET DORELL WRIGHT PERFECT SMALL FOR THEM HE IS THE NEXT OUT OF H.S TO THE NBA STAR WHEN HE GETS THE CHANCE HE WILL BE A STAR.KNICKS SHOULD TRY TO TRADE FOR RATLIFF HE CAN STILL PLAY.
THE KNICKS SHOULD GET DORELL WRIGHT HE WILL BE A STAR IN THE NBA WHEN HE GETS THE CHANCE PERFECT S.F FOR THE KNICKS PLUS HE IS YOUNG.ARTEST IN N.Y NA. ARTEST IS OVERRATED.RATLIFF IS STILL A GOOD DEFENDER KNICKS SHOULD TRY TO GET HIM.IF D'ANTONI WAS COACHING THE KNICKS THEY WOULD BE BETTER.ZEKE ISN'T A GOOD COACH.THE KNICKS HAVE TO MUCH TALENT TO SUCK=COACH.WILL BE BACK TO DROP KNOWLEDGE ON THE CLUELESS
Allan Houston has retired. A class act, Houston didn't belong on a team coached by Isiah Thomas, found liable by a jury of his peers of sexual harassment, and playing beside Stephon Marbury, a Born Again father, husband, and self-admitted under oath adulterer.
Mr. Houston, you will be missed.
The Coney Island Cupcake and Zeke The Sexual Harassment Freak, you will not be missed. Why not spare all true Knicks' fans the agony and retire now, Cupcake and Zeke? New York will only thank you for your departures.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/trainingcamp07/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=AllanHouston071020
Mark, you're irrelevant.
To all the great Fixers posters who have departed this blog and stymied what was the greatest basketball discussion forum of all time, please take a moment to ponder why wacky and so on allowed people of such high intellect to develop a 'sheep' mentality with the mass departure.
Paradoxical. Contrary to the cunning and high IQ I saw here in the summer.
Lives, Cooleyhigh, DVJ and many others who know yourselves. Perhaps this need not be so personal.
This is just bloggin'
TRANE:
* I was just aiming for some semblance of balance with Zeke's so-called 'great eye for talent' with that particular post. I can readily admit that he's done quite well in many draft years. (so why not make him a Sr. VP of Scouting???) However, eye for talent is also applicable for players you traded in.
* A lot KFFLers are already in the panic mode after 2 lousy and meaningless pre-season games. Too soon and too early for that. I'm still optimistic that NYK will have a very good season and will make the playoffs. The draftees look promising, will learn and contribute, and will be an integral part of this team.
* Starburyfan's site is awesome with pictures and video clips. That dude's passion is contagious. I wonder if SF has a full-time job, semi-retired or is one of Sam Walton's nephews. Takes a lot of time & energy to do what he's doing. I've visited his site several times. It is a love-fest over there, like it was here prior to the wacky departure of many "intellectual" regulars.
* Alan Hahn has done a great job here. His love for the game is apparent unlike his fellow beat-writers who appears to be just going thru the motions or "better" yet, just doing it for the paycheck. Alan's understanding of the game and enthusiasm are A plus when compared with his colleagues.
Enjoy the global warming induced nice fall weather. Peace to all.
Pre-season: I frankly don’t know what to think. Any other year, I’d agree with everybody who says “It’s just pre-season and doesn’t mean anything.” For some reason, though, this troubles me. I really wanted this team to come out strong and fast . . . with something to prove. I get the feeling things are very unsettled. Nobody’s sure who’ll be cut, who’ll make the rotation. I also wonder if all the nonsense over the summer may have a hang-over effect. I wonder if Isiah has to regain their trust, and enthusiasm . . . at least to some degree.
But the other problem is that we’ve all been on blogs all summer with people writing that the Knicks are the most talented team in the east, and stuff like that. So this could also be a little dose of reality setting in after the kool-aid wore off. Maybe we can’t expect too much, at least at first, from the same team that just ended a 33-win season.
What kind of season am I hoping for? I think anything under .500 should be considered scandalous. (I can't imagine Isiah keeps his job at that point. Even Dolan can figure that one out. I think.) But as much as any team I’ve ever watched, it’s really up to them this year. It’s going to be about how much they come together as a team. It’s going to be about how good a job Isiah does as coach of a team that still has a roster with holes in it. And it’s going to be about whether we see another player or two have break-through years the way Lee has in the past, or Balkman. Could Chandler do that? Nichols (if he’s on the team)? Collins? This COULD be a 50 –win team if everything falls into place. I wouldn’t bet the farm on it, because I doubt that will happen. But it could also easily be a 38-40 win team. And that would be a bitter pill to swallow.
@ Mak –
I’ve promised myself that the ‘wacky’ exodus would be a dead issue. At the time, my only reaction was, effectively, it ain’t over yet. Give Alan a chance to a) understand how strongly people feel and b) work it out. Which he did. Case closed. Some of The Departed have started drifting back. Some with venom, some because this is still the top media-based blog . . . and that means it does some things that SB’s can’t, even if the opposite is also true. And I’m certainly more interested in the stories that come out of Alan having access to the Knicks than the other beat writers.
Private Last Class doesn't worship me. Oh, I'm just crushed. (belch)
Private, be sure to tell all of your fellow Certain Alleged Supporters of the Knicks (CASKs), also known as Possettes, that you told Mark that he is irrelevant. Maybe, just maybe, if you're a real good lad and eat all of your vegetables, they just might give you that Possette Magic Decoder Ring that you've long desired.
Hey, Zeke handed Jerome James $30 million; at least your Possette leaders can fork over that plastic Possette Magic Decoder Ring to you.
General, while I disagree with you, I appreciate your sentiment. Since, I have always had great respect for your commentary and believe that you bring added value to the venues you visit, I will respond to your query, although otherwise I think it is a waste of time.
General, the first misunderstanding is that the conflict was simply about the word “wacky.” In such disagreements where a “word” is offensive and seems to take on a power all its own, it is never just about the word. It is about the context in which the word is used and the sentiments attached to the context. Which means that it is about how people feel about how they are treated. In the same token, it also is about how one’s feelings are treated.
The “Wacky” case was blown out of proportion not by the posters, but by the blog host, Alan Hahn. It was blown out of proportion when the blog host, as a representative of his employer, conveyed a message that the concerned posters should “get over it.” They were told that there concerns were of no concern and that they should simply “get over it.” A few translated that as “fu*k you,” but the exact words did not matter, the intent of the words did. His delivery of that message, supposedly from the tech guys, was when it became personal for the posters; at the very point that Newsday corroborated what some believe was a lack of concern and disdain for how they personally felt.
I use the term corroboration because the term “wacky,” to some, initially conveyed a failure to understand the nature of the blogging community developing in Newsday’s cyber-house. What was misunderstood about the development of that community was that it was not based solely on one writer’s ability or responsiveness to his audience, but on the existence of a growing legion of Knicks Fans, ignored, by the media, who want to enjoy their season and their sport reporting without the overblown, hyperbole and bias against the Knicks offered by the New York media.
This is a group bound together by their fanaticism for their team and interest on the Knicks as they perform on the court; bound by their growing disdain for media that tries to make news instead of report it, like efforts to have fans boo at the Garden by planting the seeds for the activity instead of reporting about those of us they actually hear from who think that activity is asinine.
That group of sheep, as you call them/us, migrated from blogs all over the blogosphere because the word was that AH was critical, solicitous, talented AND Knicks Fix was a place where some of the most critical Knicks Fanatic’s started to gather. As you can tell about this blog before we came here and after many have left, the posters did not come here simply because of Alan. They came because of the community developing around Alan and with Alan included.
That development is critical to understand because the posters are smart enough to know that their content, their work product, was instrumental in building up this community. Consequently they felt that they and their concerns should be respected. Yes, this is Alan’s house, but he is a renter, an employee of a major corporation and this blog is a service to its consumer base. Hahn’s writing can influence posters, but it is Newsday that can control posts (not posters). When “wacky” was added and Mr. Hahn delivered a message on behalf of the corporation, he essentially told the posters that their contributions were not important to how the community they helped build was going to function. Perhaps sheep would have followed that directive.
Alan did not fully understand the dynamic and made a fatal mistake. He took the demand personally and took it as a power play against him as a journalist and/or person, despite the fact that he initially blamed the intransigence regarding removing the word on someone else. In a way it is understandable, because if he took the criticisms as seriously as he took the compliments, then his perspective was out of balance.
What he apparently did not realize is that as individuals left the blog, he was still receiving great compliments and respect even from those who were leaving. Only a few, who were certain that his blame shifting to the techies was a lie, criticized him harshly. But then Mr. Hahn proved the critics were correct when after he said the banner would be changed, he instead did not facilitate the change and he referred to the lot of us as “wanna be protesters,” “antagonistic bullies” and “Alpha Dogs.” Clearly calling posters “Alpha Dogs” was not meant as a compliment. At least he didn’t call the posters female dogs a/k/a the “B” word. But the insult was understood.
The name calling by Mr. Hahn move was emotional and unprofessional and was contrary to his earlier personal plea that posters drive up his posting numbers. He reacted emotionally like Ron Artest did when a fan threw beer at him while he was at his job. Hahn swung back. Or perhaps a slightly better comparison is Michael Vick’s middle finger action to the fans. He exacerbated those statements by making a cryptic reference to himself as Sal, the pizzeria owner-“ victim” of protest in one of the most provocative but most racially charged movies in American history, “Do The Right Thing.”. Although, he expressed earlier that this was one of his favorite movies, this was not the context to use such a cryptic “me against them” metaphor.
No, this situation required an understanding by Mr. Hahn that as friendly as we were, he was still at work. Writing for Newsday is his job. This relationship was accentuated by the rehabilitation of the growing blog to include advertiser streamers and his request for mor support. This change completed the marketing transformation of the blog and emphasized the value of posters to Newsday as consumers, value added to attract advertisers, and content providers to attract more posters. For him to respond personally contradicted this apparent reality and was enormously disrespectful to the majority of posters.
Mr. Hahn did not show an understanding of this service provider-customer relationship, nor an appreciation of the significance of the value added by the majority of the posters. Like the athletes he covers, Mr. Hahn is providing a service, infotainment, if you will. For him to respond personally was not only inappropriate but enormously disrespectful.
While Mr. Hahn eventually apologized about the general nature of his slight, it was ineffective and could easily appear disingenuous. First of all the slight was directed at all defectors and the partial retraction was not directed at anyone in particular, so no one knew who he was apologizing to: African? Steady? Starburyfan? Me? Who was still an “antagonistic bully” or “Alpha Dog” or not welcome by him to the blog in his eyes. (t is interesting to note that Mr. Hahn could have registered his comments, complaints and his apologies to the appropriate individuals via e-mail as he has before. I for one have had the pleasure of personally communicating with him off-blog.
Whoever the apology was directed at, it grew even more hollow when the word wacky was finally whacked, despite his assertion that “a few alpha dogs too many” were not going to “control” the blog host. When the word was removed he tried to make it clear that it was the Sports Editors decision, not his,
Unfortunately, Mr. Hahn continued to show a lack of understanding of the situation, despite extremely well written posts explaining some views, when he mentioned or “bragged” that his numbers stayed the same because people were “lurking” around. That was just plain silliness. People, like me, were “lurking” in anticipation of a quick resolution and return to what was a fun blog. Posters said they would not post, they did not say they would ignore Hahn’s work. But he made it worse again when he wrote, “Truthfully, I can't believe a silly word in an otherwise inane subhead would cause such furor.” But I would ask, if it was simply about the silly word, why not just remove it? Why?, because it was about more than the word for him too, it was about “power and control“ as I think is evidenced by the combative sounding Beastie Boy quote he offers before he declares, “Enough.”
General, I have nothing personal against Alan. I think he is a fine writer and expect him to do well. He is no different than us. He is human and he makes mistakes. His failing in this instance is not fully understanding his mistake and how to overcome it. I imagine, whether he realizes or acknowledges his error, at some point his readership and number of posters will grow again.
Personally, I don’t mind being called an “Alpha Dog.” I’ve been called worse and more accurate things from time to time. However, I must admit that I do not have the same attraction I had to this site before because of the overall nature of the disrespect. But, I believe that I should also be forgiving of Newsday because it ultimately responded to our concerns whether Alan understood them or not.
I expect that I will post at more than one venue and Knicks Fix will be my second choice, not because of Alan at this point, but because of the overall quality of this commercial blog.
Unfortunately, Knicks Knation is practically dead dominated by a couple of posters who offer no appeal that would overcome the bias of Frank Isola. But Mr. Dougherty at Knicks Knacks is very good too and Starburyfan has done a fabulous job of making his blog a home that houses some of the best writing on the Knicks in the region. WWW.KnickDefense.com is my first choice because of what the fanatic’s bring to the table in terms of energy, links and commentary collectively.
Although, this post differs little from the many other articulations of this episode, I hope if gives you a better understanding, at least good enough to understand that the posters you speak of are intelligent, independent thinkers. And it is possible that they left in mass not because they are sheep, but because they actually collectively believe in something that others like yourself do not.
So if this piece doesn’t sound like one long BAAAAA to you and gives you a better understanding. If so, it was not a waste of my time.
MARK:
Can we keep it clean here and just focus on b.ball?
Jersey,
That last post of yours was quite touching. Brought a tear to my eye. Created a lump in my throat.
Then I farted and all returned to normal.
Adore Starburyfan's new blog for life forms like yourself, those those Certain Alleged Supporters of the Knicks (CASKs), some call them Possettes. Heck, I even wrote about Starburyfan's new blog a few days ago.
Let's start with at 3:28 p.m. Oct. 17, when I posted the following:
"Seems the threats have already started on that other website, LoveIsiahOrDieSuckahs, operated by Starburyfan.
"From (Not So) Steady at 7:01 p.m. Oct. 13:
"'If someone posts sh!t and disrespects, as I’ve said, I trust that someone will respond (and maybe not in a kissy fashion)...'
"The New York Police Department needs to put that website on its monitoring list. Get the NYPD IT Department on this STAT. Lives may be in danger."
Of course, further research on Starburyfan's marvelous (sic) website only led to the need for another post at 3:33 p.m. Oct. 17, when I wrote the following:
"Peacewoman confirmed my suspiscions with this post at 6:32 a.m. Oct. 14 on LoveIsiahOrDieSuckahs or something like that:
"'Wanna bet he won’t respond? If he does, Starburyfan will have his IP adresss! lol'
"Law enforcement officials, Peacewoman has made clear that anyone who dares to question the operators of that website will be physically harmed. Time for the NYPD, FBI, and Federal Communications Commission to shut down the Possettes internet playhouse.
"Mayor Bloomberg, don't say I didn't warn you."
Since then, I've made sure to notify friends at the New York Police Department and, more importantly, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Big Apple. J. Edgar Hoover used the FBI to keep watch on domestic terrorists for 50 years. Richard Cheney now uses the telecommunications companies to monitor domestic terrorism these days. Starburyfan's site already has offered threats of physical violence, violation of privacy rights, and perhaps even central communications for some sort of oddly aligned extremist political, workplace sexual harassment advocacy, domestic criminal, and, heaven forbid, terrorist network.
You, Jersey, seem to serve as the Baghdad Bob or Axis Annie of this outfit. Perhaps you would care to explain the threats against New York City journalists and average citizens that have appeared on the Starburyfan's website. At least take a shot. We could all use something more at which to laugh.
Meanwhile, 'tis best to remember that the First Amendment does not offer blanket protection for threats against another person(s). Surely, Jersey, a blind loyalist like yourself must have learned the limits of the First Amendment during your decades of study at Lou's Auto Body & Law School in Camden.
MAK,
Sorry, but Al Hahn should have booted that collection of Internet thugs, miscreants, and screamers for Isiah Thomas, found liable by a jury of his peers on charges of workplace sexual harassment, and Stephon Marbury, Born Again father, husband, and, as admitted under oath, Adulterer off this website months ago. Now Al find himself with his family and home in some danger, what with the element on Starburyfan's website making threats, vague and otherwise, against any and all who dare to counter them and their violent ways.
The Starburyfan crowd has already made clear its targeting of Marc Berman, Frank Isola, Mike Breen, and Walt Frazier. Can Al Hahn be that far behind?
Mak - if you don't feed a lost dog, it will stop coming around your door.
I'm familiar with Alan Hahn, and Ken Berger, but, who is Barbara, anyway?
http://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-spbarb1022,0,2477987.column
I really hoped that “wacky” wasn’t an issue any longer. Mostly because it just doesn’t interest me all that much. But then “Lives” wrote such a thoughtful and articulate autopsy. I wish it had been stupid. Then it would have been easier not to respond. But for the most part I’m in agreement with him even if we ultimately feel pretty differently about what happened. I guess that’s what made it so provocative for me.
Bottom line, he’s right: How could Alan’s initial response NOT have been read as an F.U.? I think - and posted at the time – that Alan doesn’t get how strongly we feel about it (I also posted how demeaning I thought it was) . . . but I was also willing to be a little more patient because I assumed he’d eventually do the right thing and get rid of it (which he did). it’s clear Alan didn’t appreciate how strongly we felt about it . . . nor did he give us credit for our contribution to this site, whether it was booming or not. I also think his attacks were wrong. Especially because they were – legitimately – interpreted as aimed across the board, at “everyone” . . . when he obviously meant them for a few. Doesn’t matter, this was the wrong place for it. (I’m also insulted by this notion of “everyone” – as though every blogger who switched from here to SB’s site is the same person. Maybe a community of the like-minded . . . that’s fine. But I don’t think Alan’s so superficial that he would heap everyone together – look he’s said as much, and apologized. We know he wasn’t talking to everyone . . . calling everyone names. Does that excuse it? I guess not. But he copped to it. He stood up. That takes guts.)
Without a doubt, the attacks were unprofessional. The name-calling was wrong. Alan over-reacted. But gentlemen . . . He among us who is without a blog over-reaction . . . cast the first post. C’mon . . . we’ve ALL gotten a little hot and bothered from time to time on these posts . . . maybe said a few things that went a little farther than we should have. I’m just saying he ain’t the only guy here who’s done it. I know I have. And I know a LOT of others have too.
And that’s where Lives’ post is most useful – in his plea for “context.” It’s valid the way he invokes it. But I suggest we also need to turn it around, and see it in the other direction, as well. While Alan clearly lost sight of our motivations for being here . . . and the value of our contributions . . . I think we need to realize that at least SOME of the attacks on him for wacky were far from the first. I think there was a cumulative effect there, as well. So, no – it definitely was not only about “wacky.” Did Alan fly off the handle? Absolutely. All I’m saying is that I saw it coming long before “wacky.” Does that justify it? No? But in explanation, there is understanding and understanding is supposedly what it’s all about. Yes, I think he ended up taking it too personally. But I don’t think he got there on his own. He had plenty of help.
As a corollary, I disagree with Lives when he says that it was Alan and Alan alone who blew everything out of proportion. Did he? yes? But he wasn't the only one. I have this disease that makes it very difficult for me to see the world in black and white. I’ve found that life rarely is that simple. Alan may have gotten combative, but he wasn’t the only one lookin’ for a fight.
I’ve never joined in the attacks on Berman and Isola because I don’t know their points of view very well. But I do know this. The kind of bias and hatred that’s constantly ascribed to them can’t be found in Alan’s writing. That’s why I read him first. However convenient it may be to blame “the media,” sometimes it also may be a little too easy. Because I, for one, don’t see a lot of people trying to draw that critically important distinction between bias and legitimate criticism. If I saw more that, I might believe the claims of bias more. Because a lot of the same people who constantly claim bias and hatred . . . are also the people who don’t WANT to hear bad news and are hostile to bad news. That makes the claims of bias just a LITTLE suspect . . . by definition. That’s bias, too . . . but in the other direction.
In the end . . . maybe things worked out the way they should have. I think some of this was inevitable. I had a hunch early on that Alan was never going to be able to satisfy some of those who find “haters” and bias under every rock. He’s not the kind of guy to bend over backwards to placate them. And there are some itchy trigger fingers around here . . . just looking for opportunities to load, lock and fire. Maybe “wacky” was the catalyst . . . but if it wasn’t wacky it probably would have been something else. Which is OK. I like SB’s site. I think it now has elements that have been lost here. And I think this blog has elements missing there. As it should be. I haven’t met anyone yet who can be all things to all people.
Hey, Starburyfan -- it's great to see you back . . . but do you really expect Alan to start hooking you up with women? So soon? ("Hey, babe . . . wanna come back to my place and see my . . . blog?")
Decomposition happens after the natural process of death!
Bacteria multiply on the on the deceased! Kind of like Mark/Mak are doing! I would hope that the NYPD, FBI, CIA and other
Law enforcement groups have better things to do than protect
Bacteria in a Federal " Knick Blog protection program."
Trane, there is no need for me to respond. I think your post is a perfect bookend to mine along with a lot of excellent well meaning comments in between (figuratively speaking) on this issue. At this point, I believe I have said all that I need to on the topic, unless asked about something that wasn't clear or engaged by a reasonable person or post.
I am ready to have some more fun all over the blogosphere. Playoffs or I'll Burst. LGK.
Trane,
Jersey's post was nothing more than a thinly veiled threat to Al Hahn that unless he returned to posting anything and everything loved by Certain Alleged Supporters of the Knicks (CASKs), some call them Possettes, Starburyfan, Peaceman, and Steady would come out to personally inspect his new home improvement project.
Jersey's merely delivered the CASKs message. The authorities need to keep a close eye on Jersey, Starburyfan, Peaceman, Steady, and each and every other member of the CASKs. The safety of society and the rule of law may very well be in jeopardy.
One can only wonder whether Isiah Thomas, found liable of workplace sexual harassment by a jury of his peers, and Stephon Marbury, Born Again father, husband, and self-admitted under oath in a court of law Adulterer, have played any role, directly or indirectly, in the development of the messages by Jersey, Starburyfan, Peaceman, and Steady. Things seem just a bit too coordinated for this merely to be an endeavor perpetuated by the CASKs.
Just who is paying for the operation of Starburyfan's website. Follow the money, kids, and law enforcement authorities can take things from there.