Technical difficulties...
Not a good day for some technical issues with the blog site. While Mike D (Journal News) and Steven A (Bergen Record) were pounding out quotes to share on their blogs, I was pounding my laptop into bits and pieces because our site kept crashing when I'd hit send. I managed to get the K-Berg photo up, but nothing else.
So now that it seems like things are working again this morning, let's try this again. I'm up at the hotel here in Saratoga Springs preparing for the first practice of the year.
Most of you have probably read the obvious headline moments from yesterday's Media Day. Here's a link to my story in the print edition.
It was all Marbury, as expected. If you're tired of hearing about it for now -- pretty much all of the stories centered around that theme -- here are some moments to share that flew under the radar:
* - Gallinari injury speculation grows with Dr. Berman's "sciatica" prognosis. All kidding aside, I think anything's possible at this point, including surgery. So I asked Gallo what he thought of a growing suspicion that he is a fragile player. He didn't get offended, but you could tell he didn't like the label.
“It’s a thing that probably if I’m a journalist and I see a guy hurt, I would think about it that this guy is probably going to be hurt all the season," he said. "But it’s not true about me. I will be ready.”
* - Zach Randolph said he heard the trade rumors but is fine with still being a Knick and vows to do whatever Mike D'Antoni asks of him, even if it means coming off the bench. "If that’s going to help our team win," Zach said, "then that’s what I’m going to do.” Funny moment came when Frank Isola asked him about the team drafting a player they expect to eventually fill his role as power forward and Zach quickly cut him off with a perturbed, "Who?!"
Um, Zach, have you met Danilo?
* - Chris Duhon isn't deferring to anyone despite Stephon Marbury's continued presence on the roster. I asked Chris if he felt because of Marbury's tenure as the starting point guard that he might feel like he should defer to him in practice.
“You don’t defer, you go out and compete," he said. "I’m a competitor. I want to go out there and show and prove not only to myself but my teammates and the coaching staff that I can compete at a high level and play. I look at it as a challenge. Not making it a distraction, it’s a challenge.”
* - Quentin Richardson has that swagger back from two seasons ago and you can tell he wants to take up more of a leadership role with this team. "I’m in a place where I know I will say something," Q said. "I will try and right whatever wrong’s been done."
* - Jerome James says he's going back to Seattle after he sat mostly ignored at his table in the gym. At one point he got up, walked past Jamal Crawford's table and said, "Man, I'm going back to Seattle," which is a reference to the one NBA city where he was relevant to the media. Crawford replied, "There's no team there anymore."
More to come this afternoon between the practice sessions. The morning session will be more drills and conditioning.
* *
Let's re-open the caption contest, since it seems no one was able to post on the previous entry.
And I can hear K-Berg singing a little Britney this morning...
It's getting late
To give you up
I took a sip
From my devil cup
Slowly
It's taking over me
Too high
Can't come down
It's in the air
And it's all around
Can you feel me now
With a taste of your lips
I'm on a ride
You're toxic
I'm slipping under
With a taste of poison paradise
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic
And I love what you do
Don't you know that you're toxic.
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Comments (48)
Just curious, do they ride up there together or on their own?
i know this isnt college or whatever and they have the right to get up there on their but if i was Donnie i would have them all clumped up together in a yellow bus.
Start developing the camaraderie early!!
REPOST, REPOST, REPOST, REPOST
O.K. Alan, I don't need a prize, I just can't pass up a challenge. Plus, I'm procrastinating this morning. Because of the financial crisis, I had decided to suspend my blogging campaign for an indeterminate amount of hours, but that photo got me stuck in my silly season. Following are possible captions for the photo posted. I will add more until you save us by posting a new post.
Weapons Check: Steph Searches Reporter For Pen Before Allowing Interview..
***************
Steph Mistakes Reporter For Dolan's Bagman
****************
Steph Finds God
***************
Preconditions Met, Ken Berger and Stephon Marbury Embrace
**************
*****************
Steph: "Stop complaining, this is better than a strip search."
****************
Steph:"Ken, I almost thought I would never see you again, ever."
***************
Steph:"Don't move, I'm taking the lint off your shirt with my radioactivity."
**************
Steph:"Don't say anything just act like you like me."
*************
Steph:"Man, you feel so much bigger in your column."
************
Steph:"Thank God, a friendly face"
***********
Steph:"Don't let this smile trip you up; if you keep writing that sh*t for Dolan I'm going to fly my plane into your office window."
I'm audi, see you much later.
Q-Rich seemed to have a swagger even when he wasn't doing anything on the court, the trash talking against Boston being one example. The guy has talked a great game but so far that's all its been since he got here. Mostly a highlight reel of greatest bricks.
I like that Duhon isn't lying down and handing the starting job over to Marbury.
That Jerome James quote was hilarious. Maybe he was eating when they moved the team.
as for the caption....
Marbury: I can feel the love!
K-berg: That ain't love.
Oh my God, he killed Kenny!!!
Steph:"Yes, that's a banana in my pocket"
I would crush the Fat or skinny Brittney
Keeping 2010 alive
with alittle Bulljive
The above should be in quotes, I guess.
Not sure if "swagger" is what a 23 win doormat needs most, but if Q can provide some veteran leadership, toughness and the kind of d he played a couple of seasons ago, that would be a huge plus. Its also goo to hear Zach saying the right things - I know talk is cheap, but its better then seeing him wandering around in a caftan. I've been pretty clear that I haven't been thrilled with this offseason, but its great to have the season starting up again.
Stephon Marbury - "Thanks for the coke! I needed that fix!"
K-Berg - "Uhh...I'm not Berman, I didn't sell you any cocaine!"
"You broke my heart, Bergo."
Can someone tell Q to shut up. Jeez - you want to act all tough - then make your shots you damn scrub...there isn't anything worse than some fool who talks $hit and can't back it up...
You were brought here to be the knicks sniper - just make your shots and save us from the fake bravado.
Agree with Trin.
Q-Bitch puts up Shandon Anderson stats but talks like he's Paul Pierce. He's so pathetic.
"I'm coming out of the closet, now GET IN THE TRUCK!"
I hugged k-berg and for the first time I felt his whole body and his soul.
After KBerg asked Stephon Marbury of the NY Knicks how his summer workout regiment went, Stephon hugged the Newsday reporter and said: " What's it feel like? Huh? I feel good to you? Mmm. I know you can feel my arms but if I squeeze harder...feel that? 197. Running the Hills. Believe that? I'm ready."
Really? Why is everyone hating on Q? Yeah his shot's been off, but he had a bad back. The guy gets alot of rebounds for someone with chronic back-problems, so it's not like he wasn't trying when he was in there.
Plus, it's not easy to hit shots when there's no semblance of an offensive system. He hit all of those threes in PHX, cause D'Antoni repeatedly tells his players that they're excellent shooters.
I'm not trying to say Q-Rich has been living up to his paycheck, but he's not as big a scrub as you guys are making him out to be.
Plus, there are much bigger washouts on this roster to worry about...ie Curry. What the hell was he thinking this summer?
"Well if I gotta play fast for D'Antoni next year....I guess I gotta eat alotta fast food."
"Wait, Cablevision bought Newsday, right? I mean, you're not technically an MSG employee, are you? Uh oh . . ."
I'm in the best shape of my life, and my truck is parked just out back. Let's make this happen.
Steph: I found jesus!
The season's off to a wacko start. Who needs more of this? James should go back to Seattle and open a donut store. What a dumdum. Walsh has a few weeks to dump Steph & Zach to clear the air of the foul stench which is making the Knix the joke of all major league sports. Pull the trigger, Donnie, now, not later....let Dolan pay them off....he hired Isiah the Clown.
DTR
"is that a buyout in your pocket or are you just happy to see me"
"stephon marbury introduces himself to the new intern"
by the way, look at k-berg... he's totally shocked that he's getting hugged and has no idea how to react!
Steph - Wadup "Bruce", you know the Starbury still loves you baby, and that's factorial.
K-berg - "Uh ok, just don't invite me to your truck."
Her3's a caption
"Marbury demonstrates he hasn't yet found inner peace"
OK, Double or nothing if I'm here in January."
"Feel that, Ken? That's my 'toxic asset'."
Marburry: What? Newsday has interns too!!
K-Berg: Hmm, new car smell.
How weird is it to see Houston in the background of that picture. I feel conflicted, I remember the great feelings when he hit that shot in Miami and the game where he dropped 55, and even though it wasn't his fault, I also remember that K that started the era of financial irresponsiblity and his disappearing act for whole quaters or halfs.
Hey Kenny, my new #3 tatoo is a scratch and sniff....come here and try it....mmmmmmmmm doesn't it smell good?
Donnie needs to either proclaim Marbury the starter or state that their intention is to trade or waive him. I think he is going to shop him around during the post season. Who wants a team recker? Miami. Denver? I say offer Steph for Allen Iverson to the Nuggets and Mardy Collins and go bite something and hope for a miracle.
Donnie needs to either proclaim Marbury the starter or state that their intention is to trade or waive him. I think he is going to shop him around during the post season. Who wants a team recker? Miami. Denver? I say offer Steph for Allen Iverson to the Nuggets and Mardy Collins and go bite something and hope for a miracle.
I meant pre season. If we make the post season he still goes.
I have one favor to ask.
Can we PLEASE stop speculating on Gallinari's back?
Every day I read all the major newspapers and blog and it's pretty much an emotional roller coaster between "he'll be back soon" to "he's a total bust that may need surgery".
Knicks fans only have 3 things to look forward to.
1. The development of Chandler
2. Seeing whether D'Antoni can develop and get more out of some of our younger players
3. The Rooster
If the Rooster is a bust, it will be a catastrophe for the Knicks. It will set us back one full year in our development and probably even more than that on the court because so many teams in the East improved more than we did.
His health is his health. We can't do anything about it. Either he and Knicks don't know what's going on or they do and are afraid to tell us. Speculating is not helping.
From now on can we just report on what he's doing (or not doing) at camp and forget all the off the record reports, speculation, etc...
"You had me at hello"
"And they thought last year was bad, mwhahaha!"
"And they thought last year was bad, mwhahaha!"
or
"And here-we-go"
or
"I'm high right now, hehehe"
"ok, ok, I'll say it, you're the best point guard in the NBA"
Alan I got it when you were quoting U2 but Britney Spears? There should be a law against that!
LMAO!!! Eddy Curry sat out today's practice with a tummy ache!!! I kid you not!!!
I would have bet money it would be Big Snacks who would be hurting from having less time in the day to eat.
H H A TTTTTTTTTT EEEEE RRRRR SSSSS !
H H A A T E R R S !
HHHH A A T EEE RRR R SSS !
H H A A A T E R R S !
H H A A T EEEEE R R SSSS !
@
I SEE U JOCKING " STARBURY" JOCKING "STARBURY" YEAH!!! JOCKING -- JOCKING "STARBURY" JOCKING "STARBURY" YEAH!!!!!!!! HE SO 20 & 8 FRESH!!!
Eddie is getting use to the roll of bench warmer. He can warm that bench so good. He may win the job for water boy.
He has a use also to give a foul at the end of a game when they need one. He seems to be good at giving fouls and letting the other team score.
here is a link to my caption
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JFXtksga-Yw/SOJtzmXTeZI/AAAAAAAAAJU/6s8y6Fvrcxs/s1600-h/marbury+hug2.jpg
New York Knicks Media Day: Where Love Happens.....
Stephon Marbury to Ken Berger, on the imminent possibility of a buyout or trade: "I wish I knew how to quit you"...
"Hold still, Ken, and you could be the new president of the 'Garden of Dreams' foundation."
"Of course I'm the best point guard in the league. You think Chris Paul can hug like this?"
Zeke's gone Kenny! Zeke's gone!
"this is how i greet ALL the new interns..."
Steph:Your My Vanillia Zeke! So much softer than Berman.
Can I host your blog?
regarding gallinari's "sciatica".
as a chiropractor with over 30 yrs treating low back conditions, here's some info:
pain into the leg can be sciatica, implying irritation of a nerve root usually caused by a disc herniation.
leg pain however, especially if not past the knee can commonly be referred from joints in the low back independent of any disc or nerve.
this referred pain would not require the injection I believe i read about.
when what i read mention 'another' injection, this implies an intrathecal/epidural steriod injection.
nobody gets these steroid injection without 1st having a MRI which shows, at least, a disc bulge with some pressure on nerve elements.
yes disc herniations are usually injected but the procedure can be done on bulges especially since the difference between bulge and herniation is sometimes in the eye of the beholder.
on the other hand we don't absolutely know if the injection was the above or just a local (e.g. trigger point) injection.
so the type of injection would be helpful as would the MRI results.
the MRI was certainly obtained but i guess the knicks treat those results as a state secret.
all the above medical detective work could be avoided with a statement from that vault of secrecy know as MSG.
even if there is a herniation via MRI this does not necessary always mean a dire prognosis.
it's all about symptoms, that is how the patient feels.
there are many of us with disc herniations with no present pain or history of pain.
that's not the case here as obviously he does have pain and obviously there is some type of MRI disc finding.
again this does not necessarily mean this condition will linger and bother him into the season.
one should note however that we have been hearing about this back for over two months now.
again too bad MSG is so secrective.
Phil Holla! Haters!!! Steph's alright though. His attitude is positive. He's spritually conscious and he's paid. He is such a good example these days. His interview wow! Great! this hug, wow, that's a good man!!
Caption:
STEPH PROVES HE IS A GOOD MAN!
OR
Steph earns his 21 million hugging this a**hole!!
OR
LOVE:HATE Star shows LOVE for HATER!
"Thanks, Ken! One more 'Please Waive Stephon' story and I'll get my wish."