The Neutral Corner

Maybe there is a filter on the news they get in Pensacola, hometown of Roy Jones Jr. Maybe he doesn't understand just how bad the Knicks really are. After attending a practice session today, why else would Jones say:

“I’ve had my ups and downs over the last three years so I came out here today to let coach Thomas and the Knicks know they just need to hang in there, do the best they can, and their time will come. I know it will.”

Their time will come?

I know. Roy fights Felix Trinidad at the Garden on Jan. 19 and its all part of the promotion. But there are not too many people aligning themselves with the 8-20 Knicks right now. Not only are they bad on the court, their public image is at an all-time low. Diehard fans are having trouble getting behind this team.

Jones is a pretty good basketball player, having spent an entire season in the USBL. In fact, he once competed in a USBL game in the afternoon and later that evening he defended his super middleweight title with a 12th-round TKO over Eric Lucas.

When Jones showed up at the practice, he was invited by coach Isiah Thomas to participate in some drills.

“It was a dream come true for me to get on the court and shoot around and do some drills with the Knicks," he said. "I was a little rusty but I wasn’t going to say no to coach Isiah. What a thrill it was to be on the court with the Knicks to see up close and personal how good they really are."

Wow. Someone surely spiked his Gatoraide. -- CASSIDY