SPORTS: Isiah Thomas Has Gotta Go

NBA
Monday is usually reserved for the weekend sports recap, but the Madison Square Garden Brawl between the Knicks and Nuggets is the only topic I can think about at the moment.

Isiah Thomas has been on my **** list for years, following one horrible basketball decision with another. This weekend, he took his ineptitude to the next level. Chris Sheridan reported Saturday that Thomas warned Carmelo Anthony not to play in the paint at the end of the game, and video evidence backed up Sheridan's story.

At first, this loyal Knicks fan blamed JR Smith for starting the fight after he tried to tackle Nate Robinson. (Mardy Collins delivered a hard foul, it happens.) But after listening to the post game interview and reading about Isiah's warnings, it became clear that Thomas started this whole scenario. The fans were getting ready to rain the Garden with boos for yet another blow out loss at home, so why not take the focus away from Isiah's horrible team?

Everyone gets on Carmelo Anthony for his part--the most vicious part--in the brawl. I don't see it that way. I likely would have popped a gasket if the other team's coach warned me not to be in the paint, where Collins hard foul initiated a brawl.

Wouldn't you stick up for your teammate? So, sure, Melo sucker punched and ran, but I'm sure he saw Collins' foul as the same thing.

So I apologize for the quick sports rundown, but all I can think about is how much damage Isiah Thomas has dealt my favorite team since 2003. I can't even say the end is near either, as the worst owner in all of professional sports, James Dolan, gave Isiah the rest of the season to turn things around. Ugh.

NFL
Terrell Owens was, well, himself.
The Giants are done and Tom Coughlin lambasted Eli Manning.
The Bears clinched home field advantage.
The Chargers won despite getting nothing from Philip Rivers.
The Jets and Bills both stayed alive.

NCAA Basketball
No. 7 Wisconsin's Alando Tucker buried Aaron Gray and No. 2 Pittsburgh. (I watched this game and Wisconsin looked to be a vastly superior team).
Greg Oden (the player the Knicks should be drafting but won't because of friggin Isiah Thomas) is the most efficient college basketball player I have ever seen.

MLB
The Red Sox are having second thoughts about JD Drew.
The Yankees, Braves and Pirates discussed a three way trade.

NHL
The Atlantic Division-leading Rangers were blown out on back-to-back nights, at a combined 15-3.

FANTASY NBA: Emerging Forces

SHALLOW LEAGUES

In my league (which is actually ridiculously deep or "subterranean"), someone dropped PG/SG Randy Foye. I'm sure this happened in plenty of leagues where patience is not a requisite for a league championship, so it deserves to be pointed out he should be picked up immediately if he's available.

You cannot teach a player to be clutch. Coaches rely on this intangible and players who have it get the opportunity to shine. Last night, Foye scored 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter against the Mavs. En route to victory against the Clippers Saturday he scored 14 of his 15 points in the fourth. He's stepping up in a big way against quality opponents while Kevin Garnett is occupies defenses. The other stats should fill out in time, which is awesome potential for the 13th man.


DEEP LEAGUES

Miami G/F Dorrell Wright is finally cracking the rotation. Drafted in 2004 out of high school, he barely saw the light of day on the Heat bench despite having some freakish athletic gifts. He developed a knowledge of the game, being coached by Pat Riley, playing with some legendary veterans and being part of a championship team. Now, he is budding into a star. With Riley calling out his team, Wright should continue to get minutes as long as keeps earning them.

In three games as a starter, his line: 8.7 PPG on 50%, 100% FTP, 11.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.3 SPG and 1.0 TO.


SUBTERRANEAN LEAGUES

I was one of the many Knicks that attended the 2006 draft who booed Isiah Thomas' draft selection of SF Renaldo Balkman (for the record, Kenny Bloggins called Isiah drafting the most unconventional player possible). While PG Marcus Williams appears capable of being Jason Kidd's successor, Balkman is a high energy rebounder and shot blocker, who has the ability to lead the fast break.

Channing Frye will be inactive for five weeks and Quentin Richardson and Jared Jeffries are out for about a week apiece. Balkman will get more minutes too after coming off a truly spectacular game against Chicago.

In 20 minutes, his line: 10 PTS on 50% FGP, 1 3PM, 13 REB, 3 AST, 3 BLK, 1 STL and 1 TO.

NBA: New NBA Shoe Commemorates Worst Knicks Team Ever

by Steve "Supreme Commander" Cernak

James Dolan, Madison Square Garden Chairman, President and CEO, announced today Nike commemorated the worst team and franchise he could possibly manage.

“I came really, really close to completely destroying the Rangers, but unfortunately Jagr got good again in New York. It means a lot that Nike would honor my destruction like this too. The shoe looks terrible. I couldn’t be happier.”

Last year’s NBA slam dunk champion Nate Robinson had the shoe named after him.

“We here at the Nike Corporation felt Stephon Marbury, Eddy Curry, Larry Brown or Isiah Thomas would have been excellent choices,” said some ranodm white collar at Nike. “But, Nate Robinson actually could have been good. His commitment to being a crowd pleaser rather than play defensive like a cornerback at Washington made him win the distinction.”

Jalen Rose and Maruice Taylor flew in for the official Madison Square Garden after party.

Good thread

FANDOM: Your Definition of a Good Fan (part II)?

More articulate responses have appeared as to what makes a good fan. Each entry comes from this RealGM message board.

Each poster quoted is a Knicks fan. New York sports fans are often credited with being among the most knowledgable in the sports landscape, but the majority of Knicks fans who are internet savvy have yet to taste a championship.

These definitions of what a fan is come from one of the most tortured fanbases around and from The Basketball Mecca, as Bill Simmons put it, "where professional basketball truly resonates."

The Knicks are my pro-sports team of choice. I've seen the Knicks ascend to Championship aspirations only to get set-up for a crushing blow. Last year I witnessed arguablely the worst season in team history and possibly the worst dollar-for-dollar team in professional sports history.

The quoted posters have experienced many of the same things. This unique perspective is invaluable to understanding sports.

Enjoy round 2:

Bill Bradley (part II): Truth be told, I think the whole notion of a "good fan" and a "bad fan" is kind of silly. I mean, a fan is a fan, and people root for their team in different ways. Some choose to applaud every move and root hard for every player, while others may actually hope that the team tanks so that real changes will be made. I think all kinds of fans have the same ultimate goal in mind- a championship- and I don't think that you can say one person is a "better" fan than another.

blue seats: I consider myself a fan because of my fanatical interest in the team and my desire that we should rule the league for generations.

But I have zero interest in fitting into other's notions of what constitutes a "good fan" or a "real fan." A plain old paper bag fan is quite sufficient for my needs.

As far as message board participation goes, I find the "real fans" to be some of the most difficult people to hang out with.

Starksfor3: When you feel true anguish and pain from a team's failures and pure unadulterated ecstasy when they succeed, you know you're a fan. And even when you want to quit on them because they make you miserable....but you still keep watching and rooting for them, you're a fan.

It doesn't matter how critical you are of the players or if you disagree with how the organization does certain things. If wins/losses affect your emotions, you're a TRUE fan.

Knick 4ever: A good fan is one who always wants his team to be successful. I want the knicks to win all 82 games and win the championship. I bash anyone who fails to deliver like I know they can.

Brownsville's Finest: (A true fan) gives the team a clean slate every year.

duetta: A fan is, by definition, a person who keeps showing up to watch the games week after week, and night after night.

I don't see how being a good fan should have anything to do with leaving your brain at the door, and treating the decisions of the GM, coach, or owner as somehow unfallible - unless you think that also makes you a good person in life, an ideal that I could never agree with.

pedsdmd: A Good Fan supports his team unconditionally when they are out on the court.

Whether they are in first place or Last.

A Good fan should be like a family member. You accept your family for there good and bad faults. You may not agree with everything they do but you wish the best for them and help them succeed

FANDOM: Your Definition of a Good Fan?

This topic came from a post I started on RealGM's Knick message board. These are selected responses.

ME: To me it's simple: a good fan follows his/her team through thick and thin, but does it with a self-critical honesty. A good fan holds everyone accountable for mistakes, praises those who deserve it, keeps everything in context and understands the present from a historical context. (In other words, I'm essentially describing me. What makes you a good fan?)

Bill Bradley: A good fan shows unconditional love for its players, no matter how badly they hinder the team's success. Unless of course the players don't get along with the GM or do in fact listen to their coach. Oh, that's only if the GM is Isiah Thomas and the coach is Larry Brown. In that case, it's okay to bash the players but you would definitely be a hater if you bashed other players that were more loyal to the GM. It also depends on where the players are from and there may be racial issues to consider as well.

Bernard King: cant say what a good fan is for a fact. I know what i consider to be a good fan but I cant tell other people how to be a good fan. In my OPINION a good fan like a good player should be unselfish and put the team first and their own ego second.

_CBS7_: One who always wants the team to do good, but doesn't neccisarily have to support and love each and every player or agree with the moves that the team is making.

NoLayupRule: I guess a good fan is one who supports his team with optimism and enthusiasm every season. A good fan doesnt follow blindly but a real fan would never root for their team to lose just so they can look smart on an internet message board.

you know who you are

Let's go Knicks! (And for _CBS7_) Good luck Raptors!