L. Scott Hainline/ Houston Chronicle

Nice article in the Houston Chronicle catching up with a longtime Knick from a bygone era. Charlie Ward, who spent a couple seasons post-playing as an assistant coach with the Rockets, has returned to the game that won him a Heisman Trophy in 1993. Ward begins his first season as a head coach of Westbury Christian tonight in Houston. With proffesional-caliber skills in basketball, football, and baseball (he was drafted by both the Brewers and the Yankees), Ward was arguably one of the most talented all-around athletes on the planet in the mid-90's. It's great to see such a stellar competitor staying with one of the games he loves. His outfit, on the other hand, leads me to believe that he's got a second career up his sleeve. Charlie Ward's night job, after the jump...

Continue reading this post »

Alright, so maybe it isn't that dramatic. There is, however, a surprising amount of interest around the league for the Knicks' own Zach Randolph. Well, at least one team is interested. As rumors of Zach-to-Cleveland are starting to fizzle (tip of the hat to Cavalier Attitude), new rumblings have emerged from Memphis, of all places. From the Memphis Edge, earlier this week:

The Griz are willing to part with Darko Milicic (last year’s big free agent signing) in a package that wouldn’t require a core player (OJ Mayo, Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, etc). What the brain trust seems to be debating is whether Randolph fits the Grizzlies’ style on and off the court.

Randolph is a bonafide low-post scorer who can shoot along the perimeter and rebound. But he doesn’t offer much on defense, something the Griz desperately want to upgrade and Randolph’s character issues may present a problem.

That said, the Griz need talent. Randolph would beef up a thin power forward corps of Hakim Warrick and rookie Darrell Arthur. They’ve got a group of "nice guys" so adding one knucklehead in Randolph shouldn’t be a big deal. Although second-year head coach Marc Iavaroni struggled at times effectively communicating with players, he is credited with helping Phoenix big man Amare Stoudemire take his game to the next level.

(HT to Alan Hahn on that one). I think I know now what Portland fans must have felt like last summer. It stirs within me a sort of smug satisfaction to know that another team thinks it has the influence to coax Randolph into maximizing his potential. As far as this particular trade goes, Darko is notoriously underwhelming and injury-prone, but when healthy, might offer some of the defense and toughness currently lacking in the Knick frontcourt. He also comes with a contract that expires in 2010, which fits right into Donnie Walsh's stated plans. Regarding the rest of the Memphis package, we would've been drooling over Kyle Lowry or Javaris Crittenton months ago, but the Duhon and Roberson signings leave little room for another point guard. Funny how things change. Instead, I'd love a future second round draft pick. Or even first round, if that could somehow be finagled.

The issue, as I've mentioned before, is that the meager package the Knicks assembled to acquire Z-Bo (Channing Frye and the Succubus) will likely be in the back of any future trading partners' minds. So if the Grizz aren't willing to offer anything more than Darko Milicic and a box of Snackwells Cookie Cakes (the devil's food ones, not the tasty ones with the mint filling), we just might have to bite. Beggars can't be choosers, ya know?

Improvements for 2008: Frontcourt depth, post defense, and rich chocolatey filling.

I guess the question is how determined we are to rid ourselves of Randolph. Is he dispensable at all costs, or does he have a shot at finding himself in the D'Antoni system? I tend to find myself in the former camp, but let yourself be heard in the comments.

From Bob Raissman at the Daily News (who has an absolutely exquisite mustache), we're getting word that the notoriously hysterical Gus Johnson's future as Knick broadcaster may be a bit dicey.

Well-embedded NBA broadcasting moles, pausing to stop shaking their Redeem Team pom-poms, said Johnson's contract with MSG expired following the 2007-08 season. They report he's currently in negotiations with MSG suits.

How are the negotiations going? Here's where it gets sticky. The same sources said MSG Network brass - boss Mike Bair and executive producer Lydia Murphy-Stephans- are playing hardball with Johnson over terms of a new deal.

Would these two be bubbleheaded enough not to ink Johnson? The Excitable One has spent 10 seasons as part of MSG's Knicks radio team - the past five as the Knicks' No. 1 radiocaster, working with veteran analyst John (Legend) Andariese.

The fact that it's almost September and MSG has not come to terms with Johnson is a tad strange. Especially considering what's taking place on the court.

Raissman goes on to express the sentiment that if the Knicks are planning a turnaround on the court, Johnson's excitement and unwavering enthusiasm would be a nice soundtrack. Although I do find him a little over-the-top at times, I'd be disappointed to see another classic MSG voice leave town. Let's not forget this either. Don't let Gus go!

I'm baaaack. Hope everyone had a nice couple of days while I was on a mini-vacation. While I was gone, the Knicks made a little bit of news. Let's get to it.

- As my SBN comrade Ben Q. Rock was nice enough to post, the Knicks added executive John Gabriel to their front office staff. Gabriel is a former exec of the year who rebuilt the Magic in the post Shaq 'n' Penny years. He's also been behind the scenes in Portland for a couple of years. From the Times article, here's what to expect from Gabriel:

Donnie Walsh, the team president, appointed Gabriel as the director of pro scouting and free agency, a newly created position. Gabriel’s primary duty will be evaluating current N.B.A. players, with an eye toward future trades and free-agent signings.

Sounds like we can expect Gabriel to be out of the picture most of the time. He'll probably be doing a lot of snooping and traveling, acting as a sort of right hand man for Walsh. Also added to the staff was Misho Ostarcevic, who will be Director of Player Personnel, whatever the hell that means. Here's what the two new guys look like, for future reference. As usual, when Google Images fails to produce a certain result, I use my own resources.

Gabriel, Ostarcevic

- The Knicks preseason schedule is set, and all seven games will be against Atlantic Divison opponents. The preseason kicks off in Toronto and includes three stops to the Garden.

- Danilo Gallinari has withdrawn from the Italian national team. The Italians didn't qualify for this year's Olympics, and begin the qualification process this week. Apparently, Danilo's back is still bothering him a bit, although word has it he'll be ready to go in time for training camp in Saratoga. He better be. I had a whole sledding excursion planned out for the two of us.

- I knew that Eddy Curry was a gymnast as a child, but I did not know that he can still do a blackflip. (Not a video. Don't get too excited.)

- Head over to Son of Dippin for updates on Renaldo Balkman's journey to Denver, as well as some shit about Mongolia.

- Qyntel Woods is up next in the Scrubdown, and ny knickerbocker's got the duty of memorializing the Knick great. I'm a little excited.

That's it for the moment. Backatcha later.

Greetings, comrades. It's a lovely Sunday morning and we've got a few links worth mentioning today.

- Ken Berger is of the opinion that James Dolan's open house for Knick investors doesn't mean he's going to be out of the picture anytime soon.

Dolan's gesture to investors - allowing them to voice concerns during a "listening tour" last week - seems to have been little more than a head fake. People knowledgeable about MSG in particular, and the sale of sports franchises in general, tell Newsday that it's premature to run out onto Seventh Avenue traffic and celebrate Dolan's departure from the Garden of Ills.

"I would say the most likely buyer is probably some group headed by Jim Dolan, personally, because Jim seems to get a lot of pleasure out of those particular assets," an expert in the field of sports and media transactions told Newsday.

Me, I'm a dreamer. What if Dolan's surrender of the media policy was the first step towards leaving the team completely? Dolan stewing on the baseline with his head in his hands has never struck me as "pleasure", and I wouldn't be surprised if he's ready to get his name out of the mix and avoid the headache. Then again, I'm no expert in the field of sports and media transactions.

- Barnesgasm catches up with Renaldo Balkman on his way to Denver. Let's just say you won't see him in a Nuggets jersey for a few months.

- The deal is finalized. The Knicks are coming to my school for training camp in the first week of October. Brace yourselves.

- I love him, but I don't see Ben Gordon working as a Knick. Especially not while Jamal Crawford's in town.

- A couple days old, but Knickerblogger found some video from Donnie Walsh's town hall meeting with season ticket holders.

- Countless P&T citizens over the years have pestered me with emails asking if I had any evidence of John Starks eating out of a gigantic bowl made of lettuce. Well, friends, ask and ye shall receive.

That's all for now, pipsqueaks. Enjoy the rest of your weekends. Coming soon, the next installment of the Scrubdown, featuring Arichmix and Chris Dudley.

From Marc Berman's blog, Stephon Marbury has returned to discussing a possible future in Italy, and now he's getting specific.

"People just didn't understand and didn't know (last summer)," said Marbury, who will be in Coney Island Sunday when his summer kids basketball league holds its Finals at Surfside Gardens. "When I made comments about playing overseas people took it out of perspective, thought I was talking about leaving while still playing for the Knicks. It was turned into something negative about going to Italy. Now it seems it's OK.

"Why wouldn't you want to play basketball, still make money and live in a place that's beautiful," Marbury added. "Milan is definitely where I want to play basketball at. That's where I fell in love with Italy."

Wow. That's an almost startling degree of logic coming from a man who once called Zach Randolph a "lefty southpaw". The guy's right. After all the grief we gave him last summer, he's looking like a regular soothsayer this time around. Although I  do think it's time for Marbury to be out the door, I desperately wish for him to latch on somewhere else. Steph, above all else, loves basketball, and deserves to keep playing. More power to him if he gets to take his game overseas and delight the crowds in Italy.

I try not to give fresh rumors too much attention, but I particularly like this one. From Tommy Dee at The Knicks Blog, talk on the Nets side of a New York-New Jersey deal of Nate Robinson for Sean "Chong" Williams. Though this is the only place I've heard the rumors, I'd be very interested to see if this goes anywhere. As much as I love Nate Robinson, he's a surplus guard who might not get to shine with Chris Duhon and Anthony Roberson around. Meanwhile, Williams just might make sense. Says Dee:

Attitude is something that the Knicks want nothing to do with, of course, and Williams is not a perimeter threat, something that Mike D’Antoni loves in his big men. But he can finish in transition as well as keep possessions alive with his active offensive rebounding ability.

His potential and athleticism, along with his defensive prowess, would fit a huge need for the Knicks. Should Eddy Curry show up out of shape and get under the skin of D’Antoni, a frontcourt rotation of Williams, Zach Randolph (who’s not going to Memphis) and David Lee, would be an instant upgrade.

I'm looking for one thing, and one thing only. Well, no. Two things. My original thought was that the Knicks need some damn shot blocking. Chong's swatting ability would certainly be a defensive upgrade over the low-altitude loafing of Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph. The second thing that I just thought of is that the addition of Williams would be a nice step towards replacing the entertainment value of Renaldo Balkman. While Humpty was a lovable space cadet who we assumed to be a stoner, Williams is a lovable space cadet who is, in fact, a stoner. If this source of Dee's knows what he's talking about, it's time for Donnie Walsh to give the Nets a call.

We're mired in the slowest days of the NBA calendar, but here are a few points of interest to liven up the downtime.

- We still need somebody to write the commemorative Scrubdown post on Qyntel Woods. Come on. The profile of a pot-smoking, dog-fighting journeyman with a questionable set of vowels in his first name practically writes itself.

- Similarities found between James Dolan's strict media policy of old and...Communist China. Awesome.

- Missing Isiah Thomas a little? Catch up with your former GM, courtesy of SLAM's Russ Bengston and Jake Appleman. A taste:

11:46 a.m. Wakes up in cold sweat screaming "DON’T EAT HIM, JEROME, HE’S GOT A GUARANTEED CONTRACT!"

12:01 p.m. Sexually harasses television.

12:14 p.m. Heads into city for lunch.

1:38 p.m. Spends entire midlevel exception on meal. Calls Jim Dolan ("the whiskered one") to officially make it a business lunch. No one picks up—of course, it’s before 7 p.m. Bills Knicks anyway.

- Let me make it clear that, unless he's wearing a suit and tie, Allan Houston should have nothing to do with the Knicks organization.

- David Lee's already got a nice lead over Eduardo Najera, but needs your help in the second round of Hoops Addict's Floor Burn Tournament.

And that's all she wrote. Pretty light today. Enjoy your Wednesday and I'll see your sweet asses later.

Voting is closed and the numbers have been crunched (by Brendan, my number-crunching wolverine). Behold your Official Posting and Toasting Scrubdown, a collection of our most beloved benchwarmers of recent memory.

...picture's not working....

...shit...

...wait for it...

Bam! There you go. At the one spot, we've got Big Snacks, Mr. Jerome James. Batting second is a bit of a surprise, the affable Rick Brunson. At third is the ever-enigmatic Qyntel Woods, at fourth the ever-uncoordinated Chris Dudley. Rounding it out is none other than Matt Barnes, who forcefully robbed Shandon Anderson to get my fourth-place vote and sneak into the top 5. As you can see, I did make it a top 5 instead of a top 8. The voting, unfortunately, was pretty light this year, and I was worried that we wouldn't have enough people to volunteer to write posts. If there's someone that you really think you could do a good job with, then let me know. This is more about the memorial posts than it is about the countdown. We all know who's doing Matt Barnes (and, in my opinion, should do Qyntel Woods). I'd like to do Jerome James, but would be happy to let someone else give it a try. Other than that, we've got Brunson and Dudley that need memorializing. Volunteer in the comments.

By the way, the runners-up, if you'd like to post on someone not in the top 5, were Randolph Morris, Scott Brooks, Travis Knight, and Mardy Collins.

What better way to kill some time on a long summer day than a trip down memory lane? I've linked to partial videos of this game before, but now Game 3 of the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and Pacers is online in its entirety, courtesy of Youtube user "gengiskhan29325". For the truly bored, here's Part 1 of the video. For the less intrepid, I recommend skipping to the late teens and 20's for the meat of the action, with Part 23 being the money segment. I also enjoyed watching Part 22, which gives you the lead-up to the notorious shot. I had completely forgotten how close Marcus Camby was to a three-point play just seconds before LJ made magic.

Oh, and I know it wasn't a foul. Doesn't bother me anymore.