Make Room for King James

I've been following the Knicks this year for several reasons. First, they hired a coach in D'Antoni that has brought a fun Euro spread offense to the NBA. Second, the Stephon Marbury saga should happen more often. Third, the local media coverage is great. And, finally, they are playing for 2010 in 2008, and they are not apologetic.

I thought the Knicks had a lot of talent last year, but Isaiah was a disaster, and the team had no direction. For anyone who thinks coaching in the NBA doesn't matter, this season may be hard to explain. While they have taken advantage of a soft schedule, the philosophy, energy, and results are completely different than the dud they were last year. Coaches in the NBA are enablers, whether it leads to better or worse play.

Not that I like the undue attention an overpaid Loser gets, but too many teams are hijacked by bloated player contracts in a players league. It's about time a team makes a decision based on heart and not expenditures. Marbury quit on D'Antoni in Phoenix, which has not been forgotten. Word on the street in New York is that Stephon may be more talented than Duhon, but he is a ball-hog loser. He'll be moved or rot on the bench before he stifles the offense, and infects the whole team with me-itis.

I've got both the New York Times and Daily News on my quick links list, and their guys are as good as it gets.

Last night the team traded its leading scorer, second best scorer, and best rebounder in exchange for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley ... and it was a great move. While Harrington and Thomas fit the run-and-gun style, the reason for the trade was to clear space under the cap for the 2010 free agent class that includes Wade, Bosh and King James. Screamin' A reported last night that the space available would be enough to sign two max contracts! I don't know much about the cap, but that would make the Garden rock again.

Side Notes:

Go Blue

How do the Utah/BYU alums watch the game if it's on the mtn network. Is that even broadcast in California?

First Blood

I'm writing this post in response to the Donovan Mcnabb overtime mishap. Overtime is a vexing issue in both college and pro football. At the pro level, a win or loss comes down to the flip of the coin, rather than athletic ability and intelligence. At the college level, the game is given a botched face-lift and transformed into some demented form of football. Think old Kenny Rogers turning into new Kenny Rogers.

So how should football solve this problem? I have an idea.

Allow me to introduce First Blood, a balanced system of college and pro football overtime that also retains the element of murder in the title and reinvigorates Sylvester Stallone's career. The worst part about Sudden Death overtime, is just that--it's sudden, and it's over before the other team gets a chance. In the First Blood format, you play the entire 15 minutes, more points wins, but in the event of an overtime tie, whichever team scored first (or draws first blood) wins. No ties. No cointoss victories. No 50/50 soccer-style penalty kicks. (If nobody scores in OT, whoever drew first blood in regulation wins. Another incentive for intense play.)

So, the First Blood format provides huge motivation not only to score first, but in the event of falling behind early, there is huge motivation to catch up fast and take the lead. Imagine the offensive innovation...imagine the defensive intensity. And you thought Ray Lewis hit hard now...

The closest link I can make with First Blood is with soccer. Any soccer fan knows that the most action-packed part of the match occurs when a team is down a goal or tied in the last few minutes. For five-plus riotous minutes, all 11 players are sprinting, passing, and shooting like there's no tomorrow, because for some, there ain't. And not only do the players pick it up, the fans are on the verge of hooligan head explosions for all five minutes. Now, transfer that intensity to a football field and make it rain, so to speak.

It also makes sense from a business perspective (more minutes = more commercials = more money), but to me it makes sense from a football perspective. Today's fan sits at the kiddy table of the Thanksgiving dinner of modern sports; this might get us closer to the grown-ups.