New York Knicks: Then and Now
August 2, 2008 – 8:46 pmI apologize for the lack of posts towards the end of July. Not much happening in Knicks land right now, so I figure we might as well take inventory of just what we had at the end of 2007-2008 New York Knicks season, and what exactly we have as of right now, having just past the midpoint of the off-season.
Of course, this can all change at any minute. The powers that be continue to alter this well-documented losing roster. Considering the low stock value of some of our more expensive players, it may take some time to really put together a cohesive and competitive Knicks basketball team.
My barber is from Italy. He’s around 70 years old, an old-school guy named Pete. I don’t know how much Pete really knows about NBA basketball in the 21st century, but I was getting a cut the other day, and I was talking to Pete about D’Antoni and Gallinari and he said “watch them win the title next year.” I laughed, and respectfully replied, “I think it’s going to take a little more time before they can compete for a title.”
But I like the positive thinking. You have to aim high if you’re going to hit your mark. I hear that’s what D’Antoni is all about. I’m just glad they’re no longer pouring gasoline on the salary cap fire. Just because MSG has money to burn doesn’t mean they should literally burn it. We’ve had this problem since the days of Patrick Ewing, trying to get the quick fix. Someone finally stepped up, took the helm and decided to take on a new approach, hopefully the right approach to the problem.
3 Responses to “New York Knicks: Then and Now”
Ex-FBI big bets on Donaghy: NBA dirt charges true, Gambino squad vet says
BY JOHN MARZULLI
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Saturday, August 2nd 2008, 11:57
The man who put away John Gotti, baby-sat Sammy (Bull) Gravano, raided an Al Qaeda bomb factory and helped uncover the NBA betting scandal says Tim Donaghy told the truth.
Philip Scala, the recently retired FBI supervisory special agent in charge of the Gambino squad, which uncovered Donaghy’s scheme of betting on basketball games he had officiated, said he believes the disgraced referee’s claims that other refs were dirty.
Scala, one of the most respected law enforcement officials in the metropolitan area and a tower of integrity in the bureau, spoke exclusively with the Daily News about his storied career.
Donaghy, one of the most infamous turncoats he handled, came under withering criticism from the NBA for his allegations that other referees fixed the outcome of games.
“He was as emotional and remorseful as I’ve ever seen a cooperator,” Scala said, just days after Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in jail. “In the course of my relationship with him, I had the insight that he was intent on repaying his debt to society, restoring his family’s faith in him and trying to make something better out of his life.”
Donaghy and his lawyer went to the government last year as soon as he learned the feds were on to him. He was subjected to grueling debriefings, then the feds set out to corroborate his claims by interviewing scores of people, including other referees.
But when prosecutors wrote a letter to the federal judge outlining Donaghy’s cooperation, defense lawyer John Lauro was outraged that the information about other NBA referees and officials had been omitted simply because no criminal charges were brought.
“Donaghy, for some reason, looked up to me,” Scala said. “He came to me one day and said, ‘It means a lot to me if you could answer this question: Do you believe that I’ve told the truth?’ I told him, ‘I believe you.’
“I wanted to know why he was asking, and he said, ‘I’d appreciate it if you’d call my dad’ - and I did that for him,” Scala said.
Donaghy’s father, Jerry, a retired college basketball referee, also wanted to know if the FBI agent believed his son was telling the truth about everything.
Scala said he was not merely offering his opinion of the disgraced referee, rather it was his informed assessment of his credibility after his unit - officially known as C-16 - conducted an exhaustive investigation.
“Donaghy told us the truth. Sammy Gravano told the truth; Mikey Scars (Gambino capo Michael DiLeonardo) told the truth,” Scala said referring to some of his infamous Mafia rats. “That doesn’t mean everything they said ends up in an indictment.”
Let’s see now,who to believe…David Stern, successful business man,lead officer in a billion dollar international conglomerate or Phillip Scala,decorated public servant.David, one question…What happened to the young lawyer who fought for the civil rights of minorities in Englewood, New Jersey.Is the NBA’s power and money that important that you just can’t clean house and restore signature integrity to a game that is pivotal to the psyche of American youth?Your country turns its lonely eyes to you Mr. Stern!Consider yourself drafted!You remember those days right?This is a chance to strengthen the core of sports in a morally corrupted America.I’m sure you have grandchildren.Face the truth and fix it.Stand up!That’s what heroes do, or be just another sad footnote in history’s cat box.
By Tman on Aug 3, 2008
@TMAN
Thanks for sharing the article and like I always say, “Follow the Money.” Unfortunately TMAN, the general has been converted and now is a True Follower of the Darkside…It’s ALL about the Benjamins Baby…
ONE LOVE!
Keep it POPPIN!
By Cooleyhigh on Aug 3, 2008
If you are looking for more NBA debate, I put up a poll on NBA Gauntlet about who’s better, Baron Davis or Chauncey Billups.
Any ideas for the first Knicks player to put in the gauntlet?
http://www.nbagauntlet.com/
By Harris on Aug 3, 2008