The Proud Franchise

TPF 2008 NBA Draft Coverage: Gregg Popabitch, Live from Madison Square Garden

Yes, yours truly, Gregg Popabitch, attended the 2008 NBA Draft at Madison Square Garden. Your boy was rubbing elbows (not other bodily limbs, no homo) with basketball fans, NBA big wigs, and future household names.

Some notes from the event:

Isiah Digs Danilo

From New York Dailiy News via RealGM:

Isiah Thomas gave new Knick President Donnie Walsh a positive scouting report on Danilo Gallinari, whom the team made the sixth pick in the 2008 draft Thursday night.

After being dismissed from his role as Knicks' president and head coach, Isiah Thomas embarked on a European scouting trip and watched Gallinari play for Armani Jeans of Milan.

"He told me, 'This kid won't back down,'" Walsh said.

When asked by TPF draft correspondent Tameka Mexico-Barclays, Thomas continued, "I like him a lot. Not as much as Anucha [Browne-Sanders], but I dig on the kid."

Welcome Home, Rooster!

"With the sixth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft the New York Knicks select... Danilo 'The Rooster' Gallinari."

*chorus of boos*

 

Can't you see David Stern's devilish smile as he announces that international-sounding name? Can't you feel the diversity? Can't you taste the globalization?

Sheeeeeeit!

I can't believe Reebok had that hideous Knick-flavored cock sneaker ready for draft day. I sure as hell hope they had one of those ready in every theme from Chicago to New Jersey.

Seriously. It's cock-tastic.

If Danilo doesn't ball out immediately he'll be known as "Cockface" (or something equally disparaging involving a play on "rooster") for the remainder of his career.

Now that the New York cheer is officially out of the way, I can freely admit that Gallinari is a player I'm actually excited about. While it's no secret that I wanted Jerryd Bayless, 'Face is a gamer. Hoop fans know what this young man has done in Euroleague. He's a proven scorer, is unselfish on the break and defends the passing lanes better than anyone's giving him credit for.

After the Frederic Weis debacle left the terrible taste of Vince Carter's nutsweat in our proud mouths, the Knickerbockers have been reluctant to test international waters. As a result of our lacking foreign affairs Gallinari's been unfairly compared with Italian lottery busts-in-the-making like Andrea Bargnani and Marco Belinelli. Neither has excelled in Euroleague play to the extent 'Face has. Neither play the game of basketball with the pride and fire that 'Face does.

Danilo's leaving Milan behind to do more than just wait around the three-point line like a cheap puttana.

It would be nice change of pace for The Proud Franchise to have someone on the roster actually playing with pride.

Ironically, starting point guard Stephon Marbury, at the crossroads of his life and career, has publicly considered playing in Italy as soon as next season. With Gallinari and coach Mike D'Antoni now residing in The House That Stephanie Built, Marbury will get a taste of Italia before he's eventually insulted by all 30 NBA franchises failing to offer him another max contract.

Thanks to "The Rooster," shit should be jumping off dead in the middle of Little Italy all season long. Knick fans can now expect to catch a glimpse of MSG action from their table at any bistro in the city on game nights.

I'm about to get my Vic Damone, jr. on this season. Danilo had better not make me look stupid for finally embracing the black man's affinity for Italian/Mafioso culture either.

Porta bella. Tutti frutti.

[Editor's Note:]

Cockface,

Please don't suck balls and force me to change this site to "FREEDANILO.COM"

I'm really enjoying "The Proud Franchise."

-Ronaldinho

2008 NBA Draft Live Blog

7:35PM - David Stern is clearly trying to incite a riot.

7:38 - "And with the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft the Chicago Bulls..." do exactly what everyone expected. Welcome home, Derrick [Rose]!

7:41 - Rose says he has to come in and lead. Slow down, rook. You might not start. Let the team clear some space before you usher yourself in, my nigga.

7:44 - Michael Beasley better have gone second.

7:45 - Beasley's mom looks pretty young. I think I saw her on this past season of "Flavor of Love." She didn't make it out of that first night. She and homegirl with the underbite shared a cab home.

7:48 - O.J. Mayo's gonna loooooove Minnesota. Stern greeted Mayo with that "Heh. Don't fuck this up" look. Thanks, Kevin McHale for NOT fucking this up.

7:51 - Damn. Mayo sounds like a fucking muppet. What's up with his voice? Loving the glasses. Very sophisticated look. They say he's 19 years old. He looks about 31.

7:54 - OHHHH SHIT!!! Seattle really took Russell Westbrook #4 overall. Amazing. Is Jerryd Bayless gonna drop into the second round now? I think this is entirely too high to take such an upside play. Oh, well. Let's go Knicks!

7:55 - Kevin Durant seems pretty happy with the direction. I don't think he's gonna be happy when he's not getting the ball on the wing. Tea Parties in Seattle Oklahoma City next season!

7:57 - Jerryd Bayless seen tossing green-and-yellow promise ring in disgust.

8:01 - Memphis takes Kevin Love. Kniggerbockers are on the clock. It's on, homie!

8:07 - FUCK!!!

8:08 - Alright... If you couldn't tell by my 8:07 reaction, the Knicks just took Danilo Gallinari. We are officialy The Olive Garden. Rooster, you'd better light the fuck up. That is all.

8:09 - Reebok already had the "The Rooster" sneaker ready! It's orange, blue and black. Oh, my god. He'd better not choke on the "cock." Oh, man. Stephen A. Smith even tried to save this kid. New York fans are brutal.

8:12 - The Clipse have got to be happy as fuck to be adding Jerryd Bay--... Wow. Okay. The Clipse have got to be happy as fuck to add Eric "Sandman" Gordon to the Re-Up Gang. Homie's gonna ball. Teams are gonna pay for sleeping on dude. YEEEEAHHHH!!! CANNOOOOONNNNN!!!

8:15 - I've just been informed that Eric Gordon's suit came from Morris Day's forthcoming clothing line, "Mulatto Jizz."

8:18 - The Bucks took Joe Alexander even after trading for Richard Jefferson. I guess there's no rule against starting 5 small forwards. Fuck it. Milwaukee trades one Asian forward for another. Good luck with that, Skiles.

8:25 - Mike and Coach Brown take D.J. Augustin at 9 overall. They needed Brook Lopez. Wow, maybe Brook Lopez needed the Bobcats. He is crying his eyes out over there. There was talk he could go #3.

8:30 - Nets GM Ed Stefanski looked over at Stern like "WTF?" when Robin Lopez didn't follow his twin, Brook, up to the podium. This is exactly what the Nets needed. We're officially on Jerryd Bayless suicide watch. After last night's trade, I'm not sure if the Pacers take Bayless.

8:35 - Bayless is finally selected. Kid didn't even shake Stern's hand. He was like, "Gimme my cap, nigga."

8:38 - Bayless is going to smack T.J. Ford in the back of the neck as hard as he can at the first Pacer practice session.

8:41 - Sacramento suddenly put the seniors out of their misery. I don't think any of the Garden hooligans had any idea who was just selected. Rider F/C Jason Thompson? That was a Balkman moment, except Isiah didn't draft him for us.

8:47 - Brandon Rush sneaks into the lottery. Wow. That's gonna be pretty confusing for Portland. Brandon Roy. Brandon Rush. Eh, maybe not. It'll be more like "Brandon Roy... nigga on the bench.... Kareem's brother."

8:51 - "With the 14th pick in the NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors select Patrick O'Bryant Anthony Randolph!"

8:57 - Robin Lopez on the Suns over Darrell Arthur? Interesting. Mama Lopez (Let's call her "MaLo") is on double duty tonight. Robin's cap is hanging on for dear life. Great to finally separate the twins.

9:04 - Every mock draft in the universe amd beyond had Marreese Speights going to the Sixers, no shock here.

9:08 - The REAL Patrick Ewing, jr. goes to the Pacers via Toronto. Roy Hibbert's gonna ball. He's also a big, big boy. I think he'll do alright.

9:14 - Nevada's Javale McGee is playing NBA 2K8 at home while Darrell Arthur wishes he had a PSP in the Green Room.

9:20 - Bron-Bron will get J.J. Hickson's Lazy Town ass a workin'. Scrub de ub dub.

9:28 - The Bobcats go with Frenchie here. For all the kids watching, Alexis Ajinca's suit is entirely too damn big. Feel free to pimp it out like Eric Gordon's prom night number, but don't go with the sailboat look, childrens.

9:34 - I don't think the Nets constituency at the WaMu appreciate Ryan Anderson's existence. I think I overhead a cry for Scalabrine's return.

9:39 - Courtney Lee is the truth. He's gonna take people by surprise like Kevin Martin has. (Minus the S-Curl, of course.) I was taken by surprise at Jeff Van Gundy cracking a fat joke on his brother.

9:43 - The Utah Jazz miss out on Roy Hibbert and select Ohio State big man Kosta Doufos. (Say it with me now.)

9:45 - I'm going on a hunger strike until Darrell Arthur's grandma and little brother can finally get to sleep. This Chinese food is just staring at me.

9:50 - The Sonics take yet another African beanstalk in Serge Ibaka.

9:57 - Oh, it's a full-on French fest now. This part of the draft is French to death. Alright. I'll stop. Nicolas Batum, everyone! Welcome to H-Town. Let me pour you a pint of that Weezy Juice.

10:01 - The Spurs just plucked the illest point guard no one has ever heard of. IUPUI's George Hill is a beast and is gonna keep it hot for Tony Longoria-Parker. I don't think there will be any more half-steppin' from the lead guard position over there.

10:09 - Peanut can finally go to bed. Grandma's feets is hurtin'. I found out Darrell Arthur potentially suffers from a kidney disorder. When folks play keepaway with the medical records, teams are gonna get 'ta passin on them. That explains why my roast duck is cold. Now, if we can only get CD-R off the board...

10:10 - Darrell's mom looks like she can drive the fuck out of a truck.

10:23 - D.J. White is exactly the kind of banger Detriot is going to fall in love with. He and Jason Maxiell are gonna represent a proud Bad Boy-ish frontcourt. *clangs Coke bottles together* Baaaaaaad Boyyyyyys. Come out and playyyyyy!

10:24 - They still chant "Fire Isiah" in New York City, in case you were wondering.

10:32 - The Boston Celtics front on Chris Douglas-Roberts, Mario Chalmers and DeAndre Jordan for J.R. Giddens from Albequerque County Jail. Giddens can ball. I'm pretty sure he'll be kept in line by a group of champions. Boston gets the best available talent here. Let's just hope they don't invoke tragedy 20 years after... quite a fucking tragedy.

<End Round 1>

I Didn't Know Chad Ford Liked to Get Wet

The Worldwide Leader thinks The Proud Franchise is going to pass on Jerryd Bayless for the Olive Garden special.

Russell Westbrook ain't the only guard that can take it to the rack.

The final installment of Chad Ford's Mock Draft says Danilo Gallinari's gonna be dead in the middle of Little Italy. Little did he know we're ain't picking a middle man who wouldn't do diddly.

Are we?

I mean it's not like we've ever passed on the sure thing in favor of an overhyped Euro prospect before, right?

Okay, maybe Chad's not on the Sherman Hemsley. Maybe he just knows the Knicks.

The Proud Prospectus - 2008 NBA Draft: Knicks at Six

Like the rest of America's downtrodden, New York Knick fans cast their hopes into a transparent contraption full of marked ping-pong balls on the evening of May 20th.

As we all know, the balls were not kind to them.

With the most exciting lead-guard prospects likely to be long gone before Donnie Walsh gets his turn in the orgy, Gregg Popabitch and I are gonna shoot the shit about some names associated with the Knickerbockers and their *blech* sixth overall selection.

O.J. Mayo (G) - USC, Fr.

Ron Mexico: I just think people were afraid of him because his name is "O.J."

After that Simpson nigga destroyed the surname, I'd rather be known as "Ovinton J'Anthony." (wtf?) Definitely the best offensive talent available after Beasley and Rose are off the board. He might go second! A serious Kwanzaa miracle would have to occur for Mayo to be around at #6. We could call it Miracle on 125th Street. Underrated defensive player. Potential to be D'Antoni's perfect weapon.

Warning: He's not the "engine." (Pop has a Spanish engine plan for next lottery.) I also don't know where he got the money for that car on the SLAM cover.

Gregg Popabitch: Think a more polished and athletic Jam al Crawford. 

Even if Walsh is watching his weight, he still won’t “pass on the mayo”. Terrible puns aside, when it comes to pure basketball talent, he is in the same tier as Rose and Beasley. He knows how to play with the pill like clubbers, shoot like the fiends, and drop dimes like runners. Considering his NCAA violations, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did any of those things. Despite all that, dude is an offensive talent and can scrap on defense too.  He should be gone by the third pick but there could be a miracle if some teams don’t like his baggage or he doesn’t fit a need. 

Popabitch’s Verdict: Want, need, and willing to trade up for. 

Jerryd Bayless (G) - Arizona, Fr.

RM: There's our little caramel engine that could. Perez Hilton spotted him in the mall wearing a green and yellow promise ring, but there's some hope he could fall to #6. Minnesota and Memphis could do some crazy shit, selecting Brook Lopez and Kevin Love, respectively. This is also the only scenario for acquiring Mayo, provided Seattle does some crazy shit and passes on him. Bayless shows no fear going to the basket and has the floor vision to be the engine, even as a "combo guard."

His mentor is Steve Nash. His game is reminiscent of Deron Williams. He is your greatest case against trading down in the draft.

GP: Think a poor man’s Gilbert Arenas. 

What the hell is Lute Olson feeding his guards?  Arizona is a lead guard factory: Damon Stoudamire, Mike Bibby, Gilbert Arenas, and now Bayless. The man is athletic as hell and his range starts as soon as he enters the gym. He might go off in D’Antoni’s system. Only reason I’m not fiending to grab him is because I’m a huge fan of Ricky Rubio and Brandon Jennings (Surprise! He’ll be a freshman at the University of Arizona next year). Both will be available in next year’s draft.  I also wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. That’s right. He’s not a gift horse of the Eight Belles caliber. Haha. What? Too soon?

Popabitch’s Verdict: Want and need.

Brook Lopez (C) - Stanford, So.

GP: Think a very poor man’s Brad Daugherty. 

I don’t want this hippie. Any player that is described as a "very poor man’s" anything should be avoided like bitches with multiple cold sores. He can score pretty well and he’s a pretty solid rebounder but I might be more athletic than him. Knicks have enough unathletic big men that need the ball. Plus his first name can pass as a woman’s. No fucking thank you.

Popabitch’s Verdict: Don’t want, don’t need, and will dig a ditch to bury myself in soon after if drafted by the Knicks.

RM: Do not draft this doofbucket #6 overall. That is all.

Danilo Gallinari (F/G) - Italy

GP: Think Toni Kukoc.

Dude’s name sounds like an entree at the Olive Garden, but dude can ball. He can shoot, create his own shot, and has the potential to be a point forward in the NBA. That hole at SF is a glaring one for the Knicks and he could definitely fit into D’Antoni's style of play. One glaring weakness is that he doesn’t play very good defense. So he’d probably fit right in. 

Popabitch’s Verdict: Need but not necessarily want.

RM: See: Brook Lopez. Oh, I'm kidding, Luigi. He's not nearly as doofy. He's more like a doofbasket. I do see some talent in the one YouTube tribute he's got circulating out there.

He did put in an All-Star First Team season in a very competitive league for Armani Jeans Milano. That's pretty impressive. I'm sure Jerry Colangelo agrees.

If one more writer refers to him as an "Italian LeBron," I might go O.J. Mayo on a nigga. I haven't figured out what that would entail yet, but damn. LeBron's got 50 pounds of muscle over this box of linguine... and another 200 pounds of talent. I've even heard the "N"-word thrown around (Nowitzki).

Kevin Love (F/C) - UCLA, Fr.

RM: Some might consider Love a David Lee-type with a better all-around game. I'll fill you in on a secret. They make that comparison because they're both white. He's a bit lumbersome on the run. I know Love can shoot, actually hustles on the block and won't be a black hole on offense, but... Alright, I could live with Donnie selecting him. But only if he's moving one of the Klump Brothers and, of course, neither Mayo nor Bayless is available.

GP: Think a taller Carlos Boozer.

Yeah, that’s right. I might be the first analyst in NBA Draft history ever to compare a white man to a black man. Not since the days of “Pistol” Pete Maravich and Jason “White Chocolate” Williams have we seen such a thing as this. We are breaking barriers here at TheProudFranchise.com.  Love is a beast inside, can rebound extremely well, can pass extremely well, and can’t play defense worth a French Lick. (Like what I did there?) I think "a shorter Bill Walton with less defense,” but in this situation, you wouldn’t be comparing him to a black guy. Where’s the fun in that?

Would love to have him in a Knick uniform but we already seem to have a glut at big man. A "glut" is a good way to describe Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph in that they both practice gluttony on a regular basis. I hate them.

Popabitch’s Verdict: Want but don’t need.

Russell Westbrook (G) - UCLA, So.

RM: I think Westbrook is a great look if they trade down to #11 or so. #6 overall is way too high for a kid who can't shoot and whose lapses of judgment may not exactly be what Coach D'Antoni is looking for. Yes, he's a lockdown defender. He can run and jump. He'd do incredible things on the AND1 Tour. No one can teach him how to find the open man when he's unwisely trying to host his Garden Tea Parties.

Best Case Scenario: Rajon Rondo. Worst Case Scenario: Smush Parker. I don't think the risk/reward on this guy is sufficient for going so high.

Eric Gordon (G) - Indiana, Fr.

RM: I wouldn't mind seeing this guy waste away in a Knick uniform. A month before the NCAA tournament Gordon was widely considered a top-3 collegiate player. After a turblent season he reveals that he'd been playing with a fractured right wrist. Playing hurt through the septic tank explosion of a season that was his freshman campain at Indiana speaks volumes about the kid's drive. I can't speak for his integrity, though.

With our luck he'd get drafted by the Knicks and walk up to the podium wearing a Pacers cap.

GP: Think a bigger and more athletic Ben Gordon.

He can shoot and is crazy athletic in that he's really strong and has ups. However he doesn’t drive enough and tends to fall in love with his jump shot. The jumper comment describes all the backcourt players on the Knicks (and some of the frontcourt guys). Also, anytime I compare someone to Ben Gordon, I’m probably not that impressed. 

Popabitch’s Verdict: Don’t want and don’t need.

D.J. Augustin (G) - Texas, So.

GP: Think Damon Stoudamire.

Man can play the fuck out of the point but there’s a 67% chance that I might be taller than him.  Muggsy Bogues could probably post Augustin up. Verne Troyer might look normal when standing next to dude. When you ask a friend to lend you money and he says “I’m a little short,” your friend might be D.J. Augustin.

Thank you people, I’ll be here all night. 

Popabitch’s Verdict: Need but don’t really want.

RM: I know he's a little vertically challenged, but I've been watching this kid like the new guy in the prison shower. Well not that closely, but I know Augsutin can run a show. The Katrina survivor's not gonna bring New York a dunk contest championship, but he's definitely gonna dime it off to the open man on the break. Much like undersized and acronym-named Longhorn PG of the past, T.J. Ford, Augustin puts his diminutive frame on the line nightly and goes to the rack as hard as a player twice his size (say, Derrick Rose).

P.S.: His jumper's much better than Ford's. P.S.S.: He and Chris Paul are about the same size.

Anthony Randolph (F) - LSU, Fr.

GP: Think Lamar Odom.

This kid can do a lot of things with the basketball. But he’s way too skinny. His intinerary need to include an entire month of dinner at Outback Steakhouse with Carnie Wilson. 

Popabitch’s Verdict: Need but will only want if he hires Victor Conte as his nutritionist.

RM: I don't see Chris Bosh in this kid. I see Stromile Swift Tyrus Thomas. I do agree with the analysts who envision the other Randolph playing a Shawn Marion type of role in Coach D's framework.

Joe Alexander (F) - West Virginia , Ju.

RM: This is the guy that makes me wish we were picking a few spots lower and moving a contract to do so. How often do you find a shooter that's also a hustler? I'll wait. Sure, they exist, but it's not so easy to dig one out. You'd be digging all the way to Chi--

Eh. Pop, take it away.

GP: Think Tom Chambers.

Knicks have no real small forwards at this point unless you really believe in Wilson Chandler, which Ronnie does. Alexander is a small forward that is athletic as fucking hell, long, can shoot, play defense, and works hard. Plus he’s fluent in Mandarin so you know he can get his hands on some good Asian poontang. It’d be hilarious to walk through Chinatown and by happenstance catch Joe Alexander walking into a massage parlour. It’d be more hilarious to see Stephon Marbury following in after him. It’d be most hilarious to see Chinese interns popping up at MSG. You know where this is going...

Popabitch’s verdict: Want and need.

Editor's Note: Underclass forward-centers DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M, Fr.) and Marreese Speights (Florida, So.) are potential trade-down targets should Donnie Walsh find a taker. DeAndre Jordan is not Dwight Howard. Stop that shit. I can smell Michael Sweetney/Ike Diogu all over this Speights guy.

XXLMag.com | Negro Please: Shaq Just Kidding, Doesn't Care to Know Ass Flavor?

“You know how I be.
Last week Kobe couldn’t do without me.
You know how I be.
Last week Kobe couldn’t do without me.

I call myself ‘Big,’ but I’m not as good as Biggie.
I call myself ‘Big’ ’cause I live next to Diddy.
Excuse me. Diddy lives next to me.
So in the hood, dog, I feel like Big.
‘Cause if Biggie was still here
He would be right there.
On Star Island in a mansion somewhere
Chillin. Sittin on about half a billion.
Cuz me and Gunz combine shit. That’s half a billion.
For real dog, Now that’s BIG.
And can’t nobody in the world do it bigger than me.
That’s like a white boy trynna be more nigga than me.
That’s like a homeless man havin more figures than me.
That’s like Patrick Ewing havin more rings than me.
That’s like rappers havin cars… things than me.
That’s like you sayin to yourself you better than me.
That’s like Kareem sayin to hisself he better than me.
Now stop. Think about that.
It ain’t about that.
It’s about BIG AKA Big Shaq.
Now, that’s the difference between first and last place.
Kobe. Nigga. Tell me how my ass taste.

Okay.
Kobe, tell me how my ass taste.
Okay. Everybody.
Kobe, tell me how my ass taste.

I’m a horse.
Kobe ratted me out.
That’s why I’m getting divorced.
He said Shaq gave a bitch a mil.
I don’t do that. ‘Cause my names ‘Shaquille.’
I love ‘em. But I don’t leave ‘em.
I got a vasectomy, now I can’t breed ‘em.

Kobe, how my ass taste?
Everybody. Kobe, how my ass taste?
Yeah!

You couldn’t do without me.
Kobe, you couldn’t do without me.
Kobe, you can’t do without me.
Everybody. Kobe how my ass tastes?

Yeah. You can’t do without me.
Yeah. You can’t do without me.
Yeah. You can’t do without me.
Everybody! Kobe…

Crowd: Tell me how my ass taste!!!

Yeah. Thank you. Brick City in the building.”

-Shaquille O’Neal, Freestyle @ Village Underground

I thought a transcript might prove helpful for anyone (like myself) who may have undergone a little shell-shock watching Sunday night’s installment of the newest Negro Channel reality program, Shaq Fu: Can’t Stay Away.

BET cameras lazily follow Shaq around malls, strip malls, strip clubs, club clubs and pep rallies… all while he should be preparing for the upcoming season.

Obviously Black Announcer: This week, The Diesel pops some shit at Kobe.

Couldn’t you see it now? It’d be just like Keyshia Cole’s shit. Wayyyy better than College Hill.

(Continue reading "XXLMag.com | Negro Please: Shaq Just Kidding, Doesn't Really Care to Know Ass Flavor?")

I'm With You, K.G.

Man, I really thought Kevin Garnett and Michele Tafoya were gonna grind to a full-on makeout session there. Needless to say, I'm disappointed. The two have been flirting and exuding the jungle love radiation all season long now. I thought I was trippin before but now, I'm not so sure.

If Michele were smart, she'd take advantage of his euphoria at this point. Just go with it, girl. Get that Big Ticket.

I was genuinely afraid watching this post-game interview. K.G.'s reminding me of my smacked-out uncle, Ray. Homeboy is rocking, weaving, crying, clamoring incoherently and kissing leprechauns square on the foreskin.

I don't know if I ever want to be a champion now.

I'm not breakin rocks here. The Kid has finally won the NBA Finals. He can kiss whatever balls he wants. Mama Peanut is plenty proud.

Hey, Michele. You look good, girl. Holler when I get to Bristol.

As The Garden Turns: Vol. 1

[By Gregg Popabitch, TPF Senior Writer]

Some Random NBA/NY Knicks notes:

 

-Tim Donaghy mentioned yesterday in a letter that other NBA refs were involved in fixing playoff basketball games as ordered by top executives by the NBA. I don't believe this one bit. If the NBA were fixing games they would've fixed the NBA lottery in 2002, 2003 and this year so the Knicks would've gotten the number 1 overall selections and taken Yao Ming, Lebron James, and Derrick Rose respectively.

If the NBA were fixing things, they could've fixed the Isiah/Knicks situation in the bud a loooooooooooong time ago. So, color me a skeptic.

-Would you want this guy running the point for your basketball team?

Gilbert Arenas opted out of his contract yesterday and will officially become a free agent July 1st. I'm sure Knick fans are dreaming up possibilities where Hibachi becomes a New York Knickbocker. I'm not sure if I am, however. I'm a huge fan of the guy but the Knicks have had enough problems with shoot-first point guards during the (wait for it) STEPHON MARBURY ERA. Plus, the competition for blogging about the Knicks is tough enough as it is already. I don't need Gilbert hedging in on my territory.

-Kobe Bryant jumping over a pool of snakes? Big deal. I've seen video footage of people from India doing crazier shit with snakes. I'd be more impressed with video footage of David Stern jumping over a pool of refs including one Tim Donaghy.

That would be impressive.

-Gregg Popabitch

Labels: david stern, derrick rose, gilbert arenas, isiah thomas, kobe bryant, lebron james, new york knicks, stephon marbury, tim donaghy, yao ming

Magic Johnson KFC Commercial

I bet he blamed the chicken, too.