http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/31479.htm


November 18, 2005 -- SO nice of Isiah Thomas to grace the Knicks in Los Angeles with his conscientious presence after his team had beaten two stumblebums (Kings and Jazz) in a row.
So nice of him suddenly to show up undisguised for a nationally televised game and leak to the legions the news his roster isn't perfect.

So nice of the rigger to agree with the jumper whose chute he packed that it's only partially deployed.

Hours before Larry Brown's flawed Knicks had their winning streak shattered by Phil Jackson's flawed Lakers Wednesday, Thomas slyly rationalized "every roster is flawed, unless you win a championship."

Lumping his lumps in with the other 28 non-titlists is a pity party not worth crashing. It's like placing a diamond with a slight imperfection in the same jewelry box as the faux baubles and thinking any self-respectin' rapper can't bring the bling.

That's not the only silliness Thomas was selling Wednesday night at the Office Supply Store. He came up for oxygen long enough to solemnly swear last week's report in this space - claiming teams have been advised of Stephon Marbury's availability - is erroneous.

Even Bye-Ron Scott got a chuckle over that priceless repudiation.



On the other hand, the media at large, caught up in its customary battle fatigue to differentiate fact from fiction, took a long swig of Thomas' Kool-Aid. His unflinching denial was merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily (life is but a dream) publicized, as if Thomas is about to acknowledge he's trying to pawn off his poisonous pet fawn, or admit Brown is instigating the attempted purging. Camp Cablevision's James Dolan should've used his franchise's one-time luxury tax exception (covering the current collective bargaining agreement) on Marbury instead of Jerome Williams when it had the opportunity to save a fortune and a wealth of aggravation.

Barring a return to the league by Shawn Kemp's uncle Bob Whitsitt, it appears Marbury (and his $57 million over the next three seasons) isn't going anywhere soon. Consequently, Brown's mission is to make Marbury as miserable as possible by insisting he become the best point guard on the Knicks.

Meanwhile, we're all making too big a deal about Kobe outscoring Marbury, 42-4; Stephon, for instance. As yesterday's stark sound bites confirm, he's not all that interested in learning to be a team player. In fact, it may be against his religion, as many who've played with him attest. News Flash: Converting to off guard so he can manufacture points for himself is where Marbury is coming from. Let someone else worry about creating for those who can't, a brain drizzle Brown finds unappealing.

All may not be quiet on the western front, but the bulletins aren't all bad. At least Marbury's selfishness is finally out in the open. I would've hated to be the one to out him. From where I'm cackling, I see only one negative in all this: Lost in Marbury's outburst and the melancholy of the Knicks' seismic momentum shift while in L.A. is the encouraging detail that Stephon came within six points of Smush Parker.

I don't want to appear too judgmental, but the winning coach in the juggernaut between the two fabled franchises that in all likelihood will miss the spring prom has got to be Red Auerbach.



Great article, especially the first 5 paragraphs.

I knew I should have copyrighted my Kool-Aid remark as it applies to Isiah.

[Edited by - islesfan on 11-18-2005 1:23 PM]

this article sux.

What does this even mean?

Even Bye-Ron Scott got a chuckle over that priceless repudiation.

Maybe because it's another of Pete Vescey's snotty digs at the team we are fans of. That punk needs to go somewhere and kiss an unwiped ass, for real.

Vescey is a hater who primarily caters to pessimists.

Isles, now's a nice time to clean that framed autographed picture you have of him. You know, the one next to the framed pic of Chad Fraud.

this guy doesnt even follow the team

You know half the time i don't know what Peter Vecesy is talking about. I just read his articles because they are basketball related. But when I'm reading his articles I always get zoned out in the middle then find myself at the end of the article with no idea on what he was talking about. All I manage to comprehend from his articles are BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH......

Trust me, when you are busy at work, it coincides with knick wins, and I'm not paying attention, I just notice the lack of negativity in the postings.

Nothing more, nothing less.

This is about the time you throw in a personal dig.

So, allow me to be first. fatty.

Posted by boomann:

You know half the time i don't know what Peter Vecesy is talking about. I just read his articles because they are basketball related. But when I'm reading his articles I always get zoned out in the middle then find myself at the end of the article with no idea on what he was talking about. All I manage to comprehend from his articles are BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH......

It's called adult onset Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD.

sometimes vescey is right but sometimes hes wrong I dont think there anyway to tell. although I do agree that marbury isnt a PG by nature.