Posted by TMS:

what happens when the agents of past players who were dissed by Isiah are representing players that the Knicks could potentially be recruiting somewhere down the road? do you think it doesn't matter then?

again, it's not the feelings of Shandon Anderson or Don Chaney that i could give 2 sh!ts about here...it's the negative image put on the Knicks & the potential future repurcussions like i outlined above.

[Edited by - TMS on 10/03/2004 23:55:09]

Tell that to old Georgie over in the Bronx and I'll believe you.

All very good points to consider on this subjective matter.

Perhaps Isiah can handle some things a little better. Management should always rise above the petty things.

Professionalism starts at the top.

This is not the end of the world!

http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/29702.htm

ISIAH CAN'T LEAVE SHANDON STANDIN'

PETER VECSEY

October 5, 2004 --

CHARLESTON — If it's such a great honor to wear a New York uniform, as Isiah Thomas preached to Shandon Anderson last Friday through the media, how come he decided to retire when the Pistons traded him to the Knicks rather than try it on for size?

Through full fault of his own, Anderson couldn't be less coveted coming into this season. His concrete contract ($24 million for the next three years) and inconsequential contribution since arriving in New York virtually render him un-adoptable. Yet Thomas, by publicizing Anderson's insubordination (blowing off an end-of-the-year meeting with his boss) has managed to devalue him further.

As we all know, players disrespect executives and coaches all the time, but for the good of the franchise it's critical to keep such effrontery in house and deal with it accordingly.

After losing to the Pistons last season, Al Harrington (following the advise of double agent Andy Miller, who's somehow openly allowed to represent both NBA players and coaches) and Ron Artest left Indianapolis without meeting with either Donnie Walsh and/or Rick Carlisle.

The Pacers handled the players' impudence by fining each $5G. In light of Harrington's bad attitude and low decibel demand to be traded and desire to become a first offensive option elsewhere, Walsh deported him to Atlanta, the NBA's elephant burial ground where Al expects to find true happiness as the leading scorer for an isolated eyesore.

Astonishing no one, Thomas' approach to Anderson's insult was fractionally more flagrant. Galloping toward fights is his style, not walking away from them. It's almost commendable to take on a Michael Jordan, a Magic Johnson, a Larry Bird, an Adrian Dantley or a David Falk. Showing how tough you can be with a fringe player is alarmingly less quixotic, especially when you're hoping to solicit some kind of compensation for him.

When it became brutally apparent the Knicks were stuck with the tab, Thomas escalated the petty feud to extremes by ordering Anderson not to report to camp. That would've meant paying off the entire $24M. Although that command was quickly rescinded Thomas was still smoldering at last week's press conference.

Having been notified by agent Dan Fegan that his client will not agree to be placed on the injured list and having come to the realization it's impossible to unload Anderson, it appears Thomas figured he might as well unload on him.

Yes, Anderson's snub earned Thomas' contempt. Was Anderson's belated apology on Thomas' cell phone sincere? What do you think? Is Anderson vastly overpaid and appreciably extraneous? So what!

There's no way that their frivolous conflict should be spiraling into something remotely so distractingly controversial.

The longer it's allowed to fester, the more likely innocent bystanders will be suckered (on or off the record) into the skirmish; already I hear Kurt Thomas is repeating things to the media that Thomas confided to him regarding Shandon.

The longer Anderson remains a distraction, the harder it'll be for the Knicks to get down to the business of playing and thinking winning (dare we go that far?) team basketball. The longer Anderson remains a Knick, the easier it'll be for Thomas to undermine himself — his goals, influence, magnetism.

If I'm Thomas, I terminate this fiasco immediately. Without wasting another moment I get Fegan on the phone and arrange a buyout of Anderson's contract. Save as much face as possible by securing the best possible discount, but finalize the deal before today's first practice. Not so long ago, this might've been the worst-case scenario, now it's the only one.

If permitted to hang around this is what can happen: Back in the Knicks' prehistoric days ('91) a guy named Mark Jackson found himself in a somewhat similar situation.

Deemed an undesirable by Al Bianchi, the GM and coach John MacLeod belittled and humiliated their point god at practice one afternoon in front of his teammates. The scheme was to provoke Jackson into a fight in order to void his contract and get rid of him.

MacLeod was fired in May after that season. Bianchi was fired a couple months before in March.

Its amazing that people still want to defend Isiah here and say that he's done nothing wrong. Yeah, it's all Shandon and Isiah is just an innocent bystander in all of this. That must be some pretty strong Kool-Aid.

I'm negative when I said that the Knicks have improved to a 45 win caliber team? One that would be a first or second round playoff team? I said they've upgraded their talent level so how is that negative?

Why do people just read what they want to read instead of taking it all in.

Posted by djsunyc:

b/c I HATE YOU

45 wins sounds about right

Cmon Islesfan

ONE OF US ONE OF US ONE OF US
JOIN THE FAMILY... THE FAMILY

Posted by islesfan:

Its amazing that people still want to defend Isiah here and say that he's done nothing wrong. Yeah, it's all Shandon and Isiah is just an innocent bystander in all of this. That must be some pretty strong Kool-Aid.

Read my post,nalod's post and you will see that your statement is not all true..

[Edited by - tkf on 10/05/2004 15:25:02]

Posted by Nalod:

Drink it, it is good. You'll forget Tapscott, Laydog, you'll forget fatspoon, Eisley, and even Shandon. Even if he plays.

Drink the sweet and tasty drink. Refreshes what ail's you.

Be one of us, why fight. you will be one of us. You will be loved. Join the group. why fight, you must be so tired, so tired, so sleepy. Would it not be so easy to just take a sip and everything you hate will turn to love, peacefull feelings, and the love from "THE Father". THE FAther will love you too! He will buy out your hate, he will trade your hate, and he will do so with the creaters money.

The father does not care how much it costs, just that there is love!

The creater has endless money! Endless money means THE Father can do anything he wants.

There you go, just a sip! Join us, it is good, THE father is good, and the Creater is all knowing, all spending, and will buy your love.

Sometimes I read your posts Nalod and I think instead of drinking the Kool Aid, you smoke that wacky tabacky.

Posted by islesfan:

tkf, I didn't mean to suggest that everybody was defending the indefensible Isiah here. Just shocked that even a few seem to think that Isiah is some kind of innocent bystander in all of this.

i would never say innocent bystander. But I would say it's a much smaller deal than a lot of people are making it out to be. Whatever their differences were last year, Shandon got a major chance to shine in the playoffs last year. He wasn't benched out of spite. He wan't held out from helping the team if he had been able to. WHatever has happened between he and Isiah has led to real bad feelings on both sides, yes better to keep it quiet when possible, but when not it's not the end of the world nor do i think it's going to harm this team. Shandon would be at best 11th man this year, nothing camae out till every chance at trading him had been exhausted. I'll tell you what - once the season starts if the Knicks get off strong, do you think a single person is going to post, "Yeah but before we celebrate anything remember what Isiah did to Shandon . . ."