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fishmike
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http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/53989.htm
KNICKS FIGHTIN' MAD
By ANDREW MARCHAND
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November 6, 2005 -- Nate Robinson wanted a piece of Jerome James yesterday. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Robinson didn't look as if he cared that he gave 100 pounds to the 7-foot James.
The smallest Knick and the biggest wanted to fight in the middle of practice yesterday at the team's training facility.
After lunging at each other, the two had to be separated a couple of times by teammates and coaches. When the altercation finally ended without any punches being unleashed, Robinson walked to a side court, took off his shirt and was consoled by Quentin Richardson and Eddy Curry.
By the end of practice, the two were making up with a hug.
After a PR tutorial, everyone involved said it was no big deal. Larry Brown said, "Nothing happened," but he was wrong. The Knicks were finally showing a little fight.
The Knicks, of course, have bigger issues than if James and Robinson are best friends. At 0-2, they have an important game this afternoon against the Warriors at the Garden (MSG, WABC, 1 p.m.). If they lose today, they could snowball into an ugly start, with their next six games out west, starting Wednesday in Portland.
To a man, the players played down the must-win aspect of tonight's third game, but they are aware of the schedule and know things could turn real negative in a hurry.
"It would be good to get a win, period," Stephon Marbury said.
Yesterday, the Knicks also played down the near fisticuffs between the rookie Robinson and the veteran James, who said it was just "competition," a line parroted by all involved.
No one would completely confirm the details of what happened, but Robinson said it had something do with the disappearance of Nate's lunch. Later, the two nearly came to blows.
James said when he looked down and saw Robinson charging at him, he was "laughing" in his mind.
"I love little Nate, and his mother's cooking" said James, emphasizing how the two ultimately made up.
To express his love even further, James predicted that with Brown's coaching, Robinson will become one of the best point guards in the NBA.
Robinson said it was just "friendly competition."
"At first when it happened, I was like, 'This is my teammate,' " said Robinson, who played football as well as basketball at Washington. "It was competition. They [James' team] were kicking our butts. There were so many things running through my mind, then I really looked at him and said, 'This is Jerome James. I'm tripping.' We have to worry about the other teams that are kicking our butts."
As for the state of the Knicks, James pretty much summed up the mood.
"I'm not panicking," James said. "I don't think the team is panicking. I know the coaching staff and the management isn't panicking. It is a new situation, new players, new coach, what do you guys expect? I guarantee once we get our fluidity and unity together, we are going to be a tough team to deal with."
*
Eddy Curry has a strained calf, but is expected to play today.
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
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11/6/2005 11:50 AM
