http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/58858.htm

NATE, MALIK WASH AWAY FIGHT

December 16, 2005 -- ATLANTA — The showering of boos the Knicks received Wednesday night vs. Orlando was almost as nasty as the fight the team had while showering.
Rookie Nate Robinson and Malik Rose tried to play down their wild screaming match late Wednesday night in the shower, though they yelled so loud reporters were able to hear the commotion all the way inside the Garden locker room, even after a Knicks staffer shut the door.

When reporters were let into the Westchester gym after practice yesterday, Rose and Robinson were together on a side court, rebounding each other's free throws. Clearly, this was no coincidence, as the organization looked to make light of the awkward incident.

Though the shouting revolved around a towel, Rose, who owns the team's best sense of humor, claimed the argument actually ensued over a lost $2 football bet he refuses to pay Robinson.

"It's been a tough season for me," said Rose, a Philadelphia native. "It's hard for me being an Eagles fan. We bet on the Monday night game (Eagles-Seahawks). And I don't think I should have to pay for it because all my guys are injured.

"Nate tried to jump on me thinking he had the advantage on me. Nate wanted his money."

Yeah, right. Robinson, who is from Seattle, also got into an oncourt skirmish with teammate Jerome James during training camp.


Someone should tell Nate to STFU already. Rookies are meant to be seen and not heard. This little s*** is really starting to annoy me. I'm so sick of his preening when he does something good and his "I didn't do anything wrong" expressions when he screws up, which is more often than when he does something good. And his little Mutumbo act every single time he commits a foul is extremely tiresome.

He's way to c0cky and arrogant for a rookie, or any player for that matter, and I wouldn't mind seeing someone knocking him down a notch or three.

As much as Nate has recieved my criticism, he has been one of 2 guys that constantly play their hardest out on the court. I don't mind his ****iness, at his height you need it in the NBA and it has gotten him to where he is. Malik loves Nate, you can tell when Malik and Nate are always talking on the court coming into timeouts, they had a spat and I expect these types of thigns to happen when the team is 6-15.

I dunno. I've seen several plays where calls have been made against him that were, indeed, bad calls. And I agree Slim, he does fess up, even to the refs, when he f's up.

Nate's attitude makes him who he is. If he tones it down, you'd have the rest of the heartless players on our team.

Nate has recieved about 3 bad calls, the one against him on Nash being the most egregious. But he argues every call even when he is blatantly wrong. I believe part of the reason Nate plays with the energy and intensity that he does is because he is concerned with his individual play. One game we were down like 14 he comes in and makes an And 1, and starts celebrating screaming. I'm looking at him like: Doggy, just make the free throw and shut up. We are down 12, what is all of the celebration about? You made a nice play and we are still losing by alot.

He is a rookie with the arrogance of AI, without any of his skills. He's gotta calm down, but he has had some good games for us this season.

Posted by islesfan:

I think it was the Pistons game where Billups started to hound Nate until he turned the ball over right by the Pistons bench. The game was way out of hand already but the Pistons bench got up and started going crazy. That's the type of reputation he's building around the league.

He's a pest. It works for him and against him. No one in the league likes Bruce Bowen, but he's been pretty effective. I agree he should tone down the arguing with refs. But this thing with Malik sounded like a bit of a joke. And, hey, I'm glad someone is trying to slap Jerome James.

Larry Brown loves Nate, probably more than anyone on the team. Get used to him.

He is one of those kids you can’t live with and you can’t live without.