4

A few years back, I remember visiting a training camp and watching a feisty, talented rookie with an an incredible swagger. He was young, stayed out too late and liked to drink his beer on occassion. The knock on him was that he didn't take the game seriously enough. He played with a boyish enthusiasm. But the young man had a charismatic aura about him. He defied pain in college and was a winner. He was strong willed and had a rifle arm. Everything he did resonated with a diferent beat than his surrounding cast.

Bear in mind, this was his rookie season. He played sparingly. No one had a clue of what he was to become as he sat and watched. At the end of the season he was traded for spare parts and packed his duffle bags for Green Bay, Wisconsin.

His name was Brett Favre.

The point being, one may critique our enthuisastic employee number four for the same boyish joy, unbridled energy and permanent swagger. He danced like no one was watching during pregame warmups in Atlanta.

The kid loves the game and Knicks fans know... In a few years, the game just might love him back.

[Edited by - MisterEarl on 12-27-2005 09:10 AM]

[Edited by - MisterEarl on 12-27-2005 09:12 AM]

just get his head to the same place his heart and energy is and we're looking at a VERY important piece off the bench.

I was critical of Nate early on (a lot of us were) because he seemed so wild that he was hurting the team a lot when he was in the ball game. However, he has improved so much during the course of the season. What he did last night was just incredible. What really did it for me though was the hard foul. I really think we have to keep the kid after what he did last night. He is a classic Knick player. He can play defense, he plays with energy, and he is tough. This kid is untouchable right now in my book unless a Lebron or Wade suddenly becomes available.

[Edited by - s3231 on 12-27-2005 09:52 AM]

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by s3231:

This kid is untouchable right now in my book unless a Lebron or Wade suddenly becomes available.

[Edited by - s3231 on 12-27-2005 09:52 AM]

It's amazing how some people overvalue role players.

And as for his hard foul last night, the foul was fine. Him throwing Vaughn to the ground was incredibly stupid. Why incite the other team when you're making a run? I swear Nate is one of the dumbest players I've ever seen (Hey, I'm 5'7, let me make an important inbounds pass) and when you combine that with the fact that he's so obnoxiously arrogant it's not a good thing.

I don't overvalue our players. Hell, I wouldn't be pissed if we traded Nate for Artest (I said I would a couple of weeks ago and I still would right now in the right deal). I was reaching when I said I wouldn't trade him unless a Lebron or Wade became available, but my point was we really shouldn't trade him unless a very good deal comes up. On a team of puss*es, Nate is one of the few tough guys we have.