fishmike:

Ewing left everything on the floor everytime he played

Literally. The man sweat like Niagra Falls.

I co-sign your post, BTW. Well said.

i don't think Isiah ever made that comment, but anyway...

a true Knick:



a Wanksta Knick:

Posted by fishmike:

not winning a title hurts, but it doesnt mean your not a winner. To me its as simple as a player I can be proud to say I'm a fan of.
Spree was knucklehead but his took pride in his play
Houston was a choir boy but his clutch shooting spoke for itself
Ewing left everything on the floor everytime he played
Oakley.. see Ewing. Never took crap, made sure you know who owned the paint
Starks was out of control at times, but it was because he was so intense. He hated losing, hated being beaten by anyone

Few people killed Kurt around here more than myself, but he played as hard as anyone. He came into camp ready to play. He worked hard to add more range on that jumper, so slim down or beef up as his role dictated. He was a true pro.. just not franchise frontcourt player, which was what we needed.

Ward had no talent. I mean he was PG that couldnt pass or dribble, but he hit some big 3's and played his tail off on D. That was something you could be proud of.

All those guys observed the no layup rule!

Nobody called other players Fugazi from the injured list!

Nobody scowled when help D didnt come after they got burned off dribble, or wrote all alone on their sneakers.

None of them quit on their coach, despite the league's most grueling practices and the most boring offenses

Pretty straightforward for this fan... nobody talked about "talent" they went out and played harder than the other team.

I agree with some of what you said, but I can see some ways things are not quite as romantic as they may seem.

I have to disagree with the notion that none of those players sabatoged the coach, especially Ewing (who is my favorite Knick, btw), when things didn't go their way. Ewing essentially had Don Nelson fired, when he had the offense go through Mason in 1995-1996 season.

Let's not re-write history here, or ignore all of the naysayer Knick fans that existed during those days because they thought the team would never get over the hump or that Ewing was a "black hole" or that Ward, and co. were ruining the team because of their lack of talent. After Ewing left this team had plenty of "hard workers" but were awful as well.

I have zero amount of nostalgia for the ShandonEisleySpoon/Layden days which preceeded today's team, and were an hommage to the old Knick traditions of "hard working/blue collar" players. Those teams were not only bad but boring as hell to watch and had no chance of suddenly being a contender. I'm not saying that I even like everything about the current team, but this "true Knick" thing is flat out ridiculous.

It's the same nonsense that goes around about A-Rod not being a Yankee and other examples of this kind of NY fan arrogance that drive me nuts, even as a lifetime NYer.

Marbury nor Isiah may do the right thing, but they are Knicks, whether you like them or not. Sure, I have BIG problems with some of what they have done, and might be ready to see them go, if they can't prove themselves this season, but let's not over-romanticize some of the way things were then because plenty of people were unhappy and complaining then about many of those guys, and the Knicks.

In fairness, it was probably better then, I certainly agree with you in that regard, and that many of those guys did play with heart and intensity that seems to be missing from too many Knicks now. I guess I just grow tired of the purely negative comments from some who appear to have a purely defeatest attitude of the team. I can see why that is, and I have been critical of the team but in the end I hope all of us would like to see this team win, even if it with the guys we have now.

To me true Knick is a player, or couch, or executive, or broadcaster who has the passion for the Knicks team and Knicks fans positioned in fron of their pesonal egos.
This thread mentioned a lot of players in the past who was putting things this way. And this was easy to see.

Now it is a problem to even get into this attitude as the people who ruling the organization have their personal ego on the first and sometimes only place.
IT, Dolan, Marbs, Francis, Jrose are together not by chance. They are in same place because they are only concerned about tehmselves not the Knicks no metter what they are tolking about. This is easy to see.

look, you can knock Ewing for going to management about those coaches. But there's one thing you cant take away from Ewing, and thats he never stopped playing hard. He didnt quit on any of those coaches like Marbury quit on Brown and Lenny, like TMac quit on Doc Rivers, like Francis quit on JVG and the Magic last year.

As for Ewing threatening to go to Wash so what? Its every players right to get the most $$ they can when their contracts are being negotiated. For god sakes Bernie almost became a Red Sock. Franchises and owners have ZERO loyalty to players. When it comes to a chance to improve their team they will take it.

Ewing was a true franchise player, because no matter who he played with or for that team was going to the playoffs and advancing. Ewing never quit playing hard, and he was always prepared and in shape to start a season.

Can Marbury say the same? Can Francis?

^^^ and you play for your team! How selfish to the other guys for you to quit to further a personal agenda. THATS what ruins seasons. Why should Eddy crash the boards or move his feet on defense if Franbury are dogging it out there? Would you throw your body around for a bunch of guys that werent giving you the same respect?

Here are a few things that I think are traits of a true Knick. Mind you, a player may not always adhere to every trait but for the most part I think these hold true for most people who you would consider a true Knick.

Plays hard all the time, leaving it all on the floor.

Respects the Knicks organization and fans.

Doesn't embarrass the team, win or lose.

Puts the team's goals ahead of his own personal achievement.

Represents the team in a professional manner.

A few people who I consider true Knicks:

Willis Reed
Walt Frazier
Bill Bradley
Dave DeBusschere
Dick Barnett
Earl Monroe
Red Holzman
Bill Cartwright
Marvin Webster
Bernard King
Trent Tucker
Patrick Ewing
Allan Houston
Charles Oakley
John Starks
Gerald Wilkins
Derek Harper
Jeff Van Gundy
Ken "The Animal" Bannister

[Edited by - islesfan on 10-20-2006 7:28 PM]