March 18, 2008
Reasons I hate these Knicks (and one big reason to watch them)
I recently spoke to a prominent agent who couldn’t wait to tell me that someone from the Knicks crack media relations staff called to tell him not to talk to me anymore because “Frank doesn’t like the Knicks.”

The agent asked me what I thought about such unprofessional behavior and my response was, “Yes, I know the geek who told you that. And yes, I don’t like the Knicks…these Knicks.”

And this is why:

• The team I grew up rooting for has become a running joke.

• Few in the organization care about the team’s history.

• Patrick Ewing doesn’t work for them.

• They have had seven straight losing seasons.

• James Dolan once said that “the worst year yet” was 1999; yes the year they reached the NBA Finals.

• Isiah Thomas thinks he’s doing a great job.

• Stephon Marbury thinks he’s done nothing wrong.

• They don’t play defense.

• They ripped out the Marty Glickman radio booth for the sake of the almighty dollar.

• Few of the players have earned the fat contracts they’ve received.

• They are 19-48 in an Eastern Conference that except for three teams – Boston, Detroit and Cleveland – has to be the worst ever. How can the Knicks not even be in playoff contention in mid-March?

Yes, I must confess, I hate the Knicks. These Knicks.

Something tells me I’m not alone.

***

There are still a few good reasons to go to the Garden. First round pick Wilson Chandler is getting more minutes. The Magic and Celtics both come to town in April.

But I must confess, I go as much for Padma Lakshmi (pictured above) as I do for the basketball. The host of Top Chef and the former wife of controversial author Salman Rushdie has been a frequent visitor to Knick home games. Good for the Knicks, good for everyone else in attendance. Padma is beyond stunning. She is the real deal.

So let me get this straight; she likes basketball, has a thing for writers and she cooks. The line forms behind me boys.

Posted by nysportsfan11:

If he hates these Knicks so much, he should have been more appreciative of the Ewing years instead of railing against the guy for his icey relationship with the media. But a lot of people, fans and media included, didn't realize what they had until it was gone.

Other than that and his scary grill, I like Frank. I disagree with his opinions very often and he sounds a little fatal attraction-ish when he goes off on his "They Hate Me" rants about the Knicks media staff and Dolan. However, he's honest and isn't just another groupie with a credential like Berman. Isola and Bondy are among the best we have now that Roberts has left the Times. Too bad they share column space with a guy like Mitch Lawrence whose career has been summed up by a bunch of Captain Obvious articles and Lupica who suffers from a severe case of Short Man's Disease.

[Edited by - nysportsfan11 on 03-19-2008 1:53 PM]