I became a Knicks fan sometime in 98. After that miraculous finals run in 99, they were out of the playoffs by 2002.

The memory of Houston, Camby, Sprewell, Ewing, LJ kept me going for the past 10 years.

But look at the team now. We've had scrubs for years. Layden scrubs. Thomas scrubs. And now we have lame duck scrubs.

The team we see on the floor now is nowhere near what the team is going to look like in 2010. What's the point of watching? You live and die by your team if it really is YOUR team. But I don't have any connection to Harrington or Tim Thomas and I know they're gonna be out of here by 2010. The Isiah draft picks are fun to watch but how many of them are even going to get contract extensions?

Finally, I don't like LeBron James. I don't like that we're gonna make this team good with money. That we're gonna buy our record, the playoffs, and maybe even a championship. Yeah, it might work. But it's not satisfying. It's not special if we just sign two All-Stars and have them take us all the way. Almost feels like cheating.

So when we signed guys like Houston, LJ, Childs back in the day how did we do that? Its not cheating, its the way of the sports world. When big-time free agents become available you do everything in your power to get them on your team. IT IS NO WAY CHEATING

"why would u give up on the team when u knew going into this season there would be a rebuilding phase to follow? did u expect instant results w/a new head coach & new GM? if u wanna give up watching & then jump back on the bandwagon in 2010, suit yourself... i think remaining loyal & understanding that this will take some time & being patient through this process will net you that much more satisfaction later, but that's just me."

No I didn't expect instant results. I was really happy after the first few games of the season, just like you were. But the team we are watching now will not be the team in 2010. Who are you remaining loyal to?

"So when we signed guys like Houston, LJ, Childs back in the day how did we do that? Its not cheating, its the way of the sports world. When big-time free agents become available you do everything in your power to get them on your team. IT IS NO WAY CHEATING"

I get it, it just feels like gaming the system. One way to win is to steadily improve as a team and taking the fan base through the ups and downs of trying to work together over the years. The team and and the fans establish a relationship.

Another way to win, a la Boston, is to just sign free agents. I'm sure Boston fans treasure all the memories they have of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.. who in everyone's minds will be remembered as a Timber..wolf and a Sonic. But at least they had Paul Pierce. We don't even have a Paul Pierce.

One of the things I've learned in somehow remaining a fan over the past few years (albeit a casual one) is not to focus so much on individual players and my "connection with them" and focus instead on the team as a whole. I feel like the franchise and team is better positioned now than at any time in the past seven or eight years. It's easier for me to be patient now when there seems to be a plan, and we have people in charge who are able to execute that plan than it was when Cap'n Zeke was in charge.

But again, time goes on and, as Earl would say, it's only basketball.

We still have folks like Nate & DLee, and I hope that at least one of those guys are around in 2010, because seeing one of them with "New York" on their chest going deep in the playoffs will do it for me.

The only good thing about the Knicks sucking as a basketball fan is that I think it's forced me to appreciate the wider game. I watch more NBA games to keep up with players and coaches and styles of play. I haven't yet gotten into the college game but there's that too. I don't think there is a problem with just putting your fan energy on ice for a little if you need to do that to keep it from spoiling.

And hey, think about if you grew up a Hawks fan, or a Clippers fan... or a Cavs fan until recently. The "audacity of hope" my brother!

two years is a long time.

Give up? The last few years have been great. Layden was boring, but Isiah and Marbury have been great. Great drama. Larry? Hope, hype, then drama!!!!

Marbury of late? Pure vintage Marbury!

What do you do when you rebuild? Be cool and keep it causual. Im not watching games as much. I might later in the season when they start putting a better product out there. If they on the TV, I'll tune in. But not tape like I used to.

WE rebuilding, thats a process. It is fun discussing "what if" scenarios and who we can get to play here.

Bottom line is we need to build a core.

Marv, "Basketball JOnes", I think that was actually cheech and chong. Man, I have not seen that in years!!!!!

Posted by metra:

I became a Knicks fan sometime in 98. After that miraculous finals run in 99, they were out of the playoffs by 2002.

The memory of Houston, Camby, Sprewell, Ewing, LJ kept me going for the past 10 years.

But look at the team now. We've had scrubs for years. Layden scrubs. Thomas scrubs. And now we have lame duck scrubs.

The team we see on the floor now is nowhere near what the team is going to look like in 2010. What's the point of watching? You live and die by your team if it really is YOUR team. But I don't have any connection to Harrington or Tim Thomas and I know they're gonna be out of here by 2010. The Isiah draft picks are fun to watch but how many of them are even going to get contract extensions?

Finally, I don't like LeBron James. I don't like that we're gonna make this team good with money. That we're gonna buy our record, the playoffs, and maybe even a championship. Yeah, it might work. But it's not satisfying. It's not special if we just sign two All-Stars and have them take us all the way. Almost feels like cheating.

I assume your not a Yankees fan...lol

Im not giving up on the Knicks. I can't. Its my nature.

Posted by Solace:

If anything, this is when people should be coming back. Many of us have been waiting 7 years for the team to change business as usual and start having a plan, disciplining the greedy players and focus on becoming a team. Those things are finally happening. Why is now the straw that would make you quit on the team?

Of course, there are some Isiah and Steph fans who continue to bash the new regime for no reason. To those, I think they need a self-evaluation. Whether you think this is the right path or not, you have to admit that it's a different approach and a different approach is certainly called for.

The first step is to admit they have a problem....

Posted by Bippity10:

We are rebuilding. Some haven't come to grips with it.

You can't rebuild in NY.

Have A Kleenex

metra - you're breaking my heart.

You jump on during the magical run that happened with a strike-shortened season and feel entitled to some payback for ten years of being a half-hearted Knicks fan?

I got news for you. To be a Knicks fan is to suffer in the upper deck of the Old Garden, watching Wilt finger roll at will.

To be a Knicks fan is to know how Michael Ray was Magic before Magic was Magic and how good he could have been with someone other than Ray Williams to throw an alley-oop pass to.

To be a Knicks fan is to scream for Dancing Harry, shake hands with Ken Bowman and how to chant "Win-GO..." at the top of your lungs.

To be a Knicks fan is to know John Gianelli, John Condon, John Starks and John McLeod and Jumpin' Johnny Green, without blinking.

Th be a Knicks fan is to know that trainer Danny Whelan was the first to rock the orange, short-sleeved warm-up jacket on the bench and that he was one of the few trainers to EVER get tossed for a second technical foul

To be a Knicks fan is to know that there is no sweeter sound than the roar from the blue seats, combined with the rumbling of the trains in the basement and the expert voice of a PA man who knows how to follow the flow of a game

To be a Knicks fan is never to bitch and moan about giving up, jumping off, being a traitor, cutting and running or sounding like a punk azz bitch.

We are the freakin' Noo Yawk Knicks dammit!