As a Pacers fan, I really hate to say anything even remotely complimentary about the New York Knicks. (Side note: John Starks sucks.)
Still, it’s impossible to not recognize how good the MSG Network is. It shows a lot of classic Knicks stuff, which is great because Clyde Frazier is the flyest known human and each time they talk about Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, it draws us one step closer to the day we all collectively stop erroneously referring to it as “The Willis Reed Game” and start rightfully calling it “The Clyde Frazier Game.” (Walt dropped 36 points, 19 assists and 5 steals on 12-17 shooting from the field and 12-12 from the line.)
Additionally, the network often shows great non-Knicks performances very often as well. Currently, for instance, the channel is showing a program called “Returns to MSG,” which is featuring things like MJ’s “Double Nickel” game where he dropped 55 on the Knicks in his first trip to the Garden after failing to succeed in minor league baseball and Bernard King’s first game playing in New York after signing the Washington Bullets. It also includes MSG returns of guys like Clyde (who was dealt to the Cavs), Patrick Ewing (who played pretty well for Seattle), Mark Jackson (who dropped 18 and 8 and did some shimmying with the Clips), Pat Riley (who was nearly lynched for bolting to Miami), Charles Oakley (who is a guy so dope even a Pacers fan has to love) and Jeff Van Gundy (who was so gutter ghetto girls fell in love with him). Epic stuff. (0n a related-but-not-related note, this morning someone shared this YouTube link with me from when AI returns to Philly.)
In other news, the MSG Network often airs some good street ball stuff from Rucker Park, which is rare to see on television ever since ESPN’s “Streetball” show overexposed and trivialized the And 1 Mixtape phenomenon even quicker than it ruined Texas Hold ‘Em. And it just so happens that right before the “Returns to MSG” show, they were showing the “EBC at Rucker” show. Basically, it is what it says it is: a show of highlights from current and past Entertainer’s Basketball Classic tournament action from Harlem’s legendary Rucker Park.
This episode concluded with one of the greatest moments in Rucker History. It was 2003 and David Stern showed up — and brought his friend President Bill Clinton with him. The two luminaries sat there in attendance watching the action and seemed at home even though they both stood out for their overwhelming whiteness and all-eyez-on-me fame. In an interview conducted some time later, EBC announcer Al Cash aptly reflected upon what having these two men in the stands meant for NYC basketball: “It was a good look for Harlem.”
Better still was the fact that rapper Fat Joe’s “Terror Squad” team was playing that day and one of the other announcers had the foresight to borrow Joey Crack’s gaudy “TS” chain and put it around Stern’s neck.
And even better than that is the fact that there’s a photo of said incident.
Known Associates:
And 1,
Bill Clinton,
Clyde Frazier,
David Stern,
Ewing,
Fat Joe,
John Starks,
JVG,
JVG is Hip Hop,
Knicks,
Mark Jackson,
MJ,
MSG,
Oakley,
Pacers,
Riley,
Rucker Park,
Streetball,
Tupac
After a month-long hiatus during which I was beginning to believe Uncle Reg had forsaken us, the Knick Killer himself is back with yet another edition of Reggie’s Mailbag.
Today’s question: Who has played in the most All-Star Games without winning an All-Star Game MVP?
Here’s Reggie’s run-down (player – All-Star selections):
Moses Malone – 11
Hakeem Olajuwon – 12
John Havlicek – 13
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – 18
Thus, Kareem is the winner. While it is surprising that big fella couldn’t manage one MVP, back-to-the-basket guys alway struggle to get the ball from guards in the All-Star game, so it’s not altogether shocking.
Yet, I was misled by the original question and thought “Wendell” was looking to find out who has the most All-Star appearances on his resume without winning a League MVP award. Thus, I looked that info up because that’s just the type of courteous guy I am.
Here’s a Top 10
1. Jerry West – 14
2. John Havlicek – 13
3. Rick Barry – 12
4. George Gervin – 12
5. Isiah Thomas – 12
6. Elvin Hayes – 12
7. Dolph Schayes – 12
8. Patrick Ewing – 11
9. Elgin Baylor – 11
10. (tied) Clyde Drexler – 10
10. (tied) Paul Arizin – 10
10. (tied) John Stockton – 10
10 (tied) Hal Greer – 10
Looking at that list of names, I proffer that the only possible logical conclusion we can draw is that the NBA doesn’t care about white people
Also don’t forget, you can always send any and all questions to Reggie at ReggiesMailbag@turner.com.
Known Associates:
Clyde Drexler,
Dolph,
Dream,
Elgin,
Elvin Hayes,
Ewing,
Hal Greer,
Hondo,
Iceman,
Jerry West,
John Havlicek,
Kareem,
Moses,
Paul Arizin,
Reggie,
Reggie's Mailbag,
Rick Barry,
Stockton,
Zeke
Some of you don’t have NBA TV. And for that, I’m truly sorry.
Because Tuesday Fan Night has now become the best series on television, as Gary Payton and Chris Webber (and even to my complete shock and awe, Ahmad Rashad at times) have crafted the most entertaining show these eyes have seen for some time (since Always Sunny in Philadelphia concluded its latest season probably for those of you not into unspecified generalizations).
Last night, I flipped over there just mainly to confirm the Hornets/Lakers tip-off time, but five minutes later it had become evident that none of the horrible games that were on could possibly be better than The Glove and CWebb show. Mostly, GP spends his time yelling out relative non sequiturs in a high-pitched voice and repeating them incessantly for the next five seconds and Webber enjoys pointing and mocking Ahmad while spending exactly none of his time looking near the camera.
That probably sounds horrible. But it’s actually the exact opposite.
Let’s go to the tape.
Borrowing a strategy from Payton’s player of the week selection, the best segment last night was a 1A and 1B tie between the Joe Johnson “in the grocery store people don’t know who I am” bit and the Top 10 Plays of the Week viewing, during which they unleash the fantastic “Hueh HUEH hueh” (that’s my spelling of their horrible French stereotype impersonation of Tony Parker) about a half dozen times and a reaction to the amazing Pau Gasol-led fastbreak that can only be described as soul-pleasing.
In addition to the high comedy, both guys clearly know what they’re talking about when it comes to hoops so they do also provide a poor man’s version of the astute, unique analysis that you get from Kenny and Chuck on Inside the NBA as well. This isn’t the best representation of that, but here is their interview with CP3 last night where even GP gets into serious mode and you can see Webber ask one of his signature, conversationally insightful questions (though he does even like to repeat himself on those quite a bit). Another example is GP’s throwaway line last night about how he thinks Andre Miller is the best PG in the East — something to which I was like “Really??” at first, then was like “Yeah, probably could be if you don’t fall for the young’n hype of Devin, Rondo, etc.”
(Although entirely unrelated to this Tuesday Fan Night discussion, Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus had a notably fantastic breakdown of his “Best Point Guards of the East” yesterday, in which he lists Rondo, Devin and Jameer. Better still is that this is only his “Part I” so we’re likely to get even more in-depth stat stuff from him on these guys shortly. I’ll keep ya posted.)
In short, you need to be watching these guys. And if you don’t have NBA TV, just remember to check the Tuesday Fan Night videos on NBA.com every Wednesday morning. (And if you still haven’t already had enough of yesterday’s links for some reason, here’s their discussion on LeBron’s crab dribble, an interview with Ewing Senior and Junior and GP picking “his team” the Hornets to win last night)
Known Associates:
Ahmad Rashad,
CP3,
CWebb,
Ewing,
Inside the NBA,
Patrick Ewing Jr.,
Pau Gasol,
The Glove,
Tuesday Fan Night
Despite his agEHHHHHH OHHHHHHHHHH dunk on Friday night, Patrick Ewing Jr. was cut yesterday. You know, cause they needed that final roster spot for Anthony Roberson, who by my calculations will certainly lead the Knicks to at least an additional eight more wins and definitely validate holding down that 15th man spot over the son of the most popular player in team history and all.
Here’s new GM Donnie Walsh’s sentiments on the the cut.
“It’s painful,” Walsh said. “You want people who people like.”
So why not just keep him?
For more on Walsh, who I think is a great executive, check this great article from New York magazine.
UPDATE: DIme caught up with Spike Lee down at the Kia NBA Tip-Off in New York’s Union Square today, and he is not so thrilled with the decision to cut young Ewing neither.
“I’m totally disgusted with the Knicks cutting Patrick Ewing, Jr. I don’t understand that. I don’t understand it. The guy can play. I mean he can play, he wants to play. You can’t teach that – somebody who wants to play, somebody who would go through a brick wall to help their team. And I don’t think that people count the fact that he’s Patrick Ewing’s son. Come on.
“I don’t understand that move. I’m not trying to blast Donnie Walsh of Coach D’Antoni, I’m not looking to blow up their spot. But it seems to me they could have found a space for him.”
Spike also sounds optimistic that LeBron will come to MSG instead of joining the NJ/Brooklyn Nets in 2010.
He wants to come to New York. He told me people are putting this stuff about him coming to Brooklyn because of Jay-Z. First of all, this Brooklyn thing is no wrap. That’s not a done deal. Hova’s his boy, but that’s going to determine where he leaves, if he chooses to do so.
Known Associates:
Anthony Roberson,
D'Antoni,
Donnie Walsh,
Ewing,
Knicks,
LeBron 2010,
Patrick Ewing Jr.,
Spike Lee
