Blog Update

Dear Readers,

I apologize for the stagnant blog. I have been accepted into business school at the University of Miami. Therefore, all of my spare time has been, and will continue to be, allocated towards my graduate degree MBA.

I hope to post again soon once school allows me a free moment.

Thank you for reading.

Yours,
Mike

Frank Isola Commentary

In the end, LeBron just can't take the Heat »
By Frank Isola
New York Daily News

We begin the day by thanking Patrick Ewing, a real franchise player and warrior who left it on the court every time he wore a Knicks uniform.

Was he perfect? No. When I see him I still tell him he has the worst hands of any all-time great player. Was he easy to cover as a reporter? Not all the time. He could be a pain in the rear but he was always honest and he always accepted responsibility for his and the team's performance.

Think about that today as we struggle to deal with LeBron James' decision to leave Cleveland in his rear view mirror and head to Miami to play the role of Scottie Pippen to Dwyane Wade's Michael Jordan.

It's clear now that LeBron had no intentions of signing with the Knicks regardless of how many times he wore a Yankees cap in public. New York would have meant pressure. Staying in Cleveland would have meant pressure and as we know LeBron, unlike Ewing, cannot handle the pressure.

I was in Cleveland the night of Game 5 against Boston when LeBron had perhaps the most disappointing performance of his career. His reaction afterwards was even more disappointing. He sounded surprised and upset that the media would question why he didn't play well. LeBron reasoned that he's only had four bad games in his entire career and that he's spoiled his fans. Give me a break.

He should have said: "This one is on me. I didn't have it tonight and I can't tell you how disappointed I am." But then by making that admission, James would be placing the blame on himself. Or as one rival head coach said today: "He craves attention but deflects responsibility."

And that is why Miami is the perfect place for him. The Heat is the third most popular team in the city behind the Dolphins and University of Miami football. More importantly, if the "Dream Team" as LeBron calls it falls short there will be plenty of blame to go around starting with Pat Riley, Wade and LeBron.

What we "Witnessed" on Thursday was an immature 25-year-old who deep down knows that he is a follower. Think about it: the kid didn't even have the decency to look Cavs owner Dan Gilbert in the eye to tell him he's leaving. Instead, LeBron wouldn't even return phone calls.

I never wanted LeCon in New York. I always felt he should have stayed in Cleveland and that the Knicks should have been committed to building a team that would beat James.

If you're a Knicks fan, it will be easy to root for Amar'e Stoudemire, who did go to the highest bidder but at least he wants to represent the team. Donnie Walsh made a great trade with the Warriors and Anthony Randolph has the chance to be a star.

Toney Douglas has Charlie Ward-like toughness and one of the best moments of last season was when Danilo Gallinari told Kevin Garnett to buzz off just before stroking 3-pointer after 3-pointer in KG's face. Walsh is building a team that is tough both mentally and physically.

These are the kind of guys you want on your team. These are the kind of guys you should be pulling for. LeBron is a front runner, plain and simple. Have fun in Miami.

You never had it in you to become a true Knick. And you're no Patrick Ewing, that's for sure.

Great LeBronathon Article #1

July 9, 2010
LeBacle
The Feel Bad Story of the Year


by Bradford Doolittle


In the hours since what was been branded as "The Decision," I find myself almost irrationally filled with negativity, bloated with feelings of shame and annoyance stemming from the mere fact that a basketball player exercised his right to sign with a new team. Believe it or not, not much of it is directed at the player. Really, I’m not entirely sure to whom my animus is directed.

Sure, I blame LeBron James for acquiescing to the made-for-TV spectacle that so many have complained about and even more watched. I don’t blame him for the over-hype during a free-agent process in which he said almost nothing. I don’t blame him for a group of handlers that played the complicit media like a finely-tuned banjo. I certainly don’t blame James for his ultimate decision, no matter what it turned out to be. I might disagree with it for any number of reasons, but I wouldn’t presume to wear the shoes of another person with whom I’ve had exactly one person-to-person exchange. (One question, one answer.) Those shoes wouldn’t fit, anyway.

The aforementioned exchange came in the hostile setting of a post-game press conference, after the Bulls had beaten the Cavaliers 108-106 on April 22, Chicago’s only win in that first-round series. In Cleveland’s two prior trips to Chicago, I hadn’t been able to even lay my eyeballs on James, much less ask him a question. He doesn’t talk pregame, except to the national guys, and the scrum around him after the game is like watching a flock of seagulls descending upon a crust of bread. Worse, the Cleveland PR staff grants favored access to the team’s primary television partner, which makes it impossible to position yourself. It’s like going for a rebound from the bench.

During the closing minutes of the April game, James had switched over to Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, who had torched the Cavs in the fourth quarter. The Bulls escaped with the win, but James made Rose look pretty average with his lockdown defense. In the press conference, I asked James if the strategy might be something that we could expect more frequently as the series progressed. James sat at the podium, his wrists splashed with shiny jewelry and a watch that surely cost more than my car. He was also guilty of the inappropriate wearing of sunglasses. He sported shades even though we were sitting in the windowless room where, before the game, the media eats tater-tot casserole. James answered my question without really looking at me. Mine is just a voice from the gallery and he hears hundreds of those every day. From behind, a voice followed my question by asking James if then-Cavs coach Mike Brown had made the decision to move James to Rose, or if The King had taken it upon himself to make the switch.

"I did it myself," James said, or words to that effect. He then perked up and added, "You know me, Chris."

He was addressing ESPN writer Chris Broussard, who has cultivated a relatively tight relationship with James and his inner circle. That relationship, and the one between ESPN and the star athletes it covers, is a double-edged sword for us all. It's all about relationships, but those relationships can and are exploited and manipulated. It's a disservice to fans, who are spurred to leap into the rumor mill with their hearts, not their brains, and are led to invariable disappointment. It's also an object lesson as to why the current media mania to break stories first is misguided and wasteful. In the end, no one outside of the media itself cares who was first. However, fans are going to continue to be subjected to misinformation and gut punches as long as they lack the patience to wait until news actually happens and not fall prey to the avalanche of unsourced stories that accompany every major sports story into today's overstuffed media climate.

Last night, right after James announced he was going to "South Beach," I wrote on Twitter that while I didn’t begrudge James his right to go where ever he wanted, the Heat immediately became my least favorite team in sports. I still feel that way after a night’s sleep and a little further reflection, and it bums me out big time that I feel that way. In my Twitter stream, I’ve only noticed a couple of comments reflecting excitement over the new "super team" in Miami. That’s sad. I can’t speak to why other basketball fans are lukewarm to the pairing of Dywane Wade and James. (Chris Bosh, because he’s an interior player and a tier below the other two, is a different case.) For me, my disapproval is based on four reasons, two of them personal and a bit unreasonable.

First, I think it’s bad for the league to have two of the biggest stars on the same team at the same time, or at least these particular stars. Allusions to other great pairings of the past don’t hold water with me. I don’t think there have ever been two wing players in their prime on the same team at the same time who were one-two in the league in terms of usage rate. These are two stars who shine the brightest by dominating everything their team does on the offensive end of the floor. Now they are going to have to change. That’s not to say it can’t work in terms of wins and losses. It very well might. To me, however, it’s better for NBA fans to have these players competing with each other instead of co-existing. It’s more interesting. After all, just how interesting are those Olympic blowouts? Besides, these guys are too young and too good for mere "co-existence." To be sure, this new version of the Miami Heat will be a fascinating experiment from a basketball standpoint, both in terms of on-the-court meshing and the evolution the numbers of each of these players take as they focus less on scoring the ball. At the same time, I can’t help but root against the success of this experiment because if it works, then the new model will be for stars to congregate on a handful of super teams. That won’t be good for anyone, especially those fans who would like to see competitive basketball in places like Memphis, Minneapolis and Sacramento.

Second, I just don’t think it was the right decision for James, though only he can know that for sure. The right decision was probably to stay put in Cleveland, which did after all sport the league’s best record the last two seasons. However, if he left, I still feel like Chicago was the best fit for all of his aspirations, on and off the court. He would have been joining the NBA’s best rebounding team, a squad whose solid defensive profile is likely to be greatly enhanced by new head coach Tom Thibodeau. He could have been paired with Carlos Boozer, a player who is at the very least close to the same tier as Bosh, and Rose, who I feel will become a first-team All-Star as soon as this season now that he will be surrounded by better offensive talent and installed in a more logical offensive design. Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, whatever designated shooter the Bulls would have signed … this is the supporting cast that the Heat will now attempt to replicate with no cap room. If it is championships James wants, Chicago was the place to get them. The super team concept in Miami might work, but it’s an experiment, one which has failed over and over in NBA annals. In Miami, it’s Superteam. In Chicago, it would have been super Team.

My last two reasons, as mentioned, are personal and I list them both to underscore the biases from which this commentary is written and to point out that we all have our strange, selfish reasons for wanting things to go a particular way in the sports world. First, I wanted James to come to Chicago because the Bulls are my favorite team and, on top of that, it would have made my job as a freelance sports writer that much more enjoyable. Second--and this is where we get into the realm of the unreasonable--I don’t feel like Miami deserves the team Pat Riley has assembled. I don’t think the city deserved the two World Series titles won by the Florida Marlins. I don’t think it deserved the title won by the Heat in 2006. Fans in most cities are bandwagoneers to a degree, but South Floridians take it to an extreme. That’s more true of the Marlins than the Heat but, still, the Heat have been in the middle of the pack in attendance the last two seasons despite having a winning team and one of the NBA’s most exciting players. The Bulls have been the best-supported team in the NBA since Michael Jordan retired. Beyond that, it confounds me why anyone would choose to live in Miami rather than Chicago. As best I can tell, the only cultural advantage is being able to wear shorts in January. No thanks. So, as I say, we all have our reasons for being raw at LeBron James today and not a lot of those reasons make sense.

Even after acknowledging and articulating the reasons why I don’t like James’ decision, which I can’t emphasize enough I believe he had every right to make, I’m not sure I understand completely why I feel so negative about all this. At this time last week, I was on a catamaran off the coast of Cabo San Lucas on my way to snorkel in the most idyllic little cove I’ve seen since I was on the Greek island of Paros in the Aegean Sea over a decade ago. I was unplugged from news, Tweets, Facebook, e-mails--everything--for over a week. When I sat down on Monday to get caught up, my spirits could not have been higher. Then I began to sift through the free-agent rumors, which I tried to track in chronological order. One by one, the hearsay mounted, phrases like "a league source" and "multiple sources" and "a team source" and "sources say" piling up like a landfill of bad information. I’ve harped on the unreliability of unsourced reports over and over. When it comes to the coverage of the first week of NBA free agency, the paucity of legit information was almost unbearable. Indeed, I was no better informed than when I was flopping around in fins down in Cabo.

The explosion of the sports media in the last 15 years has led to an all-consuming goal of being first on every story. Why this may be is hard for me to understand. Isn’t it better to be right than to be first? To me, anonymous sources should be reserved strictly for investigative reporting on topics that have real gravitas. I’m sorry, but few sports stories rise to that level. The question of what team a player is going to sign with certainly does not meet my standard for the type of story that justifies the use of anonymous sourcing.

Here’s the problem: The more it becomes the industry standard to report information without getting sources on the record, the less reliable information becomes, to the point where you can’t believe anything you read. Also, reporters become less prone to push sources to go on record and insiders are less willing to put their names next to their words. And because everyone is doing it, it becomes impossible to sort good reports from bad. The reading of rumors becomes a complete and utter waste of time, yet good writers and reporters are logging long hours in pursuit of those rumors. On top of all that, the most-visible sports reporting jobs go to those whose network of contacts outweigh their writing, reporting and analytical skills. That’s not jealousy on my part … I have never had any desire to be in a news-breaking position. In fact, the idea scares the bejeezus out of me.

Finally, the insipid practice of anonymous sourcing leads to all sorts of chicanery. Agents, teams, athletes and player entourages learn quickly which reporters and media outlets can be played and because no one is going on the record, no one can be held accountable. Bad information is purposely leaked in order to further selfish agendas. This is the state of sports journalism right now and it’s really sickening. Until we as consumers of this information quit running up those page views, nothing is going to change. People just have to learn to be patient … news happens when news happens. When it does, we’ll find out. Of course, that’s a pipe dream. Accountability is a pipe dream. Is ESPN accountable for the almost surreal conflicts of interest that came with the way the James story was covered and ultimately resolved? ("Sources tell ESPN’s Chris Broussard that LeBron James’ will reveal his decision on a special broadcast on Thursday night … on ESPN.") Reports of an overnight 7.3 rating for the broadcast of "The Decision" suggests they don’t have to be.

One could rant forever about these things. Other than the 12 bona fide Miami Heat fans in South Florida, who exactly feels good about all this today?

The media certainly shouldn’t. They shoved LeBron James down our throats for an entire week, agreed to broadcast his decision in prime time, then vilified him for being an attention hound. They also, quite ironically, fell over themselves in praise of Kevin Durant’s humble decision to announce his contract extension with Oklahoma City with a simple Twitter post. Cleveland fans don’t feel good, we know that. Neither do fans of the Knicks, Nets or Clippers. (I actually think the majority of Bulls fans are doing just fine.) James, unless he has his head completely up his hind quarters, has to feel like the devil himself today. Again, he shouldn’t necessarily feel bad because he made a decision that he thinks will bring him the titles he thinks he needs to cement his legacy. But to do it on national television smacks of vanity and narcissism of the worst kind. Just ask Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, who also shouldn’t feel too proud today. His vitriolic letter to Cleveland fans may have given voice to the frustration of his team’s supporters, but it wasn’t smart business. What superstar is going to want to join that team now, knowing that if things go bad, he’s going to get lit up like a pinball machine by the guy who signs the checks? Finally, anybody--myself included--who tethered themselves to the Web the last few days, gobbling up every morsel of NBA gossip, can't feel too good because we are the co-dependents in this whole mess.

What we witnessed last night was without precedence. Never had a player in a sport of James’ magnitude orchestrated such a spectacle and the fact that he used a national forum to turn away from the fans of his hometown team is tough to stomach. I can’t and won’t torch him for it because I just can’t imagine walking in his shoes. I cannot fathom the reality of being surrounded by handlers and sycophants, of being the most famous athlete in the world, who thinks he knows best because everyone has always told him that he does. It’s a different world from mine and, for that, I’m grateful. I hope James is proud of himself, because if I were in his position, I’m not sure I could be. Then again, there is little reason for any of us to be proud today.

Follow Bradford on Twitter at @bbdoolittle.

Bradford Doolittle is an author of Basketball Prospectus. You can contact Bradford by clicking here or click here to see Bradford's other articles.

Giants getting 'complete player' in rookie linebacker Phillip Dillard | - NJ.com

Giants getting 'complete player' in rookie linebacker Phillip Dillard | - NJ.com

A Look at the New Meadowlands

A final look inside new Meadowlands Stadium before its Saturday opening

Sports of The Times - Strickland Is Experiencing a Role Reversal - NYTimes.com

Sports of The Times - Strickland Is Experiencing a Role Reversal - NYTimes.com

Appearing in today's NY Times online edition, William Rhoden writes a nice piece highlighting the accolades of the former point guard of the NY Knicks. It's a great piece, and it comes at a time when many journalists have been speculating whether or not Mike D'Antoni is the right head coach to lead the Knicks to a championship.

I have always bee a Rod Strickland fan. Since his days as a point guard for the Knicks, Rod Strickland was always a favorite of both my father and myself on game day. He was a quiet leader with silky smooth ball handling skills. Essentially, he let his play speak for him.

Rhoden points out several things that should make Rod a serious contender to be the next head coach of the Knicks:
1. He attended Truman High School in the Bronx
2. He played for defensive-minded Knicks of the 90's
3. He is a proven college point guard teacher (Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall)

All of the above should immediately put Rod Strickland on Donnie Walsh's Head Coaching short list should D'Antoni continue to flounder at emphasizing defense and expanding his short rotation.

NBA.com: How some teams look heading into the Summer of 2010

NBA.com: How some teams look heading into the Summer of 2010:
"Cap space following 2010 Trade Deadline

1. New York
Salary - $21,571,737
Amount Under - $32,028,263

2. New Jersey
Salary - $27,170,659
Amount Under - $26,429,341

3. Miami
Salary - $32,254,326
Amount Under - $21,345,674

4. Washington
Salary - $34,454,130
Amount Under - $18,943,379

5. Chicago
Salary - $35,662,116
Amount Under - $17,937,884

6. Sacramento
Salary - $36,454,130
Amount Under - $17,145,870

7. L.A. Clippers
Salary - $38,235,273
Amount Under - $15,364,727

8. Minnesota
Salary - $41,004,156
Amount Under - $12,595,844

9. Oklahoma City
Salary - $42,104,151
Amount Under - $11,495,849

Projected salary cap for next season is ~$53.6 million.

Starks and Mason Take Pippen to the Paint

Check out the punch by Anthony Mason in the slo-motion closeup. One of the many reasons why, even though they never won a championship (a shame), this team was my favorite sports team of all time. Defensively, they just didn't give a S***! I must note that the Bulls were equally as aggressive on defense as the Knicks were. It makes you wonder why the current Knicks don't hire Charles Oakley or Anthony Mason to coach pride and defense in some capacity, which is something the Knicks have been sorely lacking for some time.

Nevertheless, this was one of the best rivalries of all times, no doubt.

Ewing the Great

Knicks sign T-Mac, Lose in Overtime to Thunder

Finally there are signs of life in the Garden. Although the Knicks lost to the red hot Thunder 118-121 in Overtime, newly acquired Tracy McGrady was excellent in his Garden debut as he racked up 26 points in 32 minutes of play.

Eddie House and Sergio Rodriguez were exceptional as well in their debut. House scored 24 and although S-Rod scored just 5 points he did tie with David Lee for the most assists in the game with six.

The missed FTs by T-Mac and Sergio lost this game for us. But wow, what a difference in the speed of the game with this new group. Sergio seems way scared to take a shot, but boy is he an upgrade over Duhon. I think the rest of the players, were stupefied to see how fast they were getting passes from Sergio and House and T-Mac.

Duhon, say hello to Mr. Pine (o points in 20 minutes). I think with a few more practices and games, this squad will be just fine. Playoffs? Probably not. But they will be a lot more fun to watch than the other group of duds.

LeBron James is Amazing

"At the end of the day, a max deal doesn't really matter. It is all about winning to me. When that day comes next summer, I want to win. If I feel like the team is capable of winning, then I will make my decision based on that."

That's what Lebron James said after the Cavs beat the Knicks 100-91 last night in Madison Square Garden, amid a star-studded cast celebrities. You hear that Donnie Walsh? LeBron wants to "win."

To me, that is one of the best quotes to have ever come from a superstar free agent. It pretty much sums it up, no matter what sport you are talking about. Sure, there are many players who are looking for a payday. Running back Derrick Ward, the second-string back for the New York Giants bolted to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a $17 million dollar contract, only to wind up on an 0-7 team. Alex Rodriguez signed a 3 year deal with the Texas Rangers worth $252 million dollars, and ended up in last place in the American League West in both 2002 and 2003 before finally starting to turn it around in 2004. But LeBron just wants to win games. He is a pure competitor at heart, like Michael Jordan was in the 90's. You simply cannot see LeBron go to a terrible team just because he is offered a max contract.

Right now, New York is throwing a nauseating supply of celebrities at him. Jay-Z, Joba Chamberlain, C.C. Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, and Mark Texiera were all on hand, courtside for last night's game. Oddly enough, Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason, and Larry Johnson, 3 Knicks players from the 90's, were there as well but didn't get too much notoriety. There is even an 8 story tall picture of him in Times Square posing for Air Jordan. All of this is nice, but LeBron is too mature and gracious to be swayed by such transparent flattery.

LeBron James just wants to win. And that is precisely why Donnie Walsh needs to do whatever is possible to get him. He has made it clear that he won't sign with anyone less than a contender, and that will not be the Knicks unless someone steps up to become a leader. David Lee is probably their best player, but you would never know it because he just doesn't speak up. He is a role player, and Donnie Walsh was right not to pay him top dollar. Wilson Chandler is probably the 2nd best player on the team, but he is far from a verbal general at this point in his young career. I believe Danilo Gallinari is the key. He seems passionate about winning, and he absolutely needs to step up and start commanding wins. He is already averaging 17.5 PPG, and is top 3 on the team in scoring. The team is wide open for the taking. Who is it going to be? Chris Duhon, is hardly an elite point guard. He is slow and prone to mistakes, but at least he spoke up recently to demand a little more effort and seriousness in the pregame warm ups. It was hardly a call to task, but it was a nudge. Unfortunately the criticism didn't work. Duhon is not the leader. It has to come from someone else.

If Gallinari has the guts to stand up and lead this team, perhaps along with Chandler or Lee, then LeBron James and other free agents in 2010 will take notice that the Knicks' building blocks have potential.

Someone on the Knicks needs to stand up and say, "this is my team." Who is it going to be? Gallinari, Lee, or Chandler?

Knicks @ Heat - 2009 Opening Night Thoughts

When the father of one of my football players generously gave me two tickets to the Heat game, I was very excited. When I realized that the seats were in the 2nd Row on the baseline and that the Heat would be playing the Knicks I literally jumped out of my seat!

It was befitting that Tim Hardaway's jersey was retired on that night. He had been the starting point guard on so many of those Knicks/Heat rivalry games of the 90's, and he talked about those match ups in his pregame speech. It really was nice to see his jersey retired. As much as I hated him and Alonzo Mourning, I also admired and respected them for their tenacity and toughness.

I was also excited to see Mike D'Antoni's "speed-ball offense." I was curious to see how it worked. The Knicks actually looked good in the first half. They mixed it up nicely and David Lee was a beast under the basket. However, I was a bit disappointed as there was nothing special about the way they played. To me it just looked like regular basketball.

Until the 2nd half...

The Knicks came out flat and slow. They quickly fell behind by over 30 points at one point and I remember turning to my friend Lou and saying "here we go again. It looks like it's going to be another long season." D'Antoni's speed ball offense was nothing more than fast breaks and jump shots. It wasn't really very exciting, and I wasn't really very impressed. The Knicks also played absolutely zero defense in the 2nd half. It was ugly, I have to admit.

The final score: Knicks 93 - Heat 115

Dwayne Wade, on the other hand, was spectacular to watch. When you get an opportunity to see a player of his caliber up close, you realize just how special they really are. The one thing that stood out to me was his quickness. He was zipping by everyone, and he spread the floor effortlessly. He is always trying to dazzle with reverse layups and dunks, and most of the time he succeeds.

The other stand out of the evening was the Knick's sharp-shooter Danillo Gallinari. He made something like 6 or 7 3-point shots over the course of the game. I remember reading once where Mike D'Antoni called Gallinari "the best shooter he had ever seen." On Wednesday I saw what he meant.

Gallinari, or "Gallo" as his Italian friends called him when he was playing professionally in Italy, was very smooth. He effortlessly side stepped defenders and drained 3's one after another. In the end, he and David Lee led the team with 22 points.

If Gallo is the future of the Knicks, then the Knicks seemingly have a future to look forward to. He is for real, and I predict him to crack the starting line-up sooner rather than later.

Quick Note:

Actress Gabrielle Union was sitting 4 seats away from me in my row to my left. She was there with two of her girlfriends. Unfortunately for me, two very old (senior citizen old) ladies were sitting in between us, thus blocking her view from noticing us. I'm sure my girlfriend is very thankful of that, even though we had no chance with the young starlet. ;-)

NY Knicks Glory Days Video

Here is a video from the archives to get you pumped about Knicks basketball. Remember the glory days of Ewing, Starks, Oakley & Mason? I can remember following this team with every breath. They fought and scrapped and went at it with the Bulls and Heat too many times to keep track of. Unfortunately for the Knicks, they played in an era at the same time as the Chigago Bulls and their dynasty led by the greatest ever - Michael Jordan.

NY Post Giants Preseason Report

NY Post beat writer Paul Schwartz gives us a quick look at the Giants preseason camp in Albany.

First Day Wearing Pads at NY Giants Preseason

Breaking down Giants camp and the impressive defense so far

9 Year Old Basketball Prodigy

Check out this 9 year old baller that another website had came accross and posted on UTube. I thought it was worth a look, so if you have a few minutes check it out. In particular, check out his skills at the 4:30 mark... His hand/eye coordination is undeniable.

...I bet he'd make a really great drummer too. ;-)

Knicks Close to Signing Bucks' RFA Ramon Sessions

Alan Hahn reports on the latest information he is hearing about the Knicks' pursuit of Ramon Sessions as the team's next point guard.

"What I have been told is the Knicks want Sessions and they will eventually get him," Hahn writes. "The price remains TBD."

Hahn earlier reported that the Knicks were offering slightly less than the team's mid-level exception, which starts at around $5.8 million in the first season.

Via Twitter (Alan Hahn, Newsday)

Eli Manning Inks New $97.5 Million Contract

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley (Click title to link to ESPN Story).

Eli Manning has agreed to a six-year, $97.5 million contract with the New York Giants, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. The contract would make Manning the highest-paid player in the league, although the $35 million guaranteed that Mort is reporting is $6 million less than the Redskins gave free-agent defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

Obviously Manning would've been worth more on the open market, but the Giants were never going to let him get there. The quarterback became a made man in New York when he led the team to a Super Bowl win following the 2007 season. He's recognized as one of the top quarterbacks in the game, and he's now making more money than his older brother Peyton -- as long as you don't count TV commercials.

This is a contract negotiation the Giants didn't want to linger. Last season, they waited until the night of the first regular-season game to finalize a new deal with Plaxico Burress. You knew that wouldn't be the case with Manning. Could he have squeezed a couple more million guaranteed out of the Giants? Probably, but in the end he simply wanted to have the security of knowing he'd be with the Giants for years to come.

This deal may have been finalized in early August, but in reality it started in Feb. 2008, when Manning led the Giants to a stunning victory over the Patriots. Manning is the unquestioned leader of this team and there was no reason to drag out the negotiations. Match today's news with Antonio Pierce being cleared by a Manhattan grand jury Monday and you have a lot of good news coming out of Albany.

Fantasy Football Mock Draft from NFL.com

Football season is right around the corner. For those of you who have to start thinking about their upcoming fantasy football draft, I give you some analysis taken from NFL.com's website. Let's just start getting an idea of who all the top scorers are, shall we? I don't agree with all of thesepicks and their placement, but for the most part, these are some of the top guys in the league that you should be targeting come draft day (barring any unforseen training camp injuries, of course!).

Round 1

Minnesota Vikings
1. Adrian Peterson
Running back Peterson's name will remain atop these mock drafts right through August. He scored an unimpressive 10 touchdowns last season, but he led the NFL with 1,760 rushing yards and still hasn't hit his ceiling in terms of fantasy value. Peterson is a talented and elusive runner with a tremendous offensive line ahead of him, so he should continue to thrive with a team that will lean on him a lot.

Chicago Bears
2. Matt Forte
Running back Forte was a huge draft value last season, breaking out for 1,715 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns. With Jay Cutler now under center for the Bears, Forte could see even more opportunities to score points for fantasy owners. Forte, who was selected ahead of Peterson in a recent expert league draft I participated in, is a surefire star in fantasyland. He's a solid choice in standard and PPR formats.

Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Maurice Jones-Drew
Running back Jones-Drew's days of being underrated are over. He has averaged 1,314 yards from scrimmage and close to 13 touchdowns in three NFL seasons, and he'll now be the featured back after the release of Fred Taylor, who signed with the Patriots. Jones-Drew's stock rose even more after the NFL draft, as the Jaguars added OTs Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton to what will be an improved front.

Atlanta Falcons
4. Michael Turner
Running back Turner is coming off a breakout season in which he rushed for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns as the centerpiece of the Falcons' offense. While he did finish with 376 carries, Turner is still young and fresh enough to handle another heavy workload next season and post solid numbers. The Burner, who will benefit from TE Tony Gonzalez's presence in the offense, will be a surefire top-five selection in most drafts.

Carolina Panthers
5. DeAngelo Williams
Running back Fantasy leaguers who think Williams will score 20 touchdowns again are bound to be disappointed, but he's still a solid bet for around 1,300 rushing yards and 12 to 15 scores. While I have seen him fall in some recent expert drafts, Williams remains a surefire first-round selection in a Carolina offense that will continue to lean on the run in 2009. However, Williams could come off the board later in PPR leagues.

Tennessee Titans
6. Chris Johnson
Running back Much like Forte, Johnson exploded onto the scene as a rookie and helped countless owners to a championship. He ended the season with 1,228 rushing yards and nine touchdowns despite seeing just 53 percent of the Titans' running back/fullback carries. Johnson is fast and elusive, and he's slated to see an even bigger role in Tennessee's offense in 2009. He will be selected ahead of Williams in most PPR leagues.

St. Louis Rams
7. Steven Jackson
Running back Despite missing four games last season, Jackson still finished with 40 catches, 1,421 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns in 2008. The Rams will use a West Coast offense under coordinator Pat Shurmur, so Jackson should be able to use his immense skills as a pass catcher. Behind what will be an improved line that added OT Jason Smith in the draft, Jackson should thrive if he can avoid injuries.

Arizona Cardinals
8. Larry Fitzgerald
Wide receiver The top wide receiver in fantasy football, Fitzgerald is almost certain to come off the board in the first or second round in drafts. He has been ultra-consistent and productive, and he's possibly the best player at his position in the game right now. With QB Kurt Warner coming back to Arizona after signing a two-year deal, Fitzgerald's value in fantasy circles will remain prominent. Let's just hope the Madden cover curse doesn't affect him in 2009.

San Francisco 49ers
9. Frank Gore
Running back Gore showed flashes of his impressive 2006 form last season, but injuries limited him to 14 games and hurt his value down the stretch. However, in what promises to be a run-based offense under new coordinator Jimmy Raye, Gore will remain prominent in the 49ers' plans. He's young (26) and doesn't share carries (rookie Glen Coffee is more of a potential handcuff than a committee back), which also is a positive.

Dallas Cowboys
10. Marion Barber
Running back Barber is a touchdown machine who would be ranked ahead of Gore if it weren't for the presence of Felix Jones and Tashard Choice in the Cowboys' backfield. Reports out of Dallas suggest that Barber could lose his starting role to Jones and be used as a "closer" -- a role he thrived in from 2006 to 2007 -- so the situation shouldn't be seen as serious detriment to his value. A versatile back, Barber remains a No. 1 option in all fantasy formats.

Houston Texans
11. Steve Slaton
Running back While his lack of size (5-foot-9, 203 pounds) was seen as a concern last season, Slaton disproved the critics as the top runner in Houston. He finished with 50 catches, 1,659 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns, so his value in 2009 will be immense. The Texans failed to add a short-yardage or goal-line back in free agency or the draft, so Slaton's role should remain prominent. He could go higher in PPR drafts.

San Diego Chargers
12. LaDainian Tomlinson
Running back Tomlinson recently turned 30 and appears to be on the downside of his career. However, he's still capable of putting up big numbers at times, and coach Norv Turner said this offseason that he wants to get Tomlinson around 320 carries. Tomlinson wasn't at all consistent in 2008, though, and could lose work to Darren Sproles. Tomlinson should be considered more of a low-end No. 1 fantasy back.


Round 2

Houston Texans
13. Andre Johnson
Wide receiver Johnson, who could be selected ahead of Fitzgerald in some drafts (especially for superstitious owners who fear the Madden curse), is coming off a career season with 115 receptions, an NFL-best 1,575 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He's a younger version of Terrell Owens and an absolute nightmare for opposing defensive backs. Barring injuries, Johnson will continue to produce for fantasy leaguers.

Detroit Lions
14. Calvin Johnson
Wide receiver Johnson played on a winless Detroit team and had to adapt to several different quarterbacks last season, but he still had 78 receptions for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns. Whether it's Daunte Culpepper or No. 1 overall draft pick Matthew Stafford under center for the Lions next season, the man called "Megatron" is a virtual lock to come off the board in the second round in both standard leagues and those that rewards points for catches.

Washington Redskins
15. Clinton Portis
Running back Portis was the best running back in fantasy football for much of 2008, so it's hard to keep him out of the top 15 in next season's drafts. The Redskins didn't add a running back this offseason, so Portis will remain a featured player in an offense that will lean on the run. But be warned: His 342 carries and a multitude of injuries down the stretch could be a red flag that a physical breakdown is on the horizon.

New England Patriots
16. Randy Moss
Wide receiver Moss experienced statistical decreases across the board in 2008, as the Patriots' offense was far less explosive once QB Tom Brady was lost to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the season opener. However, Brady's expected return next season has increased Moss' value in fantasy football. Moss won't duplicate his immense 2007 numbers, but he is without question an elite No. 1 fantasy wideout again.

Philadelphia Eagles
17. Brian Westbrook
Running back Westbrook will be 30 to start next season, and we've already started to see signs of wear and tear on his problematic knees. He's coming off an arthroscopic procedure, not to mention ankle surgery that could keep him out for part or all of training camp. That makes Westbrook even more of a risk, but one that's worth taking in the second round. If you do draft Westbrook, taking rookie LeSean McCoy later is imperative.

New Orleans Saints
18. Drew Brees
Quarterback Brees is coming off a monster season in which he threw for 5,069 yards and 34 touchdowns. He led all players on NFL.com with 363 fantasy points, and he's one of the few non-running backs who's worthy of first-round consideration in all standard leagues. Brees is consistent and reliable, and he will be the most coveted signal-caller in most fantasy drafts. He'll be one of the top picks in touchdown-based formats.

Carolina Panthers
19. Steve Smith
Wide receiver Smith, who was suspended for the first two games of last season, still finished with 78 receptions and 1,421 yards. Despite his lack of size, he's still a terror for opposing defensive backs and will remain prominent in Carolina's pass attack and the top option for QB Jake Delhomme. That makes Smith a solid No. 1 fantasy wideout and worth a second-round pick in standard and PPR formats.

New York Giants
20. Brandon Jacobs
Running back Jacobs produced career bests in rushing yards (1,089) and touchdowns (15) -- numbers good enough to put him in the top 12 among running backs on NFL.com last season. The Giants have lost Derrick Ward (free-agent contract with the Buccaneers), so Jacobs should be in line to see more carries next season. While his proneness to injuries is a concern, Jacobs is still well worth selecting in the second round.

New England Patriots
21. Tom Brady
Quarterback News on his recovery from knee surgery continues to be positive, and the trade of Matt Cassel to the Chiefs shows that the Patriots are confident Brady will be under center in Week 1. That deal moved Brady to second on NFL.com's quarterback rankings behind Brees and into the second round of this latest mock fantasy draft. Barring setbacks, Brady will be off the board in the second or third round.

Arizona Cardinals
22. Anquan Boldin
Wide receiver With the draft now in the rearview mirror and fewer trade rumors surrounding him, Boldin seems destined to remain in Arizona. That's good news in fantasyland. Boldin finished last season with 89 catches for 1,038 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he did it in just 12 games. While Boldin does tend to miss time because of various injuries, he's simply too talented to pass on in the second or third round in fantasy drafts.

Indianapolis Colts
23. Reggie Wayne
Wide receiver Wayne saw his reception, yardage and touchdowns totals fall last season, compared to his impressive numbers in 2007. Still, he did post 82 receptions and close to 1,150 yards as the top option for QB Peyton Manning in the Colts' passing attack. With Marvin Harrison now out of the mix in Indianapolis, Wayne should see a rise in both production and fantasy draft value. He's a surefire No. 1 fantasy wideout in most leagues.

Atlanta Falcons
24. Roddy White
Wide receiver In what was a bizarre 2008 fantasy season, White scored more points on NFL.com than Randy Moss and Steve Smith. With the emergence of QB Matt Ryan and in an offense that's well balanced with Turner in the backfield, the athletic White should continue to be a solid source of fantasy points. White, who also will benefit from TE Tony Gonzalez's presence, should be considered a No. 1 option at wide receiver.


Round 3

Miami Dolphins
25. Ronnie Brown
Running back Brown found himself in a backfield committee with Ricky Williams last season, but he still rushed for 916 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. Brown also has one full season under his belt after a reconstructive knee procedure heading into 2009, and I think he'll see a greater portion of the workload, even with Williams still in the backfield mix. Brown should be seen as a solid No. 2 fantasy runner.

Indianapolis Colts
26. Peyton Manning
Quarterback Manning is coming off what some would call a "down" season, throwing for 4,002 yards and 27 touchdowns. But he'll enter 2009 at 100 percent (he was coming off multiple knee surgeries to start 2008), and the talent around him will remain solid. Manning is a virtual guarantee to throw for 4,000-plus yards and 30 touchdowns, which makes him a lock to come off the board in the earlier rounds.

Green Bay Packers
27. Greg Jennings
Wide receiver Jennings might not be the "sexiest" pick at wide receiver, but it's hard to ignore his numbers over the past two seasons. The favorite target of Aaron Rodgers, Jennings finished with career bests in receptions (80) and yards (1,292) in 2008. A consistent and productive option across the board, Jennings is a surefire No. 1 fantasy wideout. He won't last past the third round in most standard and PPR formats.

Kansas City Chiefs
28. Dwayne Bowe
Wide receiver Bowe is the most attractive breakout candidate at wide receiver. He should mature and develop under new coach Todd Haley, who has helped past receivers such as Keyshawn Johnson and Marty Booker have huge seasons. The top option in what will be a pass-laden Chiefs offense after the trade of TE Tony Gonzalez to the Falcons, Bowe should now be seen as a very viable No. 1 fantasy wide receiver.

New England Patriots
29. Wes Welker
Wide receiver Despite the absence of QB Tom Brady because of injury, Welker quietly finished last season with 111 receptions for 1,165 yards. The smallish wideout will continue to see a prominent role in the Patriots' offense next season, and the return of Brady makes Welker that much more attractive. Welker, who has added value in leagues that reward points for catches, is a borderline No. 1 or 2 fantasy wideout across the board.

Detroit Lions
30. Kevin Smith
Running back Smith should be seen as a potential breakout candidate in 2009. He was a star at the end of his rookie season with nine catches, 329 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in his last three starts. New Lions coach Jim Schwartz will no doubt lean on the run, so Smith should see more than his share of chances, even with Maurice Morris in the mix. Smith will be drafted as a No. 2 fantasy back in most formats.

New Orleans Saints
31. Marques Colston
Wide receiver Colston, the ultimate fantasy sleeper in his rookie season, expects to be 100 percent recovered from knee surgery and fine for the regular-season opener against the Lions. The top wide receiver in the league's most prolific pass attack, Colston should bounce back from an injury-plagued 2008 season and thrive for fantasy leaguers. He's a borderline No. 1 wideout and well worth a third-round selection.

Denver Broncos
32. Brandon Marshall
Wide receiver While he was inconsistent at times last season, Marshall still finished with a career-best 104 receptions last season and was a solid option in PPR formats. The addition of new coach Josh McDaniels in Denver should be a positive, as is news that Marshall will avoid a league-imposed suspension for off-the-field issues, but the trade of QB Jay Cutler hurt the wide receiver's stock a bit. Overall, Marshall should be seen as a borderline No. 1 or 2 fantasy wideout.

New Orleans Saints
33. Pierre Thomas
Running back The Saints released Deuce McAllister this offseason and didn't draft or sign a back to replace him, so it looks like Thomas will be the starter in coach Sean Payton's backfield in 2009. Thomas is an underrated talent who helped countless fantasy owners win a championship last season with stellar performances down the stretch. Despite the presence of Reggie Bush in New Orleans' backfield, Thomas will be a second- or third-round pick in drafts.

Dallas Cowboys
34. Roy E. Williams
Wide receiver Williams was an absolute disaster for fantasy leaguers last season, finishing with career lows in receptions (36), yards (430) and touchdowns (two). With Terrell Owens now out of the mix, however, Williams becomes the top wideout in a Cowboys offense that should put some points on the scoreboard. If he can avoid injuries in 2009, Williams should bounce back and produce around 1,100 yards and seven-plus touchdowns.

Green Bay Packers
35. Ryan Grant
Running back Grant failed to live up to expectations last season, but a return to his 2007 form could be imminent. Grant will have a full training camp for the first time since joining the Packers, and that should help him produce better numbers. Grant also is a featured back, which is rare in this day and age of the backfield committee. Grant could turn into a very nice draft value and is worth a third-round choice in most standard drafts.

Buffalo Bills
36. Terrell Owens
Wide receiver Is it me or will Owens look odd in a Bills uniform? Regardless, his extended age (he'll be 35 to start the 2009 season) and an offense that isn't like the ones he played with as a 49er, Eagle or Cowboy will hurt his value. Owens also needs Trent Edwards to take a few steps forward in his development as an NFL quarterback. Still, Owens is a No. 2 fantasy wideout, even if he doesn't put up huge numbers as in past seasons

What's with the Knicks?

It's like The New York Knicks are cursed. They just can't seem to get anything to go their way.

First, Ricky Rubio was drafted and then Stephen Curry was taken one spot ahead of the 8Th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Knicks fans were heartbroken. They wanted Curry so bad, when Jordan Hill was selected they actually booed him out of frustration. To his credit, Jordan Hill took it like a champ. The 6'10" power forward from Arizona handled it well.

Welcome to New York, Jordan. At least you'll be rich!

After the draft, the Knick's General Manager Donnie Walsh turned his attention to the 2009 free agent market which began on July 1st, to see who he could sign to help bolster the roster for 2009 in an attempt to help lure a big free agent like Lebron James to New York in 2010.

o-2. That's the record the New York Knicks now have in recruiting free agent talent now that the July 1st has come and gone. First, the Knicks brought in free agent Jason Kidd. Kidd was once considered the best point guard in all of basketball is now 37 years old and still considered a great basketball player, but he is hardly the player he was in his prime. Kidd was brought in, interviewed, wooed, and offered a $18 million deal. Kidd politely went back to Dallas, where Mark Cuban counter offered with $25 million. "Thanks, but no thanks" was Kidd's decision.

Next, General Manager Donnie Walsh turned his attention to another over the "Hill" veteran small forward in 36 year old Grant Hill. Hill also declined the invitation to play for the Knicks. This was an even bigger snub at New York than Kidd. At least in Kidd we could all say, "ok - we were out bid fair and square." In this case, Hill decided to take less money - $3 million for one year with an option for a second year; as opposed to the Knicks generous offer of one year at $5 million or three years at $10 million.

Ouch!

New york was snubbed by two OLD veteran players, one of which (Hill) is really just a role player. I mean, it's not like Hill is Larry Bird or Willis Reed in his final year!

What should New York do now? It seems like no one wants to play for Head Coach Mike D'Antoni and GM Donnie Walsh and owner James Dolan. Is it the overpriced cost of living in NY? Is it the fear of getting treated like the way Stephon Marbury was treated when he was feuding with Knicks management? Is it the fact that the fan base is completely irrational at times (i.e., booing first round draft pick Jordan Hill because they were disappointed we were not able to draft crowd favorite Stephen Curry)? Is it because owner James Dolan is just plain unlucky? Is it because the Knicks have shunned hiring Patrick Ewing or Mark Jackson?

Whatever the reason is, James Dolan, the owner at the top, needs to do something about it. In my opinion, I believe he should sell the team to a NY businessman who actually CARES more about winning than he does about playing in a rock band . We need a new owner. A Mark Cuban type who eats, sleeps, and drinks Knicks basketball. I applaud the Knicks for finally cutting ties with Isiah Thomas. That was a marriage made in hell. It set the Knicks back many years. I'm glad that Donnie Walsh is trying to shed the pieces of the last regime, but there is more to it than just that. The culture of the Knicks is critically damaged and Walsh MUST find the answer.

I'm no GM, but if I were Walsh, I would realize that every Knick is expendable. The good news is that it seems that there are no takers for David Lee this off season, making it more and more likely that we will be able to retain him at the mid-level exception. The same goes for Nate Robinson. But more importantly, there are bigger issues. McDonalds mascot Eddy Curry - the pine rider from last season has apparently shed 50 pounds, making him an intriguing chip in the free agency market. With Houston's Yao Ming out for the entire 2009-10 season, perhaps Walsh could orchestrate a trade sending Curry and Nate Robinson to Houston for Tracy McGrady? That would free up cap room and get NY the star it was looking for this off season. Sounds too good to be true right? I know, that's the problem with being a Knicks fan -we are so accustomed to disappointment, that we just assume it could never happen. I'm sure there is some reason Houston would not want to take on Curry's contract, but wouldn't it be great if Walsh at least looked into it? At least that way, Knicks fans weren't left in the dark, with nothing to nibble on except his two moves to try to sign two very old veterans at the mid level exception.

This off season, Donnie Walsh has been out shined by every GM in the NBA. The Lakers signed Ron Artest. The Cavs signed Shaquille O'Neill. The Magic traded for Vince Carter and Brandon Bass. The Raptors signed Hedo Turkoglu. The Celtics signed Rasheed Wallace. The Knicks traded Quentin Richardson (garbage time all-star) for Darko Milicic (bust).

If that's the best Donnie can do, New York will be a bad team for another 10 years. The cap space in 2010 will be less because of the dreary economy, meaning teams must trim their payroll. This is more bad news for New York and Donnie Walsh, who was hedging their hopes on landing two superstars from next year's free agent class. Now, with less money to work with, NY may only be able to sign one superstar.

Walsh had better have a plan C, because the free agent pool is almost dried up. Going after Kidd and Hill prompted many of the fans, including this one to say, "Walsh! What are you doing?!" Most of the blog fan comments on the Daily News and New York Post are happy that neither of them signed with New York. I happen to agree with this sentiment. I would rather go with my young core of drafted players, and hope that one or two of them emerge into superstars good enough to lure a Lebron James or Dwayne Wade to NY in 2010. But they alone will not be enough. We need a player with leadership for 2009-10 or a player with "buzz appeal" like Stephen Curry or Ricky Rubio.

As for the free agents in 2010, in my opinion, I would prefer the Wade & Bosh/Nowitski mix. Lebron James has shown signs of being a primadonna (refusing to shake Orlando's hands after their 2009 playoff loss and confiscating tape that surfaced of a college student dunking on him) and egos like that usually do not fare well in a giant market like New York City. But, if he opted to sign with NY in 2010, I sure as heck wouldn't be disappointed either!