Kobe should draw jeers, not cheers tonight at MSG

by Pistol PeteD on Jan 22, 2010 11:30 AM EST

With the collective focus of New York City on the Jets this week, and for good reason, the bright lights of Broadway will be taking a break from Rex’s bunch tonight and be shining on one man, Kobe Bryant. The Lakers, coming off of a loss at the hands of the Lebron’s last night, will make their annual trip to Madison Square Garden to play the Knicks. Last season, as all of us Knicks fans can recall, Kobe treated the MSG faithful to an iconic 61-point night at the Garden. Now, you may wonder why I chose the word "treat" to describe what should have been a gut wrenching, yet masterful display of basketball ability at the world’s most famous arena last February. I chose the word because; according to all accounts, the arena treated Kobe like a guest star rather than a villain.

Now, this doesn’t sit well with me. I doubt I speak for all Knickerbocker fans on this, but I’d like to think that most of you die-hards wouldn’t give Bryant a standing ovation as he waves to the crowd, and wouldn’t chant "M-V-P!" as he takes his seat on the bench late in the 4th quarter. Call me a basketball snob, but I’ve always thought the garden crowd could be held in higher esteem than most NBA crowds. Not to take anything away from the amazing fans all over this country, but New Yorkers know basketball and they certainly know good basketball when they see it--which hasn’t been too often these past 10 years. Many of you will use that same statement as justification for the "appreciation" as I’ve heard some people call it, for an all-time NBA great. Well, I guess that would be a fair argument. However, the Knicks still lost the game. You do not, under any circumstances, cheer for the opposing player. Especially after he systematically dismantles your team in front of your eyes. And I don’t know about you, but I was pretty tired of watching Quentin Richardson, Al Harrington, and Wilson Chandler (to name a few) get abused by Mr. Bryant.

So, Knick fans, I am calling you out. If Kobe puts on a great show at the Garden tonight, go ahead and "appreciate" it all you want. But please, please…I’m begging you. Don’t chant his name; don’t cheer "M-V-P!" Just sit back, enjoy it as much as you can, and try to cheer our Knicks to a victory. Just think, with a certain off-season upon us, and a certain player, who just might leave his home state for the Big Apple, you might have a real reason for that chant next season.

-Pete D’Alauro

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but that “certain player” should be booed mercilessly when he comes to the garden as well.

Posting and Toasting: DWTDD.

by Seth on Jan 22, 2010 11:34 AM EST reply actions

Oh, you mean in the first round of the playoffs? ;)

by Pistol PeteD on Jan 22, 2010 12:02 PM EST reply actions

I with this, but...

I have little problem with applauding an opposing player for an unusually excellent performance. It doesn’t mean i cheer for such player, but as in baseball, when a pitcher throws a ridiculous game, or a batter drives is a sick amount of RBI, you golf clap for said player for a second.

I wouldn’t be chanting MVP for anyone not on the Knicks though. Nor cheering for the during the game. But when he leaves the game for good, yeah, I’m fine with a little applause.

I have to say this though… I cringed a bit when you said you were tired of watching Harrington, Richardson and Chandler getting abused. Chandler can D up. I feel nothing for the other two, lol. its Kobe Bryant. Even if yoyu suck on D, you gotta give a lot extra when you guard him. They didn’t give a rats ass that night.

"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."

by Chris Child's Fist on Jan 22, 2010 1:27 PM EST reply actions

that said... f@#k Kobe. They lost to Cleveland, and they can lose tonight.

"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."

by Chris Child's Fist on Jan 22, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

I agree CCF

Things to consider about the 61 pt game

we really stunk last year. I mean, it was bad. That game was over. No chance of winning… If the knicks were in the thick of it and losing was actually gonna make a difference, like this year, then you can get mad. But at that point last year, it was nice for the fans in attendance to get something of value for there $$$.

You can show love to a great performance. That is what separates the NY fans… we know good basketball and can give it some love.

But its gotta be about the knicks. Kobe can go to hell… and I hope he get 2 points tonight.

by gbaked on Jan 22, 2010 1:43 PM EST reply actions

we can show love. we can also show batteries. :-)

"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."

by Chris Child's Fist on Jan 22, 2010 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

This was well thought out and constructed...

i was ready to bash you in the comments just from the title.

Everyone appreciates good basketball. It’s taken me years to warm up to the fact that Kobe is unreal. I still don’t like him and won’t cheer for him, but I appreciate what he does. By no means should the garden ever chant MVP for him or even clap for a tough shot. But everyone has the right by all means to stand up and go “OHHHH SNAPPP” if he throws down a 360 ally ooop.

with that said, i dont think the team gives a crap about Kobe going off. Even Nate said you just have to hope he misses his shots. They just want to win. It’s one thing if Kobe grabs 61 and the Lakers win, but it is another strangely satisfying event if he puts up the same number but the Lakers lose. He just ends up looking like an a-hole…esp after two straight losses. My hunch is that D’antoni is telling the guys not to worry about Kobe’s number. He just wants them concentrating on the things that they can control. Master the process and the results should come out in your favor.

by Weasie on Jan 22, 2010 2:15 PM EST reply actions

I second that notion

regardless of the double digits Mr/ Unstoppable puts up- Jefferies leading our defense (did I really say leading?!) will probably be our most useful asset- as much as I hope we annihilate LA (much like the Bobcats did to the pretentious Heat) I think we are more likely to hold them under 100 and play some solid hometown BBALL

by dpileofashes on Jan 22, 2010 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

Screw ESPN's accuscore statistical mechanismszszs

my theory is that tonight will be a damn good game for the Knicks-

GO MILKMAN!

by dpileofashes on Jan 22, 2010 2:15 PM EST reply actions

its also relative

Kobe drops 50+ tonight and he will get some cheers and a little love.
Knicks upset the Lakers tonight and the place will go apeshit.

by gbaked on Jan 22, 2010 2:45 PM EST reply actions

You'd better boo the hell out of him

disrespect the Garden and the game of basketball if you cheer the other team. I still can’t believe they did that last year…

You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there- Yogi

by FreeBradshaw on Jan 22, 2010 3:25 PM EST reply actions

Gonna be in attendance tonight

After years of getting cheap nosebleed stub hub tix for Knicks-Bobcats, I’m pretty fuckin pumped to see Kobe. I’m a straight-up Kobe hater, but as a fan of the game, I can’t deny his basketball transcendence. I’m not talking standing Os, but when he does his requisite three or four I-cannot-believe-he-just-did-that moves tonight, I’ll be full of grins.

I think it was Adande who mentioned how realistic Knicks fans are in one of his chats the other day, and it really is true. This ain’t Utah where the hometown Kool-Aid makes people thing D-Will is better than Chris Paul. NY b-ball fans have a rep for appreciating good ball and it don’t have shit to do with team loyalty. Knicks are my my team, but in a league “where amazing happens”, you can’t help but get a little jazzed when greatness manifests.

And fuck the Lakers.

"But when he saw it, he just put his hands up and they couldn’t give it to him. It just fell to the ground, I-I don’t, you know … So, that showed me he had great experience..." - Jeff Van Gundy

by Anthony Bonner's Subpoena on Jan 22, 2010 3:41 PM EST reply actions

heh, pause.

"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."

by Chris Child's Fist on Jan 22, 2010 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Gallo

is so going mano a mano with Kobe and dropping 40 tonight.

by fuhry on Jan 22, 2010 4:18 PM EST reply actions

eh, i hope you're right

i predicted that against durant. that didn’t go well.

Posting and Toasting: DWTDD.

by Seth on Jan 22, 2010 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

Robinson

has a better chance to do it :)

Knicks Record:

16-22

by GaLeeNateri on Jan 22, 2010 5:18 PM EST up reply actions

I guarantee

Gallo will score at least twice as many points tonight!

by fuhry on Jan 22, 2010 5:31 PM EST up reply actions

fuck kobe. my rule of thumb is that you can root for anyone you want. just not when their playing your team

by karamjitm9090 on Jan 22, 2010 7:10 PM EST reply actions

you ain't gott WORRY SHIT bout me pete

i’m hatin

twitter.com/aighttho
http://aightthen.tumblr.com/

by stingy d on Jan 22, 2010 7:39 PM EST reply actions

Just think, with a certain off-season upon us, and a certain player, who just might leave his home state for the Big Apple, you might have a real reason for that chant next season.

Oh c’mon. (rolls eyes) You guys are not getting Lebron…He likes NY for sure…but that sure as hell doesn’t mean he likes the Knicks. And he’s just as much of a ‘global icon’ in Cleveland as he would be anywhere else….time to put that concept to bed. Cheering Lebron or booing Kobe isn’t going to make any difference either…and you’ll realize that after Lebron enjoys all your cheering (re: begging) and still turns around and says No…kinda like the dunk contest. But he does offer you some delicious cake…you can have that.

http://lbjbakescake.ytmnd.com/

"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren

by johnnyphoenix on Jan 22, 2010 9:59 PM EST reply actions

thanks for giving us your objective view

of LeBron’s impending free agency.

i’m sure your Cavs-fanship has nothing to do with your opinion on that.

Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!

by Anthony Masons Haircut on Jan 22, 2010 10:45 PM EST up reply actions

No actually I’m pretty objective about it.

"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren

by johnnyphoenix on Jan 23, 2010 12:25 AM EST up reply actions

Being a Cavs fan…since you mention it…. As vague as Lebron has been about things I still take whatever he does and says with a grain of salt. He seems to love the extra attention no matter what he does….and to be honest I am able to differentiate between being a Lebron ‘fan’ and a Cavs fan. I tend to look at the term ‘Lebron fan’ as more of a ‘Lebron apologist,’ which I certainly am not. A lot of what he does off the court rubs me the wrong way, and liking the team he happens to be on doesn’t change that.

Anyways, all BS aside…AMH, what’s your take on it? I suppose it has to rest on gut feeling here because as we all know we’re going to get nothing but conflicting signals from Lebron himself.

"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren

by johnnyphoenix on Jan 23, 2010 12:31 AM EST up reply actions

I promise…and you can hold me to it…if he does leave cleveland i will do my best to cook, tenderize, and eat my shoe…then posting the vid for ‘Posting and Toasting’ to share all the while celebrating Lebron’s arrival in NY.

"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren

by johnnyphoenix on Jan 23, 2010 12:34 AM EST up reply actions

deal. it better be this unsightly thing:

by SamH on Jan 23, 2010 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

bet

twitter.com/aighttho
http://aightthen.tumblr.com/

by stingy d on Jan 23, 2010 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

Gah. Those shoes are horrendous. I said one of MY shoes….not that monstrosity. lol

"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren

by johnnyphoenix on Jan 23, 2010 6:03 PM EST up reply actions

Besides…I’m sure your Knicks fanship has nothing to do with your OWN opinion. Look at the facts…not your ‘fan’ affiliation.’ I’m sure you’ll see things my way if you do.

"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren

by johnnyphoenix on Jan 23, 2010 3:04 AM EST up reply actions

i didn't say anything about LeBron going to NY

i’m not one holding out hope that he does in fact jump ship (though it would be nice).

however, to say that he won’t at least entertain the thought of being a Knick (or a Net, or a Bull, or whoever else has the money to spend) is pretty asinine.

Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!

by Anthony Masons Haircut on Jan 23, 2010 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

one more thought

i agree that LeBron can be as much of a world icon in Cleveland that he could be in NYC. it’s not as much of a draw as it would’ve been 10 or 20 years ago. the Knicks also aren’t just one player away from being a true contender. they need more than just LBJ to put them over the top, and he probably knows that.

i don’t think there is an absolute truth when it comes to this situation. i wouldn’t be surprised if LeBron stayed in Cleveland and i wouldn’t be surprised if he left. i think it’s a 50-50 shot, regardless of the circumstances (i.e. Cavs winning a title, or Cavs falling short again).

Ewing with the step...YES! and the foul!

by Anthony Masons Haircut on Jan 23, 2010 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

Actually that sounds about dead on.

"I don’t dance too much." --Mike Holmgren

by johnnyphoenix on Jan 23, 2010 6:04 PM EST up reply actions

whoa whoa whoa

everybody take it easy on the l-word. this is a family site.

Posting and Toasting: DWTDD.

by Seth on Jan 22, 2010 10:51 PM EST up reply actions

your wrong

And he’s just as much of a ‘global icon’ in Cleveland as he would be anywhere else….time to put that concept to bed.

not even close. Sorry… no.

NBA is a global sport now, and kids across the pond dont even know where Cleveland is. They are L fans, not Cleveland fans. He comes to the knicks, they are Knicks fans. The idea that you can do as much in Cleveland as you can in NYC is a joke. Sorry. It is. He comes to the knicks and wins 1 championship and he is a legend of the NBA forever. He would need 3 in Cleveland to match.

Never has an athlete (or really anyone) been in the situation to choose to become the literal King of New York. Babe Ruth didnt choose to come here, and Gretzkey plays hockey… Jeter has the mets to compete with… LBJ decides to pass up the opportunity to become a New York Legend to stay in Ohio… good for him. And good for you guys. But I guess he could wuss out.

by gbaked on Jan 25, 2010 9:56 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Real Talk

"But when he saw it, he just put his hands up and they couldn’t give it to him. It just fell to the ground, I-I don’t, you know … So, that showed me he had great experience..." - Jeff Van Gundy

by Anthony Bonner's Subpoena on Jan 25, 2010 12:23 PM EST up reply actions