Tuesday Amazon Leaffish

What a day! I have some links for you, starting with a bunch of crap from the post-press-conference James Dolan/Phil Jackson goings-on, then moving to some stuff I've collected over the last few days. This'll be a long one.

- The Amazon Leaffish has the badass adaptation of looking and behaving like a leaf floating at the water's surface. When dumb little prey fishes pay it no mind, it flips upright and attacks. Incidentally, the wonderful science blogger Ben Young Landis has given me permission to use his photos, so look forward to particularly excellent fishes henceforth. Definitely check out his post on Amazon leaffishes.

Okay, I didn't listen to the radio because I don't do that, but Jackson did some radio and Dolan(!!!!!) did, too, and they both said some good things (and Dolan said a few dumb things, but that's still better than nothing. So much better.) Here's a big ol' dump:

Phil on @ESPNNY98_7FM says there's "hope and a strong reason" that Carmelo will re-sign with the #Knicks. Cited living in NY & financials.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 18, 2014

Hey analytics crew! Phil Jackson talking about things like points per possessions! Talking about how game has evolved.

— John Schmeelk (@Schmeelk) March 18, 2014

Phil's early assessment of the #Knicks: per source, he likes Anthony, Chandler, Iman and Aldrich. Also likes youth of Hardaway Jr. & Murry.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 18, 2014

Phil Jackson on whether Melo has to change way he plays: I think we have to change some of the people around Carmelo

— Steve Serby (@NYPost_Serby) March 18, 2014

Dolan on ESPN Radio: If Phil would ever coach, who would say no? But at the moment, that's not in the cards

— Steve Serby (@NYPost_Serby) March 18, 2014

Dolan: The conversation I had with Phil about coaching wasn't even necessarily about this year

— Steve Serby (@NYPost_Serby) March 18, 2014

Dolan: on whether he expects Melo back: I do

— Steve Serby (@NYPost_Serby) March 18, 2014

Dolan on why this Phil Jackson marriage will work: We had a longer courtship than I've ever had before

— Steve Serby (@NYPost_Serby) March 18, 2014

Dolan: "No regrets on Jeremy Lin.... He's going to get paid $19 million next year." And #Knicks would be in a tough spot if they signed him.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 18, 2014

Dolan, asked about CAA, says that Phil Jackson will oversee all basketball decisions, including ones involving agency ties.

— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) March 18, 2014

Glen Grunwald doesn't work for the Knicks anymore. Dolan breaking news.

— Jon@knicksfan.net (@JonKnicksFan) March 18, 2014

Dolan says he doesn't think injuries completely explain the team's underachievement this season. Seems like a bad omen for Woodson.

— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) March 18, 2014

"We went in a different direction and Glen (Grunwald) wasn't on board w/ that direction. I’ll say it had to do w/ player development…" Dolan

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) March 18, 2014

James Dolan on @ESPNNY98_7FM regarding Phil Jackson eventually coaching the #Knicks: "At this moment, it's not in the cards."

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 18, 2014

Dolan, on ESPN radio, when asked about Phil possibly coaching: "I don’t think that will ever happen. We didn’t bring him in to do that."

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) March 18, 2014

Dolan says Phil Jackson has full power. If Jackson wanted to let Carmelo walk, Dolan says "It's his decision, that's my agreement with him."

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 18, 2014

"He (Phil) didn't have to convince me to give up the authority. That was easy… I’m not qualified to do this." – Dolan

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) March 18, 2014

Nuh-uh on the Lin thing and [shivers] on the Grunwald thing, but okay. I'm happy Dolan talked. I hope he'll keep doing that, though I certainly don't expect it. Jackson sounds very cool. This has been a good, positive day. Great vibes all around. Let's see what happens when the business begins.

More things:

- Netw3rk and JDoobz on Philip today was very good.

- RAWTH on Dolan/Jackson: Also very good.

- Chris Herring found the five team names the Knicks have staked claim upon for their new D-League franchise. Here they are, ranked in terms of badness: Bockers (NO. TERRIBLE.), Empire (So boring), 914s (Area code? Awful.), Hutch (Kinda cool, but not plural enough), Plainsmen (Still kinda eh).

- Nice "highlight" package of the Knicks' season to date (via).

- Carmelo Anthony, who has been saying all sorts of things, sounded pretty open to changing his game to fit whatever. He also thinks Philip makes New York more attractive to free agents.

- He is a free agent.

- I don't think the injury ended up matter, but note that the Knicks strongly considered sitting Iman Shumpert the night before the trade deadline (when he hurt his knee). They really wanted to deal him. Of course, an organizational change may give him new hope of remaining a Knick now.

- I guess this might change some? Not like CAA had a huuuuge chunk of the Knicks' roster anyway. More of a front office thing.

- I won't be linking to all the "Person Tangentially Connected to Phil Jackson/the Knicks comments on all this" articles...except for Metta World Peace.

- ...and an interview with Daniel Artest, just because.

- And Steve Kerr addressing the coaching rumors is worth a look/listen.

- Herring goes deep on Tim Hardaway Jr., Knicks mascot.

- And here's Jonathan Topaz looking for Timmy comparables.

- SPEED DRILLS with Melo, finally.

- Peter Vecsey, Knicks executive? No. Thanks, no.

- Tyson Chandler didn't practice Monday (presumably not today either) because of those family matters, but he'll be back for Wednesday's game.

Whew! That's all I've got. Back to basketball tomorrow night. Have a good one. Eat well.