Calling X McDaniel

It isn’t often that I feel like Zach Morris from“Saved by the Bell,” but now and then, I am tempted to press the proverbial “pause button” on life and take a look around. Today seems like a better time than ever to look at the state of affairs of the New York Knicks, the team that I have cheered for and screamed at since the days of Xavier McDaniel (I know that wasn’t that long ago, but I’m only twenty.) That’s right, it’s time to do some soul searching for an organization that seems to be losing this very entity.

The Knickerbockers have had a very tough year. Aside from another losing season (they don’t look like they can rebound from the 6-14 record,) the Knicks have endured some serious hardship over the past year, and although a good deal of it has been self-inflicted, some has truly been tragic.

Now don’t get me wrong, I would be the first to applaud Isiah Thomas’ firing, Stephon Marbury’s trade out of town, and James Dolan’s relinquishment of the team. But none of these seem very likely anymore. For some reason, Dolan has chosen to stick by Thomas, even after yesterday’s culmination of a sexual harassment scandal that cost the team over $12 million (not to mention the credibility that was there for the historical greatness of the franchise.)

Thomas was accused of continually committing unwanted sexual advances towards co-worker Anucha Browne Sanders. When interviewed about his coach’s case, Marbury stated that “I know Isiah and I know he's an honorable man…I know that he's a guy filled with a lot of character, so I think everyone here is on his side.” But according to many sources, when Thomas mused with the idea of not starting Marbury, Stephon had this to say about his “honorable” coach: “Isiah has to start me…I've got so much (stuff) on Isiah and he knows it. He thinks he can (get) me. But I'll (get) him first. You have no idea what I know.” Hmm…

Marbury was also implicated in the sexual harassment suit that was filed against Madison Square Garden, which may help to explain his willingness to jump to Isiah’s defense. He was accused of having a sexual relationship with a drunken intern and he admitted to calling Ms. Sanders “a bitch,” a charge that Marbury took rather lightly considering the weight of the lawsuit.

And through all of this, James Dolan has seen no reason to fire his trusty (also not trustworthy) GM/Coach. Even with fans chanting “Fire Isiah” at nearly every home game this year, Dolan has moronically stuck by Thomas. It is an unfortunate state of affairs for Knicks fans when we have to relish the days of just being in the news for our team’s inability to win games, now though, there is this.

To be fair though, the Knicks have had some hard luck that has nothing to do with their morally reprehensible behavior. Newly acquired Zach Randolph’s grandmother died only a few weeks into the season, and Stephon Marbury’s father suffered a heart-attack while watching his son at Madison Square Garden on December 2nd (Marbury’s aunt also recently passed away.) To the credit of the organization, the Knicks have confronted both Marbury’s and Randolph’s crises with class. Both players have been given blank checks as to when they should return to the team while they mourn their loved ones.

And while the Knicks have handled this situation relatively well, it leaves one wondering: how bad can a company be that it is applauded for giving people proper time off for bereavement? Let us not be fooled by the grace of Isiah Thomas when he assures us that the Knicks are giving Steph as much time as he needs; he is merely covering his behind so the players association doesn’t file a grievance.

Much like our president, Isiah Thomas is a lame duck, and so while success (both in terms of sport and of soul) seems to be impossible while he is the sitting coach, there are two directions towards which we can look. We can reach nostalgically back to the times of Hoop Dreams, a film that portrayed Thomas as a legend and a role model for inner-city youth in Michigan. Or we can look excitedly towards November, 2008, a month that will have just seen the beginning of a new basketball season and the election of a new (fingers crossed) party in the White House. We must hope that next year will bring new hope and honesty to the presidency, as well as to the Knicks’ front office.

But then again, what am I saying? Lightning can strike twice. Mitt Romney could be our next president, animal abusers could continue to be more ostracized than wife beaters and sexual deviants, and you never know… Isiah Thomas could still be coach the New York Knicks.