Knicks wake up the sleeping Celtics
The New York Knicks had a 3-1 series lead over the Boston Celtics when they did something really stupid and dangerous the other night.
The Carmelo Anthony-led Knickerbockers decided to show up for what could have been a closeout game at Madison Square Garden clad in black clothing before the game to let the Boston Celtics know their death in the playoffs was imminent. The all-black decision reportedly came from Kenyon Martin, who wanted his teammates dressed for a funeral.
Instead they woke up Jason Terry, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, and now they are playing Game 6 in Boston.
Not too bright. Meanwhile, the Knicks’ J.R. Smith opened his mouth and said “I’d have been playing golf today,” if he hadn’t been suspended for throwing an elbow at Jason Terry in Game 3.
What was he thinking? He wasn’t!
Who do you want to be in a foxhole with: Garnett and Pierce or Anthony and Smith?
I say look for Boston to come back and win this series, but even if they don’t the Knicks won’t go far because they lack one thing that you must have to win a championship — character.
Bad baseball in ChicagoWhenever the Chicago Bulls season ends, the focus will shift to our very bad baseball teams. I know it#146;s early in the season, but the trends aren#146;t looking good. White Sox opponents are out hitting and out fielding the pale hose, and a team batting average of .231 makes me long for Greg Walker. The pitching has been a little better than the hitting, but neither has gelled yet. Fielding for the Sox also has been spotty (18 errors in 26 games).Still, at only 4 frac12; games back before Thursday#146;s game, there is room for hope with no team really dominating. In the National League Central, the Cubs have looked OK at times, and really bad at other times. Manager Dale Sveum has talked about sending his stars to the minors, and is trying to change the culture. Even though he is dealing with a bad roster hitting 26th in the league, I still have one looming question: Can Dale Sveum manage? We can#146;t really say for sure. Is the team#146;s performance his fault? Would successful managers such as Tony La Russa, Tommy Lasorda or Bruce Bochy do much better? There is so much unknown with Sveum, but the team under him just isn#146;t improving. Theo Epstein will have to take another look down the line. One thing for sure in Chicago, though, is that if you are in last place as both teams are, then nobody looks good and Chicago baseball fans can#146;t be happy.Program note:Watch me on #147;Mancow#148; on WPWR Ch. 50 at 6 a.m. Friday, Monday and Wednesday.Ÿ Mike North#146;s column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.