Allan Houston is really back. James Dolan, you never cease to amaze.
Defiance at its best
Wow! NBA lesson #1A) New York Knicks owner James Dolan does not give a f–k! The guy has shown an uncanny knack for terrible judgment over the years - I don’t need to bring up the dirty laundry list now - but at a time when the Knicks are shall we say receiving more negative coverage than positive, he has chosen to remind us all of the big mistake that got the ball rolling. Some say it was trading Patrick Ewing for a handful of dead weight contracts. Maybe so, but really it goes back to the Allan Houston contract.
Nobody else was going to give Allan more than $75 million. James gave him $100 million. That was 2001. I like to think of it as not only a salary cap nightmare in itself, but a precedent setter. The New York Knicks have become content to give ludicrous amounts of money to basically anyone even if there wasn’t an established market for that person, and the Houston contract pioneered that trend. If only life worked out like that for all of us. We should all be able to work for James Dolan, except without all that “other stuff.”
Much like Mark McGwire, I’m not here to talk about the past. Houston the player had his flaws, but he did have some amazing nights after signing the big deal. He scored 50 on Kobe in L.A. He earned his spot as an All-Star in his prime, but the contract was always the thing. In baseball it wouldn’t (or more accuratley shouldn’t, but it still is) be as big of a deal cause there is no salary cap, but the investment the Knicks made in Houston put them in an impossible spot when trying to lure superstar free agents. NBA superstars like being the highest paid player on their team. It’s a respect thing for them. When a jump shooter, destined to become a second option is making the big money, it’s hard to lure a true “superstar.” So Dolan threw a bunch of money at a never-ending string of players, hoping that they would blossom into true stars once they got here. It hasn’t worked out yet, but again I’m not here to talk about the past.
This is a much more affordable Allan. He always has been a “good character” player, take that for whatever it means to you. The Knicks have had an interesting off-season to say the least, and they could use a nice fluff story. His contribution to the team on the court is to um… hope someone gives him the ball when he’s wide open? Wait behind the line for Z-Bo or Eddy Curry to draw the double team and kick it out? Good luck with all that. I’m sure they’ll say this is a locker room move, to get a respected veteran presence and so on. It’s really a PR move, and I have to say, not a bad idea.
The Knicks have a home game tonight vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv, and this gives a nice distraction from all the Isiah booing or whatever happens. Sherman Johnson, who wrote yesterday’s Sacramento Kings season preview, will be in attendance and he’ll have his game notes tomorrow.
I just find it amusing that while people are making their lists of James Dolan’s biggest mistakes, he’s happy to show them the living embodiment of one of the worst he’s made. Nicely done, Jimmy! Your defiance knows no limits. Respect.
Alright, busy day today. I’m taking a day off from the season previews cause we have a big feature thing ready to go and it gives those of you who haven’t turned in your previews to handle that over the weekend.
23 Responses to “Allan Houston is really back. James Dolan, you never cease to amaze.”
Oct.11 at 9:01 am
Rasheedionics says:
How can James Dolan fix Knicks, when he can’t even fix Cablevision. How about removing that stupid pop up message every time I change the channel… It’s been like for a year now. Unbelievable.
Oct.11 at 9:03 am
Bryan says:
That’s exactly what we need..another one dimensional wing player with a questionable motor.
Oct.11 at 9:13 am
Andrew says:
NoooOOooOOOoooOOooooOOOooooOoOoOO. It gets harder and harder to be a Knicks fan.
Oct.11 at 9:17 am
Russ Bengtson says:
ATTN JAMES DOLAN: This doesn’t change anything. God still hates you.
Oct.11 at 10:10 am
Bishop1405 says:
Sorry Russ, But God hates the sin, never the sinner! Dolan does needs to repent though. So much money to waste…its a shame.
Oct.11 at 10:24 am
Russ Bengtson says:
Sometimes even the Big Man has to make exceptions.
Oct.11 at 10:25 am
Russ Bengtson says:
And I’m not talking about the mid-level.
Oct.11 at 10:27 am
Clockwork says:
Dolan should sign Spree.
Oct.11 at 10:37 am
NY'er says:
I’m happy with Allan being back, his old contract is just that….OLD! This is a new chapter in his life and people need to learn how to move on, if he makes the team he won’t be getting payed that much money anyway so why worry. He is a classy dude, there needs to be more of that on the Knicks AND in the NBA!
Oct.11 at 11:16 am
eyehatedirk says:
No one on this team knows how to pass, he will never get a shot no matter how open he is.
Oct.11 at 11:38 am
Bryce says:
the knicks are a Rod Strickland signing away from winning the championship…
Oct.11 at 11:40 am
h-town nick says:
If God loves the sinner(dolan)but hates the sin…doesn’t that mean God hates the Knicks? I think we may be on to something here…
Oct.11 at 1:32 pm
vmcb says:
Do I smell a championship?
Oct.11 at 1:32 pm
vmcb says:
wait… no, I don’t.
Oct.11 at 2:20 pm
Konate says:
Attn James Dolan Not oonly God hates you, but all of New York’s fans hates YOUUUUUUUU!
Oct.11 at 2:22 pm
Konate says:
Then Knicks rebuilt and destroyed this team in one off-season! once upon a time i thought we had a shot at a decent season… SO LONG!
Oct.11 at 2:44 pm
John E. Sanford says:
If James Dolan is trying to keep up his incredible record of idiocy, he is officially undefeated.
Oct.11 at 3:09 pm
Permaculture (akaJustMe) says:
As Mark Z said previously: “Somebody tell me Spike TV has Allan wired up for a reality series or something…” I’m imagining Allan riding shotgun in Steph’s SUV declining politely to partake in the activities that entails. Throw in Isiah, Zbo, and Dolan; stir, bake for 40 games and you have a damn fine cake.
Oct.11 at 3:10 pm
dave says:
will he even make the team? he hasn’t played in years! check out this interview with isiah thomas about allan houston and tonight’s game vs. macabbi tel-aviv http://blogs.msg.com/gameon/2007/10/isiah-uncut1011.html
Oct.11 at 3:26 pm
albie1kenobi says:
this is the equivalent of some rich dude decking himself out with name brand, and not caring if those pieces matches or even fit on him. the new and improved trailblazers if you will.
Oct.11 at 5:33 pm
Dyce says:
Who on the knicks is going to play defense? I hope they try to score 110 a game, at least.
Oct.12 at 1:37 pm
SLAM ONLINE | » Isiah: Uncut says:
[…] They’re arrogant, defiant, and when cornered, they do the sensible thing: Blame the media. […]
Oct.13 at 9:53 am
Lie-sayer_Hamas says:
Nobody calls Houston a washed-up bitch but ME!Nobody!-’cept Steph….