Evenard M. Panes
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Sports InsiderThe New York Knicks Suck, but are still Money.
December 13th 2007 10:11
A losing franchise in the Mecca of basketball, poor leadership, overpaid players and a massive sexual harassment payout, you’d be forgiven in thinking that the New York Knicks franchise wouldn’t be worth that much these days. In fact, it would be safe to believe that the team from Gotham wouldn’t be worth anymore than the Reykjavik curling team. If you held that belief, you’d be wrong.
According to Forbes, who compiled a list of the most valuable NBA franchises, the New York
Knicks have become, believe it or not, the first pro-basketball franchise to be worth $US600 million! The average NBA franchise is worth $US372 million, which is a rise of six percent in a year.
Basically speaking, basketball is serious business.
Pro-hoops is arguably the third most popular sport in the U.S. but it is generating more cash due to larger gate receipts, a huge television deal, and the fact that the spending on players is tightly regulated.
Although, the Knicks are the most valuable team in the NBA, they also have the largest operating losses due to big spending on players, and an $US18 million buyout of former coach, Larry Brown’s huge contract.
Still, the Knicks suck.
Now, onto the actual game of basketball. Well, at least the the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons game, and, also, the Utah Jazz battling the Phoenix Suns, which funnily enough, were the two games on television today.
Somehow. Against all odds. The Houston Rockets managed to defeat the Detroit Pistons, 80-77. So, what’s the big deal from this game that has necessitated such a dour introductory sentence? Well, Houston was horrible from the free-throw line and almost blew the game. They stunk! It was a painful performance of futility from the charity stripe.
The team collectively began their shooting ‘streak’ by missing 14 of their first 15 free-throws. It got slightly better from there when they ended up making 6-for-22 (6 percent) from the line for the night.
It was u-g-l-y, but the Rockets still managed to beat an excellent Pistons team!
Yao summed up the sentiments of his team perfectly: "Oh, man. We can lose a game because of that," Yao said. "Tomorrow, I'm going to come here and shoot at least 100 free throws. It's almost like you give away free points and give away a game." (Duncan, AP, 2007)
Performance of the Day.
The Knicks might be overrated and overblown, but you cannot say the same thing about Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns. Steve Nash may have been the toughest mofo on the court today after chipping a tooth, but it was the Matrix who had the Suns humming. Plus, Stevie Wonder already gets enough love from the public and this space.
Shawn Marion was all over the place, scoring 26 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and blocking five shots. The Suns broke a two game losing streak, beating the Utah Jazz, 103-98.
In honour of the Matrix, here is a highlights clip of the most underrated player in the NBA.
According to Forbes, who compiled a list of the most valuable NBA franchises, the New York
Please, give Shawn Marion some much needed hugs. He needs the love. (AP Photo/Roy Dabner)
Basically speaking, basketball is serious business.
Pro-hoops is arguably the third most popular sport in the U.S. but it is generating more cash due to larger gate receipts, a huge television deal, and the fact that the spending on players is tightly regulated.
Although, the Knicks are the most valuable team in the NBA, they also have the largest operating losses due to big spending on players, and an $US18 million buyout of former coach, Larry Brown’s huge contract.
Still, the Knicks suck.
Now, onto the actual game of basketball. Well, at least the the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons game, and, also, the Utah Jazz battling the Phoenix Suns, which funnily enough, were the two games on television today.
Somehow. Against all odds. The Houston Rockets managed to defeat the Detroit Pistons, 80-77. So, what’s the big deal from this game that has necessitated such a dour introductory sentence? Well, Houston was horrible from the free-throw line and almost blew the game. They stunk! It was a painful performance of futility from the charity stripe.
The team collectively began their shooting ‘streak’ by missing 14 of their first 15 free-throws. It got slightly better from there when they ended up making 6-for-22 (6 percent) from the line for the night.
It was u-g-l-y, but the Rockets still managed to beat an excellent Pistons team!
Yao summed up the sentiments of his team perfectly: "Oh, man. We can lose a game because of that," Yao said. "Tomorrow, I'm going to come here and shoot at least 100 free throws. It's almost like you give away free points and give away a game." (Duncan, AP, 2007)
Performance of the Day.
The Knicks might be overrated and overblown, but you cannot say the same thing about Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns. Steve Nash may have been the toughest mofo on the court today after chipping a tooth, but it was the Matrix who had the Suns humming. Plus, Stevie Wonder already gets enough love from the public and this space.
Shawn Marion was all over the place, scoring 26 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and blocking five shots. The Suns broke a two game losing streak, beating the Utah Jazz, 103-98.
In honour of the Matrix, here is a highlights clip of the most underrated player in the NBA.
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