COSELLOUT: Still Tellin’ It Like It Is

Some Thanks: To DeadSpin and The Big Lead for giving “The Book of Isiah” and our voice some greater legs. Thanks to all of the various Knicks blog sites (see below) that picked up the series; and to all those who showed some love, OR thoughtful criticism through their emails, comments, and message boards. And always thanks to my favorite blogs “The Starting Five” and “StopMikeLupica” who make it feel less lonesome in speaking truth to the power that is our mainstream sports media.

“The Knix Fix”: Allow me to repeat the footnote that was added to "The Trades: Turning Weatherspoon into Wine": “While I have come across many solid Knicks blogs over the last couple of days, perhaps none was more impressive than the New York Newsday’s "The Knix Fix". The commenters on the blog flat out know their Knicks. Fair warning: If you decide to engage, you better do your homework first, otherwise we suggest that you go back and play with the other kids in the sandbox known as the ESPN Conversation comments section.” To their credit a commenter pulled my coattail to a factual error in the article “The Trades: Turning Weatherspoon into Wine” so we amended the article accordingly while citing the source. COSELLOUT does not have the luxury of a highly paid crack editorial staff, so we depend on our readers to assist us with our ideal goal of fairness and accuracy. 

About COSELLOUT: Now you might be surprised that a more mainstream blog like New York NewsDay’s “The Knix Fix” written by a fine mainstream Knicks sportswriter (Alan Hahn) was chosen. Well we want to make something very clear about COSELLOUT. This website is NOT anti-mainstream sports media. It is PRO responsible media, pro-responsible commentary, and pro-media accountability. The only reason this website even exists is because so many of the big dogs are more interested in selling their papers and pleasing their advertisers than actually doing their job. … does anyone believe that during the Larry-Brown-Isiah split that Larry “play the right way” Brown as villain was going to sell more papers than Isiah as villain? Or that Stephon Marbury’s downright legendary community service is what folks will pay to read when we could slam him about a free-spirited-television interview or consensual sex instead? And that is why we get so much garbage, so much misinformation, and so many “Cosellouts” in mainstream sports media that chase the dollar while ignoring their craft. Nobody wants my sports-writing salary (currently… $0 an hour). But there is also good in mainstream media and COSELLOUT acknowledges that it probably has not done enough to highlight that point. As it relates to the Knicks, The New York Times and New York Newsday provide the most insightful and balanced coverage. But I digress again:

Now we’ve already stated the case why Isiah is the best drafter in the entire NBA, and he has managed to draft better for the Knicks in the last 3 years than the previous 14 years of Knicks drafts. Sorry Zeke. Not good enough….  In the second quote, the Crawford trade gets chastised because another GM just might have pulled off a Kobe heist if he were just able to make a better pitch on Othella. Hey, you just never know! …The bottom line is that many “Isiah Riders” judge each draft pick, each trade, and each transaction against an ungodly standard: perfection. With the bar set this high, we are assured of two things remaining: Isiah will always lose, and haters will always hate. The good news is that the “Isiah Riders” have inspired the creation of an upcoming chapter article called “The Isiah Rules”. So a special thanks goes out to all the haters for that moment of clarity!

The other common flaw expressed from many of the "Isiah Riders" is that they keep citing the Knicks won-loss record the last three years instead of the development for future title contention. Isiah Riders tend to fall into the classic real estate trap by judging a potential new home for what it is, than what it could become. I have little doubt that this will mark a major transition year in that development. In any event, thank you all for discussing this article series.

Now we move on to Ultimate Knicks where the reviews came in a tad less glowingly:

First, a friendly warning upon log-in:

… [warning is ignored…]

• "This book really needs to be published and promoted!"

• "very good read. he makes some great points using facts not opinion."

•  "Hater repellent."

• "Definitely the best article written on our situation. Hope all the Isiah hating fools on this board take note!"

• - "Extending Isiah’s contract last year was a huge mistake, he ran the Raptors into the ground…"

…Knicks City & Knicks4Life come in with mixed reviews…

• “Looking at each trade might expose some mistakes made by Thomas. However, looking at where the Knicks are NOW compared to where they were THEN, it’s like night and day.”  

• “LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL is that what you think is going on in MSG under Isiah he’s been acquiring young talent for a future championship run. That’s just laughable. I would take apart your statement but just like that website your living in LaLa if you think Isiah has any plan.” 

• That site is full of great stuff… I’m glad someone took the time to put all that together in to cold hard facts. Some people on this site and the media especially really need to read that over.

•  excellent article MODI. You have made a lot of very good arguments  

•  its one thing to say Isiahs been treated too harshly its another to call him a "tremendous gm" …lets put the pipe down… 
   

• I probably fall into the Isiah basher camp, but melodrama aside (Biggest myth? c’mon now) that site was a very interesting read. 

…and ProSportsDaily comes back mostly favorable with a notable exception…