“I’m in this for the long haul.”
–Larry Brown, when asked if he would walk away from the Knicks job at season’s end.
That’s right Knick fans–it’s time for you to take part in one of the most time-honored traditions of ‘play-the-right-way’ basketball: the frenzied speculation over whether LB will continue to grace your team with his presence next season.
Now during this time, as fans, you are expected to continuously fellate his ego, consuming “stay or go” stories from the Daily News and the Post hourly. You are to wait with bated breath, living or dying with every of Larry’s disgusted looks; every seemingly fabricated rumor from out-of-town press; every miserable, monotone post-game press conference (trust me, this happens win or lose). And above all, you are to develop an innate fear of life without Larry and the pitfalls your Knicks will experience without his God-like guidance.
How much worse could it get, you ask? Take it from some fellow New Yorkers:
Dr Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling.
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness. Earthquakes, volcanoes…
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria.
You pickin’ up what I’m puttin’ down? Good.
Except…it really isn’t that bad.
Take it from a jilted Pistons fan; while the man knows a lot about basketball and has a tendency to coax incremental improvements out of pre-established talent bases, there is a comforting silence that accompanies his departure. It is a silence unencumbered by rumors about the Kansas job or overblown indigestion dramas. Look, at 15-42 even Larry won’t get you past .500. So if you are just striving for mediocrity, wouldn’t it be preferable to toil without the incessant drama?
But this is where you tell me that this is all Isiah’s fault, that LB was saddled with a lackluster roster and should take no blame for the team’s current state. And that’s fine–believe that–you’re supposed to. But when Zeke is finally gone and your spirits and expectations skyrocket, don’t be surprised if Larry starts mumbling about how special he felt as coach of the Jayhawks, and how he always envisioned himself returning to the college ranks to, you know, complete the circle.
And in the end, with both Isiah and Larry gone, you’ll be left with nothing but unfulfilled promise and disappointment…and Steve Francis.
Larry just sick over Knicks [NY Daily News]
Memorable quotes from Ghostbusters [IMDB]
Great post. Anytime you see the words, “Dr. Egon Spengler,” you know it’s going to be good.
How about I tell you that Larry Brown is one of the greatest coaches ever?
While his 05 departure from the Motor City was ugly, nothing will replace the euphoria I felt after beating the Lakers. If he’s cool with Sheed, he’s cool with me. LB4LB in 04.
No argument here, Micro. He was a great coach. But there is a reason that he will never be viewed in the same light at Chuck Daly, and it isn’t that Daly won two.
Great coach, no doubt. Class act–not so sure.
according to Yahoo sports, LB was having heart issues and was admited to the hospital tuesday nite and was out wednesday morning before losing their next game. he shoulda just stayed in the hospital.