NY Daily News To many Knicks fans, Allan Houston was the toast of the town when he led the eighth-seeded Knicks to the NBA Finals in 1999. Yesterday, the only thing New Yorkers seemed willing to celebrate was Houston's retirement. "He needed to retire, he didn't do nothing for (the Knicks) anyway," Jeffrey Bruno of Brooklyn said while standing outside of Foot Locker on W. 33rd St. "He was just on the bench, so it's good for the team. "I admired him for what he did ... . But he can't play anymore." The majority of fans questioned yesterday welcomed the end of Houston's 12-year career, which included nine seasons with the Knicks. "He should have retired, he's a bum," said Clifton Brown of Manhattan. "He's had all those knee surgeries and never came back. He never did anything for them." Most fans agreed that Houston had become a nonentity since leading the Knicks to the Finals seven seasons ago. "Allan Houston, who's that?" said Tim Dowling of Orange County in reaction to the news. It was a fitting question, considering the injury-plagued 34-year-old shooting guard played in just 70 of a possible 144 games the past two seasons. Season-ticket holder Elliot Heller has watched the Knicks go from championship contenders to pretenders, including last season's 33-win campaign. He grew tired of watching Houston - who played just 20 games last season while battling his chronic knee injuries - cheer the Knicks from the end of the bench. Heller said his retirement wouldn't affect this year's team, since Houston hasn't made a significant contribution to the team in two seasons. "I don't think they would have been better with him," the Rockland County resident said, "so (his retirement) doesn't really make a difference. ... He could never play defense anyway." Source
I agree with everything they said, but I wouldn't actually say it, I tihnk it's somewhat scathing after what he did for us for a few years. This is very suitable: "I admired him for what he did ... . But he can't play anymore."
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Knicks Analyst:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree with everything they said, but I wouldn't actually say it, I tihnk it's somewhat scathing after what he did for us for a few years. This is very suitable: "I admired him for what he did ... . But he can't play anymore."</div> It is very suitable...but if you go by that quote, how can you agree with this quote as well: "He should have retired, he's a bum," said Clifton Brown of Manhattan. "He's had all those knee surgeries and never came back. He never did anything for them." I'm not quite sure if the last sentence is talking about recently, but the wording seems like he's talking about Allan Houston and what he's done anything for the Knicks in his career. I don't really see how he's a bum...kinda harsh.
He said that just to get in the paper. Every true Knicks fan knows that Houston was the reason the Knicks got to the 99 Finals. I don't think he really meant that - just a disgruntled fan trying to get attention. I don't agree with his choice of wording.
Im not going to say and I will never say that Houston was a bum,he was a big factor for the Knicks in those years.And Im not going to blame him for our recent failure because it was not his fault.But I agreed that he needed to retire because he was not going to be the same.He was going to hurt the knicks the way that knicks fan's use to blame Patrick Ewing and that was in the running situation.If Houston decided to play,some of the fans will start saying that he will slow the knicks down. But the #20 will always be remember in MSG.
"Houston was a bum". This is New York, not Orlando or Sacramento. They call it like it is up here. He was a disappointment. I think the way a New Yorker sees it is "hey give me all those millions you can call me a choker, a bum, a cancer, every name in the book". Face facts - he was a disappointment and an underachiever and his huge salary kept the Knicks from developing. But I don't blame HIM for his huge salary - what are you going to say "Give me LESS money, cause I have a feeling I'm not going to be all that, and that way you guys have money to make up for my flaws". - no. Blame the weak GM for not calling the bluff of a greedy agent AND failing to properly assess the value of a player. And blame bad luck for the injuries.
A disappointment? Wow, so apparently the 20 ppg he was putting up consistently were bad. I mean, sure his contract was ludicrous and he wasn't worth that much, but by no means was he a disappointment. If it wasn't for him, you guys would never have been in the Finals in '99. Without his buzzerbeater against Miami, you guys would never have escaped the first round that year. Just because he didn't put $100mil numbers doesn't make him a disappointment. He was the reason why you guys were in the playoffs, year in and year out. He was the reason why you guys made the Finals, and the only reason why you made it out of the first round that year. And now, because he's at the tail end of his career and can't do it anymore for problems he can't control, you're going to burn on him? Wow, talk about lack of respect. You people that can't even appreciate all that he did for your team, you guys really aren't true fans of your team at all.
NY media and fans are beyond fickle. I see it everyday... it's not what you've done for me lately.. it's what you've done for me 1 minute ago. I loved Allan when was in NY and anyone who calls him a bum will never appreciate what he did in 1999. If anyone notices.. it's the same thing some fans were saying about Ewing before he was traded. It's all a cycle.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Equint77:</div><div class="quote_post">NY media and fans are beyond fickle. I see it everyday... it's not what you've done for me lately.. it's what you've done for me 1 minute ago. I loved Allan when was in NY and anyone who calls him a bum will never appreciate what he did in 1999. If anyone notices.. it's the same thing some fans were saying about Ewing before he was traded. It's all a cycle.</div> Had a nice chuckle at that statement. You can apply that to almost anything these days. Everyone seems to be in such a damn rush. Do you think this blunt media scrutiny is hurting the Knicks from acquiring players? Aside from the cap inflexibility, I would think players would leary of playing on the stage New York sets up for you. One day your the hero and talk of the town, a minute later you're a bum. Hell even Mariano Rivera was cascaded by the boo birds at Yankee stadium. Athletes have some of most fragile egos out there and most can't handle scrutiny. I would suspect he NY media group is more of a deterrent to free agents then an attraction.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Had a nice chuckle at that statement. You can apply that to almost anything these days. Everyone seems to be in such a damn rush. Do you think this blunt media scrutiny is hurting the Knicks from acquiring players? Aside from the cap inflexibility, I would think players would leary of playing on the stage New York sets up for you. One day your the hero and talk of the town, a minute later you're a bum. Hell even Mariano Rivera was cascaded by the boo birds at Yankee stadium. Athletes have some of most fragile egos out there and most can't handle scrutiny. I would suspect he NY media group is more of a deterrent to free agents then an attraction.</div> I think players realize that NY is rough.. the papers look at every little thing and I think some shy away from that.. but at the same time... the marketing possibilites here are about as good as you can get. I'm biased cause I live in NY.. sure we're animals when our teams lose but that's cause we want to win every god damn thing.. so it's more our problem than theirs. But I'll tell you... the love the athletes get around the city is genuine.. when the fans cling to you... it's like getting a key to the city. Jeter walks the city like he's the Mayor... the old Knicks like Frazier, Reed, Bradley... down to Starks and Oakley.. Joe Nameth. In the end the players know that when they're being booed it's cause the fans know they're underperforming.. and they say they understand... that's what they say at least.
All be it a bit late, but the guy gave us everything and when he finally came to terms with the fact he had nothing more to offer us, he packed his bags. I, for one, appreciate his contribution, and whoever is calling him a bum should look at his stats and go follow the nets and leave the Knicks for the real fans.
