And now your New York Zekes! By Adrian Wojnarowski Special to ESPN.com Once the wildest of days and nights at Madison Square Garden had twisted and turned until 6:05 p.m. on Wednesday, until Isiah Thomas made his way to the elevated stage of a packed news conference, the Knicks president was so sure he could win over the room, win over New York. His smile so bright, his eyes so wide, the face of the franchise leaned on his remarkable gift for selling his vision. What Thomas does is sell himself. Because whatever he did yesterday -- firing Don Chaney, dissing Mike Fratello and hiring Lenny Wilkens -- confirms that everything for these Knicks is about Isiah now. As Knicks emperor, Thomas doesn't sit high in the owner's suite and lord over his team, but he spends his game nights at midcourt in the hallway tunnel, where the television cameras and players' glances can catch his every grunt and grimace. Thomas hasn't just brought the buzz back to the Garden's celebrity row. He's managed to turn himself into its biggest star. With Wilkens, Thomas has found the perfect complement in a coach: Ego-less, unassuming and never a threat to steal the spotlight away from where Thomas wants to keep it -- on himself, on his relentless re-making of the New York Knicks. Wilkens is one more tutor for Stephon Marbury, a second Hall of Fame point guard in New York's employment to teach a tempestuous franchise player the lessons of living with those immense responsibilities. Chaney didn't take too kindly to Thomas' clinic on the pick and roll at practice the other day, especially considering that Thomas waited until the assembled gathering of notebooks and cameras had been allowed into practice to give his lesson. Get used to it. As an executive, Thomas did it with Damon Stoudamire in Toronto, and he'll do it with the Knicks. He is hands-on everything. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/stor...rian&id=1709258 _________________________________________________ I love Zeke,his toughness as a player and his determination as a coach BUT one line in this article stood out and made me laugh.. "I have <u>never</u> been <u>disrespectful</u> to a human being in my life," Thomas said. Chicago Bulls and the playoffs anyone? LOL :mrgreen: Everytime the Bulls and Pistons played in the late 80's/early 90's it was war. The Pistons tried to decapitate the Bulls. Hard,and some would say dirty,basketball because it was very hard fouls by the Bad Boys the whole game..however,after many of the numerous ass-beatings doled out by the Pistons to the Bulls..the Bulls always shook hands after a game. Fast forward 1991 playoffs...the Bulls eliminate the Pistons and Isiah leads the team to walk-off without shaking hands with MJ & Crew....lol naaaah..not disrespectful.
