I did a post over at Posting and Toasting on Latrell Sprewell, as part of their countdown of the top 10 fan favorite Knick players, as voted on by their readers. Latrell came in at #6, just ahead of David Lee. The post was a little rushed (my fault), and I was disappointed in myself... I didn't really do a strong job of capturing the appeal of Spree to fans. He was a true example of getting a second chance and making the best of it... yes, he could have done more to stay out of trouble, but the fans in NY still came to adore him as few Knicks have been in my lifetime.
Safe to say that Latrell was actually more popular when he was a Knick than Patrick Ewing was during his career (Pat unfortunately always had to wear the albatross of failed expectations around his neck) or Allan Houston (the big contract made him a target of the fans and media). He ranks up there with guys like John Starks, who won fans over with his "going from bagging groceries to the NBA" rags to riches story, and Charles Oakley, who just seemed to make up for a perceived lack of athleticism (I had more ups than Oak!) by working and hustling hard.
Is today's enviroment as forgiving as it was just ten years ago? Can an athlete like Michael Vick get the second chance that Spree got in NY? I don't think the NFL or the media is as forgiving now, but Vick will probably still get a second chance, too.
Leave a comment
|
6 Comments
Comments
the "I have to feed my family" BS costed him a last NBA contract and a third chance, I guess
he ended the career on a sad note, didn't he?
Latrine was a hard worker on the court, whether you liked him or not. But Ricky brought up a good point about 'I have to feed my family' comment... No one felt sorry for a guy making 14 million and whining about it. That was strike three.
Knick fans loved Spree, Oak, Mase, starks because they PLAYED HARD. Houston Charles Smith were great guys who did a lot of charity work, but were involved in a far worse crime than choking your coach, or for some, even dogfighting... they were S-O-F-T!
Agree with ya'll on the "feed my family" comment, one of the worst things a rich person can ever say. I understand that the world of contract negogiations is hard, but leave the comments to the agents and lawyers. No one is ever going to be sympathetic to someone who is making more money than 90% of the people pleading poverty....
Modi - Charles Smith is still The Unforgiven to me. I hate him, so much os that I got his autograph just to piss on it. I have the photo to prove it, too.
Allan Houston deserves better than to be mentioned in his breath. Hey, Allan did come up big against Miami, right?
But it is so true what you right - astonishing as it is, being soft, or sucking, is probably the biggest crime you can commit as an athlete....
okay, fair point about Houston being combined with Charles Smith. And while Smith was soft as hell, I still maintain that Scottie Pippen definitely fouled him on "the play". (not to mention that Reggie Miller literally threw down Greg Anthony a couple of years later) If this sounds like sour grapes, it's because it probably is! And I still can't believe the Knicks also missed something like 15 free throws in "the Charles Smith" game. I don't ever recall cursing at my TV set quite as much...
Finally, there are some places where "soft" will be embraced, just not NYC...
Mike Vick? doubtful, to be honest.
Ron Artest? Definitely could be the next Latrell.
Bonds? Too late in his career.
Pac Man? Definitely could.
I think it depends on age and style of play. Someone balls-out on the field is more likely to win fans over than a quiet calculating type.