Malik Rose deserves an escape from New York

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...2&sportCat=nba

He does not belong here.

Here, in this joyless arena (Madison Square Garden). Here, with this clueless, combative coach (Isiah Thomas). Here, with this snide, vindictive owner (MC Smooth-J Dolan). Here, with one point guard who doesn't pass (Nate Robinson) and another who doesn't play (Stephon Marbury).

Here, with this heartless forward who visits strip clubs on bereavement leave (Zach Randolph), with this heartless starting center who can't rebound (Eddy Curry), with this heartless backup center who can't, well, do much of anything (Jerome James). Here, on this roster of the New York Knickerbockers.

Malik Rose would never admit this. He does what good and righteous players have done for decades: talks about the Knicks turning the corner and being a part of something special, and standing behind Dolan and Thomas and Marbury as they struggle to right a battered and hole-pocked ship.

Yet this is not where he belongs. No way.

To be blunt, Malik Rose is too good for these Knicks -- too good of a teammate, too good of a person. In the immediate aftermath of player introductions, Rose routinely embraces each New York starter in a firm hug while whispering, "Go get 'em" or "Make it your night." During timeouts, as the eyes of the starters stray from Thomas' clipboard to watch the gyrating (and scantily clad) Knicks City Dancers, Rose -- a reserve forward and one of the last men off New York's bench -- leans in as if he were studying details of the Malta Summit.

"You never know," says the 12th-year Drexel product, "when you might be needed."

Rose is the guy who shows up early for practice, who leaves late, who roots for the men playing ahead of him, who refuses to move on until he makes 80 percent of his shots during shooting drills. "Why?" he asks rhetorically. "Because I know I need to shoot a very high percentage to stay on the court. So I always hold myself to that standard."

Again, Malik Rose does not belong here.

In a locker room full of doorknobs, he is a Tiffany bracelet. To a media corps harassed, stymied and intimidated by Dolan's manipulative and oppressive tactics, he is, officially and unofficially, the go-to guy. Rose answers all the questions, tackles all concerns and speaks up for teammates when they are too ashamed to speak for themselves.

Following most of New York's 28 defeats this season, the same pattern has developed: Thomas takes a handful of queries, then vanishes. Three or four Knicks take a handful of queries while their teammates hide in the showers. Dolan, being the wimpiest of wimps, doesn't even appear. Rose, meanwhile, answers all.

Again, he does not belong here.

Were there a God monitoring the daily NBA agate, Rose never would have been involved in that putrid trade three years ago, when the San Antonio Spurs shipped him (along with a pair of first-round draft picks) to New York for two rusted, half-empty tin cans (aka Jamison Brewer and Nazr Mohammed). No, Rose would still be in San Antonio, the city he adopted while enjoying seven and a half blissful years as a Spur. Though he was never a regular starter, Rose served as San Antonio's off-the-bench igniter; a fist-pumping, body-slamming, 6-foot-7, 255-pound cannonball who thrived at sledgehammering Shaquille O'Neal during some of those epic Lakers-Spurs battles.

More important, he became the Spur in the community. Rose opened a restaurant in the city's Quarry Market, "Malik's Philly Phamous," where he could often be found slinging cheesesteaks and cracking jokes. Though he never averaged more than 10.4 points or 6.4 rebounds, the San Antonio Business Journal named Rose one of the city's "40 under 40." Whenever there was an appearance to be made or a charity to endorse, Rose always materialized.

Rose was so beloved that, the night of the trade, Don Harris of WOAI-TV drove out to his house to give the new ex-Spur a chance to bid everyone farewell. In a remarkable bit of hometown journalism that can be seen here, Harris handed Rose the microphone and allotted him all the time he wanted. "Thank you for everything you've given me and allowed me to do," Rose said. "Thank you for allowing me to make Texas my home … San Antonio my home. First and foremost, I wanna say thanks to [coach Gregg Popovich]. Pop has been great. And we've had our ups and downs, sometimes we've hated each other, but I know he knows that through it all I've respected him and loved him as a person and a lot of his views and a lot of his positions on things on life, not just basketball. I think he's a brilliant person with a beautiful heart and I wish nothing but the best for him …"

The interview extends beyond five minutes, a hurting Rose addressing a hurting city. It is as "un-Knicks" as one can get, chock full o' pain and compassion and feeling.

It speaks of a good man. A kind man. A decent man.

Malik Rose does not belong here.

*awaits New Age Spurs Fans who will proceed to bash Malik*

great article

We'll all be there to meet him when he gets off the plane to come home to SA to retire.

It's the least we can do for one of the players who showed us that great character in a reserve can be valuable to a team as well as great talents from a superstar.

That video always breaks my heart. No matter what you want to think of Malik, that's got to touch you that a pro athlete was so touched/heart broken about having to leave the city/team.

Malik didn't deserve to be outed like he was.

He's was a great role player on a great team. On a no-talent crappy team he can only waste away...and he has.

I'm surprised the Knicks, with all their spending, didn't buy him out and cut him loose at some point along the way.

Malik was great

He was key to 03 championship

I remember in the day of the trade I arrived home and when I saw Malik was traded I can't believe. I saw that interview and felt really bad for him.

I never saw a player cry like that because if a trade.

well, at least he's getting paid very nicely

I really do miss Malik. Every time I see that video, I get choked up. I hope he comes home to San Antonio soon.

Loved his energy. He would pump fake too much, but loved his energy. Dude has heart. He made silly mistakes at times, but I didn't mind because he gave 110% all the time.

But it's just a business...

Bonner for Malik straight up.... is that even possible? ahh well, to lazy to check...

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Originally Posted by phyzik

Bonner for Malik straight up.... is that even possible? ahh well, to lazy to check...

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No.

malik rose blows.

next...........

the price you pay for fronting Pop... i still love what Malik did on this team...

I loved Malik still do.

I lost alot of respect for him though when he admitted to "throwing plays" in 04.


Im sorry, a guy intentionally throwing plays and not giving his all is unacceptable.

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Originally Posted by T Park

I loved Malik still do.

I lost alot of respect for him though when he admitted to "throwing plays" in 04.


Im sorry, a guy intentionally throwing plays and not giving his all is unacceptable.

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He never said he threw plays. That's you saying that.

He said that he sometimes didn't listen to Pop intentionally (he never even specified if he was talking about in practice, off the court, or in a game). He never said he threw plays.

Free Malik!

Crap, that made me tear up again.

And . . . Zach went to a strip club on bereavement leave?

Malik Rose is just a genuine guy. One time, we were in the elevator together not that long after I moved to San Antonio.

He had seen me several times at Spurs stuff, but I hadn't ever really talked to him.

There were just a couple people on the elevator and he was carrying a bunch of things .. a gym bag, a bottle of water, and some other stuff. He put all his stuff down on the ground from one hand and extended his hand to me and said, "Sorry, I have seen you around a bit but we have never been formally introduced. I'm Malik Rose."

:)

Sweet story Kori.
He does seem like a nice guy.

Malik Rose was all hustle and all heart, and will always be remembered by true Spurs' fans. Yes, he deserves an escape from New York, but he doesn't belong here.

Despite the frustration of having to watch him shoot 18ft baseline jumpers he had no place taking, I will always love Malik. I remember watching him as a rookie, hustling his arse off, fighting off bigger guys for rebounds he had no place getting, muscling and harassing bigger guys in the post to the point they'd give up, and I hoped he'd become a Spur... and so he did. :tu to Malik. He was an integral member of two championships, and he will always be close to the heart of real Spurs fans.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

There were just a couple people on the elevator and he was carrying a bunch of things .. a gym bag, a bottle of water, and some other stuff. He put all his stuff down on the ground from one hand and extended his hand to me and said, "Sorry, I have seen you around a bit but we have never been formally introduced. I'm Malik Rose."

:)

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You know how Chris Rock would translate that, don't you?

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Originally Posted by SequSpur

malik rose blows.

next...........

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TOO EASY.

I won't spell it out for you Sequ, but it involves your Mom, a trailer hitch, the chrome on it, an Indian, a hobo, and a video camera. I'll provide a link if you'd like...

Malik to Cleveland for Eric Snow.

RealGM trade checker approved Trade ID #4429468

Trade works and it gives NY a pass first point gaurd (albeit an old one)

Malik gets to escape and join Ferry & Mike Brown.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hsxvvd

Malik to Cleveland for Eric Snow.

RealGM trade checker approved Trade ID #4429468

Trade works and it gives NY a pass first point gaurd (albeit an old one)

Malik gets to escape and join Ferry & Mike Brown.

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that would be pretty sweet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hsxvvd

Malik to Cleveland for Eric Snow.

RealGM trade checker approved Trade ID #4429468

Trade works and it gives NY a pass first point gaurd (albeit an old one)

Malik gets to escape and join Ferry & Mike Brown.

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whos contract ends sooner?

I think Snow wants to go to Atlanta if any where.

are they going to do a remake? malik as Snake Plissken.... hmm....

Malik is a team player all the way. Unfortunately he was sacrificied for the better of the team. It might not be the easiest way to do it but it must be done. I admire his love for the team despite being traded. If ever given the opportunity, I hope he decides to return to the spurs. I know that is what his heart desires. I know he'll be a heck of a player again.

The worst trade in Spurs history.

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Originally Posted by Holt's Cat

The worst trade in Spurs history.

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Didn't Nazr play pretty well on the way to the 2005 ring? Also, it was an effective salary dump that enabled other moves to happen. Sad day, but there was a reason for it.

I would say the saddest day in trade history was the day Sean was traded away. Gladly, he came back.

It's easy to remember, and to still want, the hustling, bustling Malik of 2003/04.

It's painful to remember the Malik of 2003/04.

Pop perhaps was not completely innocent, but as I remember it, Malik pretty much fucked himself up and off of the Spurs.
After 7 years of Pop's system, what the hell was Malik thinking?
Did his big contract after the 03 Championship go to his head?
Did $uccess spoil Malik Rose?

http://www.moviefans.de/a-z/k/klappe...e-plissken.jpg
THIS IS THE ONLY DUDE TO ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK

What a coincidence... I posted in here that the Spurs should re-acquire Rose as a throw-in on Monday in this very Mill.


I like Nate Robinson.

Malik is getting paid to sit on a bench. what a tragedy

I would love for Malik to get traded to a good team. I hope it happens this season.

I wish he would get brought back here, but I don't see that happening.
( Unless I strike it rich enough to buy the Spurs. :) )

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Originally Posted by Ghost Writer

What a coincidence... I posted in here that the Spurs should re-acquire Rose as a throw-in on Monday in this very Mill.


I like Nate Robinson.

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Dayum, now THAT's an idea! Nate could be the new Speedy, and Malik could give us the energetic bigman off the bench. Question is, why the hell would they give up Nate? Surely he, Crawford and Lee are the three guys the Knicks DON'T want to trade?

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Originally Posted by angel_luv

I would love for Malik to get traded to a good team. I hope it happens this season.

I wish he would get brought back here, but I don't see that happening.
( Unless I strike it rich enough to buy the Spurs. :) )

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what is the club closed? :rolleyes

In all seriousness he make a crap load of money for doing nothing. Any of you would take that life in a second

the guy interviewing said it right. they just don't make many of them like malik.

he was a such a hard-working guy on the court. all too often we see players with much more talent than malik taking plays off and being lazy and it's really hurting the game. you have to respect the mans effort.

malik made the most out of his talent (money and sucess).

The spurs were better off without him in 05, and especially in 06 when we had to seal up the other two of the big 3.

sucks that we had to lose a good person on the team, but it won us more rings.

$7,647,500
^
really?

Quote:

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Pop perhaps was not completely innocent, but as I remember it, Malik pretty much fucked himself up and off of the Spurs.
After 7 years of Pop's system, what the hell was Malik thinking?
Did his big contract after the 03 Championship go to his head?
Did $uccess spoil Malik Rose?

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I would say no considering his best season came the season following the off-season that he signed the contract. So your whole point is incorrect.

(the contract wasn't that outrageous in amount either, just length, but the Lakers were interested and had just beat the Spurs with Malik performing well, no way the Spurs let him go, they got him for around market value too)

Considering the lack of talent we have with our reserve big men - I think Malik would be a welcome addition! He was always scrapping for rebounds and played Shaq probably better than almost anybody in the league!

We're losing too many games because of rebounding - Malik couldn't be worse than Elson or Bonner!