Credit TheSmokingGun.com for this one. We all know that NBA Great Charles Barkley was stopped the other day in Scottsdale, Arizona for driving under the influence of alcohol. Barkley, always the straight shooter, didn't try to lie to the police. In the written report, police say Barkley admitted to having a couple of drinks. Ah, but his admissions didn't stop there.

Friday Night marks the return of Jason Kidd to the Izod Center when the Dallas Mavericks play the New Jersey Nets. Kidd is averaging about 10 points and 8 assists per game. At age 35, he's clearly on the decline but still has flashes of brilliance from time to time. But the question is: How will J-Kidd be received when Gary Sussman announces him to the crowd as the enemy?

There's no place like home, and that's not a good thing. The New Jersey Nets have won only 4 of the 11 games at the Izod Center but 7 of 10 away from home. Go figure. Friday night's game was especially painful as the Nets got their doors blown off by the Toronto Raptors 101-79. Vince Carter was 0 for 13 from the field, scoring only 3 points and he blew off reporters after the game. Hey Vince, we know you had a bad game but give the reporters 10 minutes. Jeez! We know you'll talk when you score 40.

While we wait for the next shoe to drop in the Plaxico Burress saga and the Knicks and Stephon Marbury drag out their soap opera, there's a nice story developing across the river. It doesn't have the sex appeal that these other stories have, but they told me to blog about whatever I want so here goes. Devin Harris is fast becoming the go to guy for the Nets.

The news came down today. The Knicks suspended Stephon Marbury for a game and docked him nearly $400G in salary. The disgruntled guard tells NBC's Bruce Beck in an interview he never said he wasn't going to play, and he was "shocked" he was - in his words - "suspended for no reason." Of course coach Mike D'Antoni says differently. Check out the video.

Maybe it's weird to praise a team after they lose... but there might be some excitement at the Garden this winter. The Knicks lost a tough one to the Dallas Mavericks last night but you had to like what you saw before they ran out of gas in the 4th quarter and overtime. The Knicks' offense looked crisp. As Clyde Frazier would say: "They played with fire and desire." Evidence: a great play in the second quarter when David Lee saved a loose ball. The ball hit off a Maverick player, then Nate Robinson came up with a beautiful touch pass back to Lee for a layup. That's the kind of effort I saw in the 1990's with Charles Oakley and Anthony Mason. Yes, Dirk Nowitzki got hot and lit up the Knicks for 39 and yes the Knicks hot shooting went cold, but encouraging is what I would say about their play. They share the ball and they try on defense. They do... They try. With Mike D'Antoni's uptempo system, nobody will mistake their defense for Riley's Knicks. While the Knicks will score more points, so will their opponents. But what's important is they are starting to erase the losing culture that permeated MSG during the Isiah Thomas error. That was not a typo. I didn't mean era. Guys are expecting to win, not wondering how they will lose and that is a big improvement.

Is this the end of Stephon Marbury's Knicks career? Sure looks like it. Before Friday night's 116-87 loss against the 76ers in Philadelphia, he was put on the team's inactive list. Coach Mike D'Antoni said that it wasn't anything that Steph has done, adding that the team is going in a different direction. That may or may not be the case.

Commissioner David Stern has announced that the NBA will cut around 80 jobs (about 9%) from its U.S. staff. The reason? The NBA is preparing itself to be hit by the economic downturn and it's hard to blame them. A decline in ticket sales is the only thing to be expected in this type of downward, roller-coaster economy. In large market areas, corporations and businesses alike will most likely cut back on unnecessary expenditures… meaning that luxury suites and courtside seats may be left empty; small market teams will see families saving their money for more pressing needs.

NBA Commissioner David Stern, shown at a news conference Sunday in London, said the economy was affecting season-ticket renewals.

While Stern claims that "sports tickets are very much disposable income," the NBA still believes that their overall revenue will increase from last year's mark. Lucrative television contracts with ABC/ESPN and TNT are expected to garner an estimated $7.5 billion in the coming 8 years alone, and the most recent NBA Finals match-up between the Lakers and the Celtics could only be described as a dream come true for NBA execs. Read more after the jump.

While the Mets make their way home after gagging away a postseason berth for the 2nd straight year, the most dysfunctional club in town starts another year. That’s right: It’s Knicks Media Day!

Talk about polar opposites: While Mike D’Antoni and Donnie Walsh desperately try to find a way to get rid of Isiah Thomas’ favorite Knick, Stephon Marbury, his supposed successor, Chris Duhon, said all the right things.

It’s clear Starbury wants out of town, and the Knicks want to make their new coach D’Antoni (who wasn’t fond of Marbury in Phoenix) happy if at all possible by ridding themselves of Marbury. President Donnie Walsh wants as much of Isiah’s mess out the door as possible. It will be interesting to see how the Knicks get it done: A buyout, outright release? But for now, stay tuned.

Hear Marbury’s rant and Sal Marchiano’s one on one with new Knick Chris Duhon after the jump.

It’s been a decade of suffering for Knicks fans. Things seemed to hit rock bottom during the Isaiah Thomas era, but I doubt they’ll get much better. In fact, with the team making one insignificant move after another, the pain is going to get even worse if they don’t turn things around very soon.

The season opener is still months away, and the desperate organization has made some changes. The Knicks drafted Italy’s Danilo Gallinari with the sixth pick in this year’s draft. They have also added point guard Chris Duhon (as if they needed another guard). Their biggest move was the hiring of Coach Mike D’Antoni from the Phoenix Suns.

Do you remember when the Knicks were the talk of the town? They used to sell out every game before September! The Knicks are one of the most storied organizations in NBA history and their collapse has been disgraceful. This downfall began when they offered Allan Houston a mega-million deal which would limit their spending for quite a long time. Don’t get me wrong. He was a great player and did a lot of good things, but he was no Kobe Bryant. Next, the Knicks began acquiring average players with big contracts, such as Antonio McDyess and Steve Francis. And let’s not forget all of their worthless draft picks, which they ended up trading away. (The Knicks haven’t drafted a star since Patrick Ewing.) Read more after the jump.

The Knicks will officially announce the signing of Chris Duhon in the next day or so. The move officially ends the Stephon Marbury Error at the Garden. Duhon can play defense-thought to be forgotten by new coach Mike D’Antoni. Actually, the Knicks roster has lots of guards that could stay or go: Marbury, Nate Robinson and Mardy Collins. The knock on the talented Duhon-he likes the nightlife a bit much.

Hopefully the Knicks will buy him an alarm clock and things will go well. Next up: If the Knicks can’t rid themselvesof Starbury, how do he get along with D’Antoni and Duhon? Stay tuned

Last night’s Game 6 of the NBA Finals was so anti-climactic, Kevin Garnett had time to compliment Michele Tafoya’s appearance. A 131-92 victory will do that, also proving that defense really does win championships. Boston’s Gang Green put the clamps on Kobe for big chunks of the series, including a 3-for-18 shooting stretch Tuesday. Paul Pierce (phony injury in Game 1 notwithstanding) was named MVP

CLICK HERE TO SEE K-G CHAT WITH MICHELE TAFOYA AFTER THE GAME

So Mike D’Antoni is the new coach of the Knicks. Here’s a thought: Is questionable ethics questionable ethics, or “just” doing business? It’s very clear that former Knick Mark Jackson and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf are upset with the pick. Reinsdorf thought he had his man to lead the young, talented Bulls.

Meanwhile, various reports had Jackson so sure he was going to get the job, he was interviewing potential assistants. Recently fired Mavericks coach Avery Johnson was also interviewed and also felt confident about his chances. In the end, the Knicks took who they thought was the most experienced guy, and D’Antoni went for the money.

As I said last week, ANYONE is better than Isiah Thomas. I know for certain one guy, Reggie from Queens, who would be more vocal than Magic Johnson and Dick Vitale behind the bench. D’Antoni has a nice resume, but the usual questions remain:

Will he adapt his up tempo style to the current Knicks team? Will he stress ANY defense? Will he be patient with the idea of LOSING, which we all know will happen as the team tries to get out of salary cap hell? Will Jim Dolan be patient? All reasons why that while I don’t doubt D’Antoni’s knowledge, Mark Jackson, a New York guy who understands the need to be patient and let the team grow, would be a better fit. Unlike D’Antoni, Jackson clearly wanted the job-he quit the YES Network to go after the Knicks.

It looks like Donnie Walsh has decided Suns’ coach Mike D’Antoni the man he wants behind the Knicks bench next season and beyond-a 5 year deal. But here’s reason #1 why I DON’T want D’Antoni here: He’s giving the Bulls the weekend to make a counter offer.

Understand: I don’t doubt D’Antoni’s ability. Averaging 57, 58 wins a season is nothing to shake a stick at. BUT: D’Antoni is pitting the Bulls and Knicks against each other while still under contract as the coach in Phoenix. If Mike can’t get along with Steve Kerr, how do you think he’ll deal with having Jim Dolan over his shoulder? (not to mention the employee mandated attendance at concerts where Dolan’s band is playing) If D’Antoni wants out of Phoenix because he and Kerr are at odds-then quit. But D’Antoni wants his cake and the chance to eat it too. If he quits, the Suns don’t owe him a cent. But if D’Antoni is fired, Phoenix owes him nearly 9 million bucks over the next two years. Sorry Mike: but that’s wrong. Plus, D’Antoni has won NO titles. New York was ticked when Pat Riley and Mike Keenan played the Big Apple for the fool, and so should Walsh. Really, after all the problems Isiah Thomas caused, do we need another ‘me first’ guy here? Former Sun Charles Barkley, never one known for his mainstream ideas, bashed D’Antoni during a radio interview.

I realize that sponsorship in sports is common. NASCAR drivers wear more patches on their outfits than Boy Scouts. It’s one thing to have sweetheart deals with lobbyists and major campaign contributors -that’s part of the American way. You don’t think Hillary Clinton’s just gotten by on her looks now, do you?

Sure, Tiger Woods is in every Nike commercial and uses all their stuff. David Wright uses enough Vitamin Water to flush 12 kidneys. But David Lee of the Knicks has now gone ‘a cut above’ the rest. Lee decided to let fans (through his endorsement of Vitamin Water) cast their votes on what hair style he should wear. The overwhelming choice of six thousand Internet responses: A Mohawk. Give the guy credit, Lee was true to his word. I can’t see Derek Jeter agreeing to something like this.

Result: Not the best work with scissors, but infinitely better than that ancient stylist Delilah and her most well known client, Samson. Lee was more fortunate-he had male barbers clipping his tresses, and won’t require a stint on the DL. Lee wound up with a combination Mohawk/Punk look -and he donated some cash to the Garden of Dreams charity.

Now we know: Donnie Walsh DOESN’T have full authority on Knicks’ basketball operations. Why else would Isiah Thomas - thankfully out as coach - STILL be with this team in a capacity with no title, reporting to NO ONE but Walsh? Donnie actually claimed that Isiah can help the team with input, and has done “a lot” for the organization. Who is he kidding? The team is 103-186 since Isiah joined the team in December of 2003. Most sexual misconduct lawsuits that result in an 11 million dollar payout by your employer usually means that person will lose his job. Not in this case.

You wonder what kind of spell first Glen Sather and Isiah cast on Dolan. The Rangers were in the tank till Gary Bettman cancelled a season and imposed a salary cap. THAT was the best thing to happen to the Blueshirts -it made Sather WORK as a GM rather than just buy high priced players.

But THIS: For Walsh to say that Isiah can do any number of things for him-it reeks of Dolan-for WHATEVER reason still loyal to Thomas (though I am sure the 18 million still due Thomas may have something to do with it). What REAL basketball man with REAL autonomy would want Isiah Thomas anywhere near his team? Walsh had no difficulty watching Thomas leave (although Larry Bird ‘officially’ takes the credit) the Pacers five seasons ago.

You hope that Thomas will have no real power, that the next coach won’t have to feel pressure looking over his shoulder. You hope Donnie Walsh is enough of his own man to ensure that. But for right now, it smells fishy. At some level -and it looks like you don’t have to go too far-Jimmy Dolan still gets to play with the toys Daddy Charles gave him -the Rangers, and especially the Knicks.

If you check out Newsday’s Knicks Blog, fans agree that Isiah must go, and never return.

Perhaps the New Yorker most blessed by Pope Benedict’s visit to the Big Apple-Isiah Thomas. Zeke has already been told he’s out as Knicks coach. But the Knicks will wait till the pontiff leaves town before officially giving Thomas the heave-ho.

Let the speculation begin: Mark Jackson and Scott Skiles are supposedly on Donnie Walsh’s wish list. Interesting that JAX quit as a Nets’ YES announcer the day Isiah’s tenure ends.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT MARK JACKSON AND THE KNICKS

An absolutely horrible local basketball season ends all the way around tonight. The Knicks and Nets finish their below .500 seasons. If you throw Rutgers, Seton Hall and St. John’s in the mix -NO HOOPS teams reached the postseason. PLEASE don’t mention the Lady Scarlet Knights or the Liberty-until I see point spreads in the paper and actual TV ratings in positive numbers -women’s hoops is as fun as counting down the days to the Democratic Primary in Pennsylvania.

For our supposed ‘pro’ teams, let’s hope Donnie Walsh does the RIGHT thing and let Isiah Thomas go immediately after tonight’s glorified exhibition game against the Pacers. Not Friday. Not Monday, not after the Rangers finish off the Devils. Now. What a place the Garden is, what a country we live in-when a man can be so abusive to women in the workplace and still keep his job? The sexual harassment case aside (oh, by the way, that cost the Garden over 11 million bucks and no doubt raised Cablevison’s rates. Jim Dolan’s misplayed loyalty is about as helpful as Bloomberg’s congestion pricing will be to NYC.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

I have to say, I totally agree with Ken Berger’s Newsday column.

How much evaluation does Donnie Walsh need to see to know that Isiah Thomas must go? The team is 23-56.

Let Herb Williams -(hey you’d get more attention if Serena Williams coached the team for a day) the ultimate company man, run the team the last three days. Isiah would have an easier time joining the cast of Lost.

If Isiah could last this long, he should join the houseguests of Big Brother. That’s the only other place that Thomas could survive as the phony incompetent he is-and do it with a smile.

So the Nets’ ‘tragic number’ to be eliminated from the playoffs is one. I’m sure last night’s My9 ratings in the Nets game against the Cavs (Lebron scores 33 with a back back) rivaled the American Idol charity event.

Wake me when Lawrence Frank takes over the lead role on Aliens In America. Or when Vince Carter is sent packing.

Tomorrow night, San Antonio’s Alamodome will be the site of what could be two epic matchups-NCAA hoops Final Four. For the 1st time, all four number 1 seeds reached the thresh hold of college basketball immortality.

My picks: UNC over Kansas-Tyler Hansbrough is the real deal. If he were a Jayhawk, KU would get the nod. Carolina’s supporting cast a bit better than KU’s experienced team. Here’s an oddity in today’s game-Carolina only has one freshman, while Kansas’ first 9 scorers are sophomores or older. Translation: real college players, guys truly hungry for a national title.

UCLA-Memphis: I’ve been bouncing this one around for a while. Louisville pushed the Bruins last weekend, making me wary of UCLA’s chance to win the Big Dance. As for the Tigers, they can’t shoot free throws any better than Shaq. Will that matter tomorrow? But they have Derrick Rose, who would look great in a Knicks uniform should Donnie Walsh and crew win the lottery.

My shaky pick: Memphis-though Carolina-assuming Roy Williams doesn’t mess it up-he ain’t Dean Smith-wins the title Monday night, regardless of who’s waiting for ‘em.

It’s official: Donnie Walsh is the new Knicks president. But we’ll see if he has any ‘real’
power - how soon can he show Isiah Thomas the door?

If Thomas stays, even as team janitor, that’s just a sign that Jimmy Dolan is dumber than we thought. The elephants at Barnum and Bailey don’t stink it up as bad as this clown has.

Still, who’d have thought the Knicks would make a move before the Nets? Rod Thorn, the Lawrence Frank Era should have ended even before Jason Kidd packed his bags for Dallas. If you can’t make a better showing in a weak Eastern Conference, there’s a problem.

Rod, if YOU are not part of the problem, then part of the solution is bringing in a new voice to coach the team.

WATCH AN EXCLUSIVE ONE ON ONE WITH DONNIE AFTER THE JUMP...

On Good Friday I was at the bank when a man came up to me and said, “Hey, you want free Knicks’ tickets for tonight?” Knicks-Grizzlies?! I said no, nearly collapsing in laughter. That’s how bad things are at the Garden. I, a lifelong fan, refused freebies.

So it looks like Isiah will be out as Knicks coach. Praise the Lord! Jim Dolan, what’s taking so long? Brad and Angelina adopt three kids for every week you wait.

Here’s the drill Jimmy-just because Daddy gave you the Knicks and Rangers as a toy to play with doesn’t mean YOU run them into the ground. Took awhile for you to see that with the Blueshirts.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...