The Stephon Marbury era appeared to end in New York not with a bang, but with a DNP-CD. But new Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni parking Marbury at the end of the bench, squarely outside the nine-man rotation, didn’t sit well with some fans Wednesday night. When they made their displeasure known, D’Antoni channeled his inner Tony Soprano.
Chants of “We Want Steph” echoed through Madison Square Garden throughout the second half of the season opener once it became clear that he wouldn’t be taking off his warm-ups. (The chant was quickly booed down by other, saner fans.) When the chant came again late in the game, television cameras appeared to capture D’Antoni saying, “Are they f**king kidding me? Are they f**king kidding me? What a bunch of a**holes.”
Keep in mind the Knicks were winning by 16 at this point. In the fourth quarter. Not to imply they’ve been success-starved, but leading late in the game is like winning a championship to Knicks fans. But apparently a large enough contingent of fans so admired the craftsmanship and affordability of the Starbury to make their voice known. I don’t think D’Antoni should panic that he’s losing the fans; they chanted “Fire Isiah” for years before anything got done.
D’Antoni, when asked about the naughty language, responded with the rare single-statement denial/admission:
“No, I would never do that. Hey, it’s done … I should do better, I’ll do better.”
D’Antoni also warned against letting your kids watch Knicks games too closely, and not because they’d grow up thinking defense is only something needed when sued by Anucha Browne Sanders. He apparently likes to curse up a storm during games:
“If y’all are going to read my lips during the game there is a lot of stuff I’ll be saying that, probably I’ll have to be like a football coach (who covers his mouth with paper),” D’Antoni added. “We’ll do that from now on.”
10:39 am on October 31st, 2008
New Yorkers are a-holes? No way.
11:00 am on October 31st, 2008
Tell us something we don't know, Mike.
11:19 am on October 31st, 2008
DNP-CD? So he did not play his self-produced CD last night? That's a relief.
11:28 am on October 31st, 2008
It's been so long since the Knicks won anything, the fans couldn't remember how to cheer when they're ahead. Booing everything is just a natural reaction at this point.
11:33 am on October 31st, 2008
In due time, Knicks fans will come to appreciate D'Antoni's no-nonsense approach and tell-it-like-it-is mentality. Unless they start losing again.
11:37 am on October 31st, 2008
I thought Steve & Barry's filed for bankruptcy.
11:45 am on October 31st, 2008
“No, I would never do that. Hey, it’s done … I should do better, I’ll do better.”
Good. I can't wait to hear what better swear words he'll come up with next game.
11:53 am on October 31st, 2008
Sound like something George Bush (the first one) would say:
"Read my lips…you're a bunch of a**holes."
12:01 pm on October 31st, 2008
Why would D'Antoni be channeling the new Dolphins head coach?
12:15 pm on October 31st, 2008
Mike D'Antoni is my new favorite coach.
12:21 pm on October 31st, 2008
“Are they f**king kidding me? Are they f**king kidding me? What a bunch of a**holes.”
I've never heard of such a spot-on analysis of Knicks fans.
12:23 pm on October 31st, 2008
When the chant came again late in the game, television cameras appeared to capture D’Antoni saying, “Are they f**king kidding me? Are they f**king kidding me? What a bunch of a**holes."
Does this mean D'Antoni is going to be fined by the FCC?
12:55 pm on October 31st, 2008
Haha, that's great. D'Antoni obviously isn't the Zen master Phil Jackson is.
1:16 pm on October 31st, 2008
If the fans want Marbury, then let him go sit in the stands with them.
1:59 pm on October 31st, 2008
If fans are going to be reading his lips, Mike should try to get a sponsorship deal with Chapstick.
2:42 pm on October 31st, 2008
I like a coach who can speak the truth.
6:40 pm on October 31st, 2008
Every coach swears. Some are just better at hiding it from the cameras.
6:47 pm on October 31st, 2008
Wasn't Marbury supposed to have been traded or waived at this point?
9:18 pm on October 31st, 2008
Nice way to ingratiate yourself to your fans.
But I still find it funny.