I still don’t get it, but it really seems to be happening and it may continue.
Using a guy who looks like the bassist for the heavy metal cover band that plays at your local bar, the Knicks are indeed recording what is said to and by Carmelo Anthony on the court, reports both the New York Post and ESPNNewYork.com (both of which follow up on a Star Ledger report from Monday).
From the ESPN report:Owner James Dolan ordered Madison Square Garden technicians to place two microphones on opposite ends of the court, a move league sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard was put in place in order to protect Anthony.
It is not clear whether the recordings will continue, but sources tell Broussard that any move to paint them as Dolan “spying” on Anthony is “flat-out wrong.”
What word would you prefer? Eavesdropping? Snooping? Undercover investigation? (Okay, that’s two words.)
Apparently the word the Knicks like is “protecting.” The question really is what does Anthony need protecting from — the harsh comments of opposing players? I’ll grant you what Kevin Garnett reportedly said to ‘Melo — which led to ‘Melo trying to continue the “conversation” by the team bus and that led to a suspension — may have crossed the line of common decency, but he said it to get under Anthony’s skin and throw him off his game. It worked. Mission accomplished. Sending a tape to the league office will change nothing.
Fortunately for the Knicks, they have just one game this week and it is in London.
What remains clear in all of this is that Anthony is Dolan’s guy — remember then GM Donnie Walsh was playing hardball and not willing to ship half the team to Denver to get Anthony, but Dolan overruled him to get his guy. This is the New York born star (Red Hook area of Brooklyn) come home to save the Knicks. This is Dolan’s story, his guy, his deal, and if you mess with Anthony Dolan will want to protect him.
Except, Anthony needs to protect himself.