Inheriting a New NBA team.

I grew up a New York Knicks fan. I remember the glory days of Patrick Ewing's drop step drive into the paint, Charles Oakley grabbing every rebound in sight, and Pat Riley's hardcore, do not  f*ck with us defense.

But over the past few years, I have come to realize something. I was a Patrick Ewing fan first and foremost before the Knicks.

And when the Knicks sent Ewing packing like he was cheap suit to Seattle years ago, the paint started to chip off my love for the Knicks. The past decade has not helped either.

James Dolan, Scott Layden, and Isiah Thomas have made it unbearable for any Knick fan.

Dolan is the definition of Trust Fund Baby, that is handed a business and buries it into the ground. Ironically, Dolan hand picked Isiah Thomas, after he put a basketball league into bankruptcy!

Layden, made the Ewing deal, that brought over Glenn Rice, but he forgot to acquire his knees in the deal as well. We would also like to mention the following , Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley, Othella Harrington, the Allan Houston 100 million dollar contract (top 20 worst sports contracts ever), and the Antonio Mcdyess trade, that Layden took Nene 7th overall, and passed on Amare Stoudamire. Lastly, the following seasons top 10 pick... Michael Sweetney anyone?

Should we even mention Isiah's resume? At least he could decently draft, but thats when he did not deal the picks for Eddy Curry. Isiah was also only one of 3 stupid, crazy GM's (the others would be Elgin Baylors corpse, and Laker booster Chris Wallace) to take on Zach Randolph, his contract, and eating habits, not to mention the soap operas he had with Larry Brown, and Anucha Browne. By the way, did I even mention Stephon Marbury?

I have tried to stick with this franchise, but more and more, I have come to the realization that it was not the Blue, White, and Orange I was a fan of. I grew up in an era that the Knicks had a superstar that gave it his all, even if it never materialized into a title.

So, I am offically jumping off the wagon. I do not care if present GM Donnie Walsh is potentially getting Lebron James or not. I want to be a fan of a basketball team again. I have three candidates to choose from, none of them are playoff teams, so I am not trying to ride the wave of another franchise's success.

1) Minnesota T-Wolves

Why?- It is not a perfect franchise by any means, but it has a solid young nucleus that you can root for. Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, and most of all, rookie Point Guard Johnny Flynn.

Now, does the Ricky Rubio Saga scare me off? Not exactly. They will get good value for a guy that cannot even shave yet, but is in a Gillette commerical.

The new GM, David Khan does terrify me. He could easily become Layden/Isiah Redux 2.0.

Flynn is the kicker. I love and watch Big East Basketball, and you have to root for a smallish Point Guard that can run like a deer, jump out of the gym ( see Youtube video of Flynn dunking on Rutgers Mike Rosario), and is as tough as nails. I think he is going to be Aaron Brooks with flash and some attitude.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

Why?- You would think the main reason is Kevin Durant right? Wrong

I love how this franchise is ran. GM Sam Presti is the textbook definition of a guy that told managment that if you are patient with me, I will make a potential dynasty. All he did for a few years was dump contracts, and collect draft picks.

Now, Presti has a fantastic young core (Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, James Harden), along with several good role players on the roster. Oh, did I mention that the Thunder will have at the most, 40 million on the books for the 2010-2011 Free Agent Sweepstakes?

That is around 18 million under the cap. Lebron? Bosh? These guys would not be interested in playing with this group?

He is not the main reason, but Durant is a huge reason. Guy is a machine. He is going to win several scoring titles, but the thing that got me about him was 2 things. One, hes a gym rat, and has that MJ/Kobe mentality that he can score 55 in a game, and think he could do more. The second thing was when I heard that he went to Las Vegas for the Rookie League, sat on the bench with his future and potential teammates, and cheered them on. This is the type of heart and soul leader I grew up loving in Ewing.

and finally, and hear me out on this one...

3) Los Angeles Clippers

Why? - I know, Donald Sterling and that Front Office make James Dolan look like Red Auerbach, but there is plenty to like here.

1.- Two young future All-Stars in Eric Gordon and #1 overall pick Blake Griffin.

2.- How can you dislike Baron Davis? Serously.

3.- I am a sucker for the real, true underdog.

4.- Including picking up Mardy Collins option (Who is a stiff.) The Clippers only have 36 million in salaries for 10-11. That is without even taking into consideration the Clips trying to pawn off Chris Kaman's goofy mind and contract, and possibly resigning Marcus Camby.

5- Lebron should be a real possiblilty here. I know Bill Simmons brought this up first, but it really does make sense. Lebron has two potential All Stars, plus another Lottery Pick from this upcoming season to grow old with. Something the Cavs could never offer him. The Cavs also could not offer him the spotlight of actually making a LA market team viable again, and creating a Clippers-Lakers rivalry that The Hebrew Godfather (David Stern) is salavating over.

I know how I have thought this out, now I would like to know your input on it. Clippers? Thunder? T-Wolves? Stay with the Knicks? I have put up a voting poll to see what team I will inherit into SportsTown, and I will gladly take any emails @ TheSportsTown@gmail.com , or dicsuss it on Twitter(TheSportsTown) .

Quick thought about Rick Porcello

I am watching the Twins/Tigers game right now, and saw a kid that should be a Junior in College pitch in a virtual playoff game.

Rick Porcello may or may not win AL Rookie of the Year (If I had a vote, it would be for Oakland's Andrew Bailey.), but he may just be the most impressive rookie.

What did the 20 year old kid do in the biggest game of his career? 6.1 Innings, 1 Run, 7 Hits, 1 Walk.

He will not win the game, leaving the game with the scored tied at 1, but asking a 20 year old to pitch in a game like this, when most 20 year olds are only worried about what party they are going to on Friday Night, is alot. Porcello kept the Tigers in the game, and in a position to win the game.

Porcello might be 20, but he pitched like a veteran today.

I am confident that there will be a lot more of this to come with the youngster.

Weekend Wrap-Up

I was thinking of an opening to start this article, but I could not think of anything better than to continue on the last thing I wrote about in the previous article.

I wished American Heavyweight Chris Arreola good luck in his title fight against Vitali Klitschko. I am a massive boxing fan, but I never seriously thought that Arreola was this country's great big hope in returning to Heavyweight glory. Then, I was watching on HBO, and I heard in a segment about Arreola, that HBO's Larry Merchant called Arreola "The best American Heavyweight prospect since Riddick Bowe.".

Yes, when I heard it, I thought the same thing. This old man finally really lost his marbles, and that Merchant basically gave Arreola the perverbial Kiss of Death.

Merchant did exactly that. Arreola, coming into the fight in better shape than the usual walking torilla machine, was flat out embarassed by the older, more polished Klitschko. It was actually more one-sided than the Mayweather-Marquez fight HBO showed before this live fight. Somehow, HBO's unoffical judge gave one round to Arreola. He must of been having drinks with Merchant all night long to think that.

If this is supposedly the best this country has to offer in over 15 years, will we ever see another great U.S. Heavyweight?

Baseball Thoughts:

-Congrats to the New York Yankees, and their fans for wrapping up the AL East by waterboarding their rival Red Sox this weekend. Now ironically, you have to root for the Red Sox to beat the Angels, who just have your number since early on in the Torre administration. The enemy of my emeny is my frien. Even Shakespeare would be proud of this.

-Zach Greinke wrapped up the AL CY with win #16 and those sick stats. CC Sabathia was just too little, too late, even though he has been awesome the last 6 weeks.

College Football Thoughts:

-We all know that the College Football Polls are as straight and legit as Al Capone's business ledgers. I mean, personally, I knew everyone the week before was overhyping Miami in the polls. I thought that was bad, but this week might be the worst ever. USC going up five spots by beating a bad Washington St. team at home? LSU going up to #4 after almost getting upsetted by Mississippi St.? I actually rather have the hands of the National Title in the computers if this is the crap that will continue to go on.

-At least we found out the serious pretenders in this college season early. That goes to you California, Penn St., and Mississippi. I will not put Miami in that mix. I give The U alot of props for playing that schedule.

-I really do believe Alabama is better than Florida this time around. Round 2 of the new annual SEC Title war is going to be one of the five best football games this year, NFL included.

-USC went to #5 in the polls somehow while I wrote this article...

NFL Thoughts:

-Whoever reads this blog, knows how sick I must of been watching Favre toss that game winning TD pass and basically being carried off the field like Scott Howard after hitting those two game winning free throws in Teen Wolf. Although, even I have to admit, what a pass.

-I wonder if the city of Detroit was more excited about the Lions finally winning a game than about the Tigers in the middle of a divison race. Congrats to the Lions for finally reeling off a W, and good luck to the Tigers. That city needs all the excitement it can muster nowadays.

-I do not know which game was a bigger mismatch. Cleveland-Baltimore, or NY Giants-Tampa Bay. Two rare examples of men playing against boys. Giants just stomped a mudhole into the Bucs, and put up a convincing shutout without their best defensive player in Justin Tuck. Baltimore even threw the Eff-You Bomb in the 4th quarter for a 70+ yard TD. Mangini must of fined his CB for using a fire extinugisher on himself after getting burnt...

-Peyton Manning is a football God. There is much else to say about him. Chris Collinsworth on the Sunday Night game showed and explained how Manning at the line delays until he sees the defense bite on their blitzing, and calls the audibles/hot routes from there. That is why Collingsworth is the best analyst in the game.

Now Chris, please explain to me how Jim Zorn will still have a job this week?

-I cannot wait for the Jets-Saints game next week. The Unstoppable Force against the Immovable Object. Brees against Sanchez, who is becoming the most popular athlete in NYC this side of Derek Jeter and fast. The matchup I really want to see is Saints tall, physical WR Marques Coltson, who might have a chip on his shoulder still from playing at Hofstra, where the Jets use to practice, and being overlooked by them, against Darrelle "Island" Revis.

-I actually Tweeted ESPN guru Adam Schefter if he thought Revis was the early frontrunner for NFL Def. Player of the Year. He immediately replied to me by saying, "So far, hard to think of anyone else more deserving." High praise for a Cornerback.

Monday Night Pick for tonight.

I am in the minority if thinking that the Panthers are not completely done. I think they will play hard in this game. I just do not think it will be enough. Tony Romo puts up a big game, and makes less mistakes than Jake Delhomme. Dallas Cowboys 34, Carolina Panthers 24.