I'm working on a theory that it's good for the country when one of the storied sports teams of New York is being run by a true incompetent.

Steinbrenner the Younger appears to be ready to step in and fill the void left by Isiah's departure.

for the fanbase of whatever team hires Isiah next.

"May the door not strike your departing butt."

(Handwriting on the wall always looks better in somewhat poetic Latin.)

Who would that be? Is there an opening for coaching that Finnish team that Dennis Rodman played a game or two for a couple years ago?

Actually the NBA has been mounting a comeback for the past few seasons, but heinous finals matchups took the luster off a great games that proceeded. Not only was the regular season worthy of a baseball pennant race, there all also four or five legit MVP candidates.

The Isiah story is way overrated. For true sleeze take a peep at whats goin on in Seattle.

Heres to an anybody but Detroit and San Antonio matchup in the Finals.

No one's saying the Heat tanked.

my dream is for isiah to disappear off of the public landscape for a decade or two so we can remember him for his playing days again. i'd love to be able to see his face and think of the "baby-faced assassin" instead of thinking of the massive heinsohn he took all over his career and the knick's franchise.

... that if the NBA postseason were shorter and occurred just before the NCAA tournament instead of after it, then there would an awful lot less interest in the NCAAs, largely because the quality of play would look surprisingly weak. The best things college ball has going for it are the awesome structure of the tournament and its spot on the calendar. I don't know whether all this was by design or accident, but from a fan's perspective it sure works out well.

that Isiah is gone. The thing about the Knicks is, Jim Dolan is just as big or bigger a moron for keeping Isiah around this long. 3 years ago anybody w/ a pulse could see Isiah had run the Knicks into the ground w/ bad trades, bad FA signings, bad coaching, bad cap management, etc. etc....Then three more terrible terrible seasons, the trial, and still Isiah is there...so yeah, I'll believe it when I see it.

Okay, you all, please think of a good baseball player who has a bad year. (I am thinking about Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers. Brandon had a bad year last year. But he is baseball-young.)

So... I have this idea. When good players have bad years, statistically, they are almost certain to do better next season. Huh? Huh? Isn't that right, Mister James????!

My example, Brandon, is doing very well so far this year, even with management-imposed extra negative factors, although obviously it is too early this year to conclude.

However, baseball sabre geniuses, here is an easy-to-figure stat project:

Players have down-years. How often do they revert to up-year form? At what age does statistical down take over from statistical up? Inquiring baseball fans want to know.