Once upon a time there were two teammates playing on a club that after a run of good times had hit the skids.  The once dominant team just squeezed into the playoffs and then lost in a first round sweep. The two teammates both became free agents at the end of the season and both went out to seek their fame and fortune.

Neither player had the best of reputations in the NBA as they had created many problems in the past. The first player signed a mid-level exception contract with a team that could help him get a Championship next season. The second player is rumored to be possibly going to sign a one year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. Guess which one of these players New York Vinnie respects?

Of course the first player that Vinnie was referring to in his little fable is Rasheed Wallace who signed a deal last week to play with the Boston Celtics. As much as it pains New York Vinnie to write this the Frickin Celtics might have locked up next year’s NBA Larry O’Brien Trophy with the signing of Wallace. Rasheed said this was all about winning a ring and New York Vinnie believes him.

The second player is Allen Iverson who according to reports out of the Associated Press is considering signing a one year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. Yes you are reading correctly the Los Angeles Clippers! According to the reports the veteran would sign a one year deal with the Clippers in order to showcase his talents and get a big payday next season. In other words this would be all about the Benjamins!

So A.I. is that what it has come down to you My Man? Being a gunner on a bad team like Ricky Frickin Davis?  See New York Vinnie expected to see that kinda guy with the Clippers he has always been just about himself. But Vinnie never felt that way about you A.I. you had your faults but you have never been thought of as a selfish player. New York Vinnie thinks that maybe your legacy does not mean that much to you. If it does then you can not sign a deal with that team.

Allen New York Vinnie has never been a fan of yours however I have always had great respect for you. Vinnie is certain that there are many other NBA fans who feel the same way. You have been one of the great players of your generation. Are you willing to throw that reputation into the sewer because of a one year deal? If so then A.I. sign the deal and have a good year. But you will lose the respect of New York Vinnie forever!

You know that old expression “He doesn’t know when to leave things  well enough alone?” Well apparently Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant either has never heard the saying or decided to ignore it!  This should be the best off-season of Kobe’s NBA career after winning the NBA Title last month. He had restored his reputation on and off the court and everything should have been peaches and cream for him all Summer long.

But I guess that New York Vinnie lives in “Fairy-Tale Land” because that just is not the way that life is any longer in 2009.  Unfortunately you don’t see a  lot of gracious winners these days as so many players just can not handle success. And unfortunately when the Lakers star had a chance to rise above the fray he took a cheap shot!

Unless you have been on a crack-binge the last couple of weeks you are well aware of the controversy that took place at the Nike camp for Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star LeBron James. A player from Xavier University Jordan Crawford reportedly dunked twice  on James. There supposedly is video of the incident but reports are that Nike took the tapes and held onto them. To New York Vinnie this is a non-incident and has chosen to leave it alone. This column is not about that.

No this column is about Kobe Bryant going for a cheap laugh in front of a bunch of children. If you look below this article you will see a video that kind of reminds New York Vinnie of that old Bill Murray movie Meatballs. Kobe is talking to a bunch of teens when one asks Kobe about the dunks on  James. Rather than leaving it alone Kobe played Comedian to amuse a bunch of teens. And in the process of doing that in New York Vinnie’s eyes he made himself smaller by doing that.

The mature thing to do was not to comment on the event not to play the fool in front of a bunch of teens. Is Kobe’s ego that fragile that he had to pile on James? What good did he possibly expect to come of his comments? Does he forget about his old teammate Shaquille O’Neal and the “Free-Style Rap“  that the Diesel used to show him disrespect? 

Just about a week or ten days ago New York Vinnie was having a discussion with a friend about Kobe Bryant. Vinnie stated that he thought that Kobe had shown a lot of maturity ever since he took part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. New York Vinnie also stated that he had gained quite a bit of respect for Kobe since then. That respect is no longer there.

Kobe Bryant could have done the right thing but instead he took the cheap shot the easy laugh. He also showed New York Vinnie that the nick-name he has chosen the Black Mamba fits him like a glove. Because in New York Vinnie’s eyes Kobe is nothing but a Frickin Snake!

New York Vinnie truly is a lover and not a hater! I have no problem with any person because of their race creed place of origin religion or skin color. To New York Vinnie we are all God’s Children and we each bring our own little piece to the table. With one small exception! New York Vinnie does not trust Canadians. It is not that I have any dislike for them but I just do not trust them. Maybe you remember that old song by the O-Jays Backstabber? “They smile in your face but all the time they wanna take your place!”

That is how New York Vinnie feels about the folks from North of the Border. I truly believe that they are constantly looking to get the upper hand on we from the USA. And I think that every time our Great Nation goes through some crisis they secretly cheer!

Once again there is further proof that the Canadians are trying to become the dominant country in North America as news reaches us from the “Associated Press“. The Toronto Raptors have reportedly signed restricted free agent guard Jarrett Jack to an offer sheet said to be for 4 years and worth $20 million. Jack just finished season number four in the NBA his first with the Indiana Pacers. He spent his first three seasons playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. Jack put up the best numbers of his career this past season averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds a game.

The Pacers are not expected to be able to match the offer sheet meaning yet another victory to our shady neighbor up North. Be diligent America! We have always been number one on this continent lets make sure we remain that way!

The Portland Trail Blazers decided to give their head Nate McMillan a pat on the back after a great season so they extended his contract through 2010-2011 according to NBA.com. McMillan who first became a head coach for the former Seattle Super Sonics took his boys to a 54-28 mark in the regular season. McMillan told reporters he was pleased that his team had the faith in him to pick up the option year on his contract. The Blazers coach said “I’m excited that the option year on my contract has been picked up. We have a great team, first-class organization and the fan support has been incredible. I would also like to credit the coaching staff for their hard work, and we’re all looking forward to working towards our goal of bringing a championship back to the city of Portland.”

Due to overwhelming interest from the readers of Le Basketbawl New York Vinnie gives you Even More Of The Biggest White Stiffs To Have Played In The NBA! Our first column barely scratched the surface it was just the tip of the iceberg. So let New York Vinnie be your tour guide  as we meet Even More Of The Biggest White Stiffs To Have Played In The NBA!

Hey so you remember this douchebag Raef LaFrentz? What a frickin Pud. Another one of these frickin stiffs that had it going on in  the NCAA and just was a frickin abortion as a NBA player. Should have been a hockey player with that frickin Frenchie name.

Okay Boys here we go with the Grandfather of all the Big White Stiffs. The man who ended the Frickin Celtics Dynasty. He played before my memory even starts. My old man told me about him Henry The Pud Finkle. The man who replaced Russell. If not for Finkle my Knicks ain’t got mo rings. This guy was like the palooka of palookas. I don’t think that old douche Red even lit a cigar while this guy played in the NBA.

Okay Pals here we go Mr. Hostess himself a regular Fruit Pie. Eric hot pants Fernsten. This goongatz was so bad that Cleveland got rid of him when they could not attract flies. He ended up in Spain I think he got deported though!

Okay now this guy rings the frickin bell. Big Country Big Stiff. Didn’t you always wanna just sissy slap this Pato? You just know his face would have turned tomato red and he would have cried like a little girl. I always thought this pud looked like the kid from the Adams Family Pugsley. Yeah Pugsley the Pud Reeves. I like it.

We are just getting started here! Hey how about this Pato Adam Morrison. Big Frickin Deal you gotta frickin ring. You also got splinters in your behind from never leaving the bench. Hold onto that ring Pud in a few years you be able to trade it for a bottle of Thunderbird!

Okay Boys for your approval another pud that shows that the NCAA and the NBA are two totally different games. The Gay caballero himself Christian Laettner. Number 3 in the draft after Shaq and Zo. No wonder McHale is unemployed. I was shocked to find out this Pato was married with kids. Must be adopted!

New York Vinnie would advise you to keep your kids from this Pud Ben Frickin Poquette. This Munecho just looks like a child molester. I always thought Fernsten and Poquette were brothers separated at birth. Poquette was a little heftier though but just as big a stiff.  He had the Alfalfa hair style too which did not help matters much.

Another “Great White Dope” Travis Frickin Knight. This bum played for the Lakers and the Celtics and made a whole lotta money. He shoulda signed that contract with a mask on because the Pud was robbing the teams he played for.

Here is yet another no talent pud from North of the Border. This French-Canadian lug Billy Wennington was drafted the same year that my boys the Knicks took Patrick. The only thing he ever accomplished was being on the Bulls when Jordan was at his peak.

New York Vinnie has nothing but respect for sports fans from Philadelphia. They are extremely passionate and knowledgeable. So maybe that is why New York Vinnie has never understood why Sixers fans always liked this pud Marc Iavaroni. This Douche bag was always well liked and respected by Philly fans.  They always said this scumbo was such a frickin leader as a player. A real Frickin Tool as a player and a coach. This perv was one of the most over-rated players ever. The child molesting scumbola pud!

Okay welcome to the first edition New York Vinnie’s Hit And Run! This segment is when New York Vinnie finds somebody or something that truly eats Vinnie’s frickin craw. Sometimes it will have to do with sports other times it will not. Our first edition is one of those other times.

New York Vinnie has to admit he was never a real big fan of Michael Jackson even though he was an incredible talent. I truly feel bad that he was taken so soon and Vinnie has nothing but good wishes to his family friends and fans.

Okay now that all that nicey-nice crappola is out of the way it is time for the reason for the first edition of  New York Vinnie’s Hit And Run! Corey Frickin Feldman hasn’t the world knocked any common sense into this Frickin Pud? Corey you are gonna turn 38 years old later this month when are you gonna grown up? I gotta tell you Corey if New York Vinnie saw you like that I would frickin sissy slap you! Grow Up Corey!

This has not been a great period for the city of Detroit over the past year. Their Mayor Kwame  Kilpatrick had to resign because of scandal. The lifeblood of Motown the “Big Three Automakers” are seeing their industry a shadow of what it was less than five years ago. And to top things off the Detroit Pistons an NBA team that was considered one of the elite teams in the league have hit the skids.  The Pistons who were a major factor in the East up through the 2007-2008 season took a nose dive in the season that just ended.

President Of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars looked like he was gonna be able to turn things around though a week ago. After months of speculation Detroit fired rookie head coach Micheal Curry with Dumars stating that he wanted to get a more experienced man being the head honcho during games. He also had $20 million that he could entice free agents to his team filling holes that desperately needed filling.

Well Detroit last week settled on the two players they wanted to bring in with the Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon and Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva each geting long term deals. Now to New York Vinnie those deals do not look to be all that great for the Pistons. Gordon came alive this past season as a two-guard when he was paired with Derrick Rose. He will not start on Detroit as the Pistons have Richard Hamilton as their starting shooting guard.

Charlie Villanueva is a hard nosed gutty player who has gone past what was expected of him and has turned into a very good NBA player. But the Pistons needed a center not a power forward they already had Jason Maxiell chomping at the bit to be a starter. So once again in New York Vinnie’s eyeballs not too great a way to spend the cash.

Now according to ESPN.com Detroit has made up their mind on who they want as the man to lead them into the battle next season. The names that were mentioned were former head coaches Avery Johnson and Doug Collins who are both good guys and have experience. The man whom it appears that they are taking is John Kuester; yes that John Kuester! A man whose name causes opponents to shudder thing about matching up against him.

Now nothing against Kuester but he is a career assistant-coach. Dumars said he wanted to bring in a veteran. Joey a veteran is somebody who has done something before! You are bringing in another Rookie My Man. You can’t spit on New York Vinnie’s head and tell him it’s raining!

Now maybe Kuester will be a good fit for the Detroit Pistons. But he is what he is a career assistant. Joe Dumars is guy chiefly responsible for Detroit being the great team they have been up until last year. But it seems like he has stepped into quicksand and the harder he tries to get out deeper he sinks.

America you know what our problem is in 2009? We don’t have enough QUALITY anymore. Here is a perfect example just look at that Bimbo that ran for Vice President. Now Sara if you was offering up lap-dances New York Vinnie would have his wallet wide open. But that tramp in the White House? Eleanor Roosevelt would be rolling over in her grave. And it ain’t because she is a woman ladies if Janet Napolitano who heads home land security had run Vinnie would vote for a tough cookie like her or Hillary. No it’s she ain’t qualified for the job. There are a lot of Tools in TV Sports like that. We used to have quality guys like Curt Gowdy Keith Jackson Howard Cossell. Now we have patos like the quitter Jeff Van Gundy. That tool quit on my boys the Knicks he better never show his face in New York Vinnie’s neighborhood. So Who Is The Biggest Tool In TV Sportscasting? New York Vinnie wants to know!

Just look at this little Frickin baby. Every time I see his ugly puss I just want to slap him! Not only is he a QUITTER he is an ugly MOFO too. Man keep him away from me!  New York Vinnie can not guarantee how he would react if this pansy boy came into My neighborhood. Quit in the middle of the Frickin season. That is when my boys started going down hill. The Frickin Sissy here is his Frickin twin you remember this Nut-Job from One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest? They gotta be related right?

Here is another Frickin Yammo Bill Frickin Walton. This pud makes such a big thing that he overcame a Frickin stutter. Yet he still sounds like he is talking with a mouth full of pasta. Spit the crappola out of your mouth then talk Billy. Didn’t your moms ever tell you not to talk with Frickin food in your mouth? Again No Frickin quality!

Now if it was Walton’s son we would know what was in his mouth right? What a sissy boy he is Billy you must feel great shame. You at least had some stones!

Now what is up with Frickin Berman? First of all you can tell the pud is using just for men on his hair. Berman never had red hair. That is that old man red like Jerry Stiller uses. Hey Chris you better find a new barber. My Uncle Salvatore is  real smooth man! New York Vinnie will hook you up!

Anybody remember this Frickin pud Van Earl Wright? You wanna talk about some fagalito who thought he was slicker than he was this is the goongatz. He always tried to come off as so slick but he was lik a Frickin used car sales guy. Sleazeball Scumbag Douchebag they all fit this Pud!

Okay we have hit the Mother Lode.  The biggest tool with the biggest ego and the smuggest attitude of them all Mr. Full-of-Himself Jim Frickin Rome. Not only does this Yamo do his show by reading the front page of USA Today he wusses out in interviews. He is a big Frickin hero when he is alone on the mic but then he is Mr. Brown nose when he does his Frickin interviews. He is number one so far!

He is the Pud in the Box!  And the players all toadie up to the chimp in the box too! Look in the picture I posted that’s my man Don Cheadle. Why is he with that Munecho? Him and that fat tub of crap Limbaugh are legends in their own minds. You put New York Vinnie on opposite those two no-talent bums I would blow their doors off. Unless the Frickin censors cut me off !

New York Vinnie did not realize all the hard work and exhaustive research he was gonna have to put into the new Le Basketbawl! But in order to make this place the “House That New York Vinnie Built” there will always be work to do! Last week New York Vinnie told you about the site that you can go to vote for your choices to make the New York Knicks “Knicks City Dancers.”

Well after countless hours of research New York Vinnie has come up with his 18 Drop-Dead Gorgeous Babes to fill out his ballot. So Now New York Vinnie will share with you his choices for the “Knicks City Dancers.”

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So as New York Vinnie wrote last week there may not be a whole lotta great games at MSG next season but the “Knicks City Dancers” will provide  some nice distractions on the sidelines!