Morning Wrap: MSG Security Ejects One-Legged Nets Superfan

((ht: deadspin.com))

This is just plain weird and seemingly hard to explain.

Jeffrey Gamblero, a self-proclaimed Brooklyn Nets super fan was ejected from Tuesday nights Nets vs. NY Knicks game at Madison Square Garden.

In fact, MSG Security was seen carrying Gamblero, who has a prosthetic leg from the facility.

The reasons for it remain unclear. Security says Gamblero took off his leg and was swinging it wildly at people around him.

Thought people seated around him and who saw the incident say nothing of the sort happened.

According to various accounts, Gamblero, who was featured in the New York Times in November, has been adopted by Nets owner Mikhaim Prohorov who apparently flew him to the teams game in London in 2013.

Witnesses say Gamblero was cheering for his Nets loudly and sometimes demonstrably. Not a punishable offense in most arenas. But he caught the attention of security and either they or someone in the stands complained and a confrontation ensued.

Words were exchanged and Gamblero began cheering for the Knicks for a brief time before security returned, carrying him out of the stands.

Instagram Video of the ejection:

crazy ejection of nets fan with prosthetic leg at #msg @nyknicks

A video posted by jeigs (@jeigs) on Dec 12, 2014 at 6:23pm PST

Local Brooklyn blog "The Brooklyngame" has more on the issue. They spoke to a man named Max who sat right behind Gamblero and said he was loud, but family friendly and having a good time.

Read more from thebrooklyngame.com RIGHT HERE

Okay, so he was having fun and Knicks fans, who apparently didn't like their team losing yet gain (Brooklyn won) and complained about it.

The Knicks confirmed the ejection to Tim Bontemps of the New York Post:

A Knicks spokesperson said that Nets fan Jeffrey Gamblero was ejected tonight after MSG received multiple complaints from fans in the area.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) December 3, 2014

They also said Gamblero was warned multiple times before being ejected, and that he won't be allowed to come back to Madison Square Garden.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) December 3, 2014

The whole thing is just weird and sad.

Video of the Day: ESPN Staffer Says What Everyone Outside Thinks on an ESPN Show

Hahahahaha!

This is easily the highlight of the day. A great way to wrap up what's otherwise been a crappy week.

We and many, many other blogs have often called out the folks at ESPN for an "East Coast bias" or in some cases just picking favorites or creating stories where stories don't exist.

And guess, what. One of their own called them out on it. On one of their own TV shows.

Watch what happens on the lame ESPN show called "Numbers Never Lie". (Yeah, we've never watched it either)

Anyway, filling in today was ESPN radio host and ESPN Women writer Sarah Spain who was on the panel with Michael Smith and Jorge Something or other.

For some reason, the subject of the show became Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks. A team not in the playoffs and who had a crappy season. Yet the two male co-hosts could only talk about what the Knicks could do if they were in the playoffs.

That opening was all Spain had to hear. She tore into the pair and into ESPN's "East Coast Bias" saying they'd rather talk about a New York team out of the playoffs than any of the teams in the playoffs. And that nobody cares about the Knicks right now, we can talk about them when we talk about NEXT season.

And she's right. Nobody outside the Northeastern U.S cares right now. Nobody.

Watch and smile like we did.

Jim Kelly Makes Public Appearance At MSG

((HT: MSG/NBA))

Hall of Famer Jim Kelly and his family have decided against surgery for the time being in his cancer fight and will opt for chemotherapy and radiation- asking, at the same time, for a miracle...

He also wanted to surprise his daughter for making the Dean's List. So, he and Erin made it to the New York Knicks game tonight at Madison Square Garden for his first public appearance since his diagnosis

Here's Jill Martin catching up with #12 courtside...


Monday starts his new round of fighting at Lenox Hill Hospital...

Carmelo Goes For 62 At MSG

((HT: MSG/NBA))

Carmelo Anthony had a bit of a busy night...

37 in the first half...that ended this way...


And ended this way...


62 points for a record at MSG beating Kobe Bryant and Bernard King...
Well, actually... it ended this way... postgame interviews are like that...


As his 62 was half of the Knicks output in a 125-96 win over Charlotte...
Anthony was the only Knick to shoot attempts in double figures in both field goals and free throws... as a matter of fact, JR Smith was the only other Knick to shoot a free throw...

Just one...

Former Canes Hoops Star Now ATL Firefighter

((HT: WSB-TV))

For those of you who really remember your college hoops, you remember Tim James and his physical presence at the University of Miami (FL). He had a cup of coffee with the Knicks in the NBA before enlisting in the army.

Now, he's taking on his next life challenge- being a rookie firefighter with the city of Atlanta...

Wendy Corona did the story and looked up a lot...

Bargnani Knucklehead Move Almost Costs Knicks...

((HT: FSBucks))

The bottom line here is that the Knicks beat the Bucks in double overtime last night in Milwaukee- despite themselves...

In the first OT, Andrea Bargnani did this...
And the Bucks color guy, Jon McGlocklin, went after him...


“It was a mistake,” Bargnani admitted after the game, according to Newsday. “It was a bad decision.”

ICYMI: Carmelo Anthony being investigated for being stupid

The NBA is looking into a Monday night incident after the Boston Celtics/New York Knicks game involving Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett.

Anthony appears to have tracked Garnett down after the game and went screaming after him  underneath the stands, near the Celtics team bus at Madison Square Garden.

The act was said to be payback for a double tech called on the duo during the 4th quarter of the game won by the Celtics 102-96.

As the game ended, rather than take part in the post-game handshake, Anthony made a beeline for the locker room and waited to pounce.

The two were separated before any punches were thrown, but there was a bit of a chaotic scrum under the stands.

The NBA is investigating the incident and don't be surprised if more than one person loses a few dollars and maybe a game or two.

Your video from Comcast Sports New England:

Knicks-Spurs: Stephen Jackson Injured By A Waitress, JR Smith Gets Nasty...

((HT: NBA/MSG/Youtube))

The HQ, admittedly, isn't that much of an NBA fan...

But when these things happen on the parkay floor, we'll bite...

First, JR Smith just gets abusive...


Pablo Prignioni has good eyesight...

Then, there's the whole notion that when Gregg Popovich rested his guys and sent them home early and he caught hell for it. THIS IS WHY HE DID IT!!!!

An unfortunate waitress was taking a courtside order when Stephen Jackson didn't have any room after getting hip-checked on the end line...
((HT: FoxSportsSpurs))


Now, do you understand...???
We're still with Coach Pop on this one. It was the fourth game in a five-night stretch this time around, and he had to put up with that...

Not cool at all... but the HQ does hope the waitress is okay...

BUZZER BEATER: J.R. Smith Wins It For Knicks At The Buzzer

Here’s a buzzer beater from the NBA.  J.R. Smith with a catch and shoot to defeat the Phoenix Suns (Thanks NBA-TV)

 

"It was premeditated," Smith said. "I was walking around the court going, `You are going to make it, you are going to make it.' I was trying to get my form ready before I even thought about taking it. I was trying to go through my mechanics in my head, get my shoulders square to the basket and just let it fly."

Smith stat line against the Suns was impressive.  27 points, six rebounds, 5 assists and according to the New York Post, countless hustle plays.

Knicks G Iman Shumpert sings for his team

((ht: biglead.com))

So, it's probably not a stretch to say that quite a few pro basketball players aspire to be rap stars.

Such is the case with New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert.

Shumpert recorded a song proclaiming his love, affection and devotion to his team and talks...well, raps about his teammates and their skills. And while the sentiment is admirable, the singing voice isn't so much.

But we respect the effort and at least it's pretty much G or...PG rated. And it's his teams chance to boast a bit. The Knicks have one of the NBA's best records thus far in this young season. A far cry from just 3-years ago, when they were one of the NBA's worst.

Listen and judge for your ownselves.

New Gotye Parody: The Jeremy Lin I Used to Know

Because, well, apparently the YouTube community...or America at large can't get enough of these.

And we apologize in advance for getting the Gotye song stuck in your head...again.

In today's Gotye parody, a despondent New York Knicks fan (looks the part), laments about his team losing the one and only Jeremy Lin to the Houston Rockets, who were willing to pay him an obscene amount of money.

And...the Hilarity ensues...though we suppose that depends on your sense of humor.

The video Courtesy of NOC/YouTube:

Haha! Carmelo Anthony scares fans at Wax Museum

Apparently New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony warrants a wax figure at the famous Madame Tussauds Museum in New York.

Really?

Anthony spent some time yesterday at the Museum...basically messing with fans as they walked by.

Without getting into the debate as to whether or not he is worthy of being immortalized (he's not), we give you the video, because really, it's kind of funny, though we might add 'Melo needs to work a bit on his timing.

Photobomb guy strikes again

Hmmm....(from BuzzFeed)

This is just weird. And kinda funny.

Have you seen this guy at a basketball game before? He shows up with a GIANT photo of his face that he shows off.

Amazingly, it always seems to match what his actual face looks like when the photo is taken.

Yeah, pretty coincidental isn't it?

His first claim to fame was at the Alabama/Florida basketball game a week ago (Feb14th).

He showed up last night (Feb 20th) at the Knicks/Nets game...sporting a Jeremy Lin jersey.

Mike Tyson Knows He's On Cable

((HT: MSG/youtube))

Until it gets pulled...
Here's Q-and-A with the champ at tonight's Knicks game...


Gotta love him...
Now only if he would sing at a wedding or something...

Oh, wait...

Jeremy Lin for the win: Legend or Flash-in-the-pan?

((ht: nydailynews.com))

Jeremy Lin

Six games does not a "Mega-Star" make.

But in the case of New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, it's a pretty good start.

Six games as a starter, six wins, lots of points and assists and six straight wins.

Number six was a pretty big one.

Lin dropped a 3-pointer with less than one second to go Tuesday night, leading his Knicks to a 90-87 comeback win over the Toronto Raptors in Toronto. For the game, 27 points and 11 assists.

Read about the legend from the New York Daily News RIGHT HERE

And your game story RIGHT HERE

By now, you know the story, it would be hard not to. Hardscrabble Harvard grad gets cut from 2 teams, ends up in New York, buried on the bench. He gets his shot due to injuries and all of a sudden he can't be stopped.

And its a really good story.

But will it last?

We can't answer that but we will say this: While we respect what he has done and the fact that in this day of mega-scouting and high-profile colleges, its hard for someone like him to excel, we still wonder if its in part due to where he is playing.

Picture him playing in Cleveland or Toronto or Sacramento. Do his efforts get the same attention if he's playing there?

No, they don't.

We are 100% sure that this will level off. There is no way he averages 25-plus a game with double figure assists the rest of the year. And the Knicks will NOT win the rest of their games.

The question is this: Will the ESPN's and NY Tabloids still blow up the coverage when that happens? The Knicks, while a decent team, are hardly a favorite to win the NBA title and as much as the 4-letter would like to breathlessly hype it; Jeremy Lin doesn't change that status.

We wish Mr. Lin all the best and hope he can continue being successful. It's great for the game, its great for the fans and its a great "Underdog" story. But we also hope that he...and those covering him realize that he's human just like everyone else.

But in the meantime, yeah, sure, enjoy the ride.

Amare' Stoudemire's All-Star Marketing Plan

Yeah, we know it is blatant commercialism. We know it is an opportunity for a cheap pop. But we always admire a good marketing gimmick.

This one is for Foot Locker and New York Knicks center Amar'e Stoudemire. The premise is pretty simple. Stoudemire is shown giving up what is portrayed to be his NBA Lockout job at Foot Locker so he can return to the NBA. The spot is to promote his bid for a berth in the NBA All-Star/Practice game.

The rest, while amusing, might not necessarily qualify for what George Costanza would call "Comedy Gold".

Awesome NBA on TNT Season Intro

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays y'all. Greetings from your friends at OSG Sports.

Wanted to share a really cool video with you. The video ran as the open to the Knicks/Celtics game tip off on TNT Sunday afternoon.

The music is done by a group called Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, the video is pretty darn cool too.