Post by eric on Mar 3, 2015 20:24:57 GMT -6
Bill Walton played every game for the Knicks last year. The franchise centerpiece led the team in blocks, was second in points, and was second in assists. He was All-Star and All-NBA. And now he's All-Unemployed.
Something was rotten in the Big Apple.
And I had to find out if there was a snake in the Garden.
.
If you hear Bill tell it, he offered to take a hometown discount to stay with the team. He's been a cosmopolitan guy since his days in the University of California Los Angeles, his 9 year old son Luke is tearing up the PSAL, he's embraced his role as the sage veteran in a very young locker room. But sources in the front office tell me the plant Bill embodies isn't sage at all.
It's reefer.
The dirty little secret that isn't is that the NBA gives superstars preferential treatment on the court. It's no stretch to see them do the same off the court. First class plane tickets, fines rescinded, and oh yes, drug testing. Send Emeka Okafor's shot into the third row, fill up the Sportscenter top plays, put some buns in the seats and we'll look the other way. It's all about the bottom line for the NBA.
But the Knicks ownership decided the cost for Dollar Bill Walton was too steep.
Ask any front office around the league and you'll hear how the Knicks steadfastly refused trade offers for their marquee player. I've been told by the owner himself that he had a handshake agreement with Walton to retire a Knick, even though Walton was derailing the locker room, even though he came to work - and this game is work, folks - strung out on marihuana. It's one thing to blow off a coach. It's another to blow smoke on your brothers in blue and orange.
I guess Walton only cared about the green.
.
Some team will probably take a flyer on Walton, too desperate or ignorant to resist the elite talent. I hear the weed is legal in Colorado now. Here's a nugget of advice for Denver. When a player stuffs the stat sheet, he might just roll it into a blunt roach.
And roaches always disappear when the playoff lights are brightest.
.
Want more Life of Reilly? Then check out the archive.
Be sure to check out Rick's latest project, "Go Fish."
Rick Reilly
Columnist, ESPN.com
11-time National Sportswriter of the Year
Something was rotten in the Big Apple.
And I had to find out if there was a snake in the Garden.
.
If you hear Bill tell it, he offered to take a hometown discount to stay with the team. He's been a cosmopolitan guy since his days in the University of California Los Angeles, his 9 year old son Luke is tearing up the PSAL, he's embraced his role as the sage veteran in a very young locker room. But sources in the front office tell me the plant Bill embodies isn't sage at all.
It's reefer.
The dirty little secret that isn't is that the NBA gives superstars preferential treatment on the court. It's no stretch to see them do the same off the court. First class plane tickets, fines rescinded, and oh yes, drug testing. Send Emeka Okafor's shot into the third row, fill up the Sportscenter top plays, put some buns in the seats and we'll look the other way. It's all about the bottom line for the NBA.
But the Knicks ownership decided the cost for Dollar Bill Walton was too steep.
Ask any front office around the league and you'll hear how the Knicks steadfastly refused trade offers for their marquee player. I've been told by the owner himself that he had a handshake agreement with Walton to retire a Knick, even though Walton was derailing the locker room, even though he came to work - and this game is work, folks - strung out on marihuana. It's one thing to blow off a coach. It's another to blow smoke on your brothers in blue and orange.
I guess Walton only cared about the green.
.
Some team will probably take a flyer on Walton, too desperate or ignorant to resist the elite talent. I hear the weed is legal in Colorado now. Here's a nugget of advice for Denver. When a player stuffs the stat sheet, he might just roll it into a blunt roach.
And roaches always disappear when the playoff lights are brightest.
.
Want more Life of Reilly? Then check out the archive.
Be sure to check out Rick's latest project, "Go Fish."
Rick Reilly
Columnist, ESPN.com
11-time National Sportswriter of the Year
