Mike Ashmore's Great American Sports Tour

Tour Stop #6

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2/13/05 - Charlotte Bobcats @ New York Knicks 3:00 PM - The only thing on my mind on the way to the Garden is that Emeka Okafor needs to play.  Continuing my streak of bad luck with basketball tickets, Okafor re-injured his ankle two nights ago and his status for tonight is unknown.  He needs to play, that's all there is to it. 7:10 PM - OK, so no Okafor, so this somewhat sucks.  It's halftime, and the Knicks are up 10, 55-45.  I got a few Bobcats autographs before the game, Melvin Ely and Gerald Wallace.  Nothing spectacular so far, Ariza had a nice dunk and I think Kurt Thomas did as well.  Maybe Bruno Sundov will get his terrible self off the bench in the 2nd half. 9:45 PM - As Knicks-Bobcats go, this one was pretty good.  The Bobcats closed the gap and the game was tied at 99 with 12 seconds to go, and Marbury got the ball.  Everyone was looking for him to shoot, but he passed to Kurt Thomas, who then kicked it out to Tim Thomas.  Thomas put up a 3 from the corner that hit the rim and went high into the air.  The ball ended up banking in, and the Knicks squeaked out a 102-99 win.  The train ride home should be interesting (and man, was it...) but anyway, my next Knicks game should be on March 15th against Shaq, D-Wade and the rest of the crew.

The usual exchange of pleasantries before the game.

Here's a compilation of some shots of Knicks guard Stephon Marbury.  But the best shot I have of him is on the second page of pictures...make sure you check it out.

Bernard Robinson, Jr.

Melvin Ely puts up a shot.

Gerald Wallace in action.

Trevor Ariza during a break in the action.

Another shot of "Starbury"

Sadly, Nazr Mohammed didn't smack Keith Bogans here...

2nd year big man Mike Sweetney.

Ex-Laker Kareem Rush

The view from where I sat for the whole game.  I would show you a shot from my actual seats, but why go all the way up there?

Anfernee Hardaway starts the NBA's "Hands Across America" campaign.  Or tries to box out on a free throw...

I too remember when the Secret Service couldn't guard him.  And now, his career wastes away in the Big Apple.

Jamal Crawford, sporting the kneeband.

Jerome Williams in a blur of goodness.

Melvin Ely and the Junkyard Dog discuss their NBA lives of anonymity.