I thought I was fairly polite in raising a very important issue. I intend to remain so.

I must admit I am not sure why you changed the issue to my screenname as though the use of one diminished my point. However, if the fact that I don’t use the name my mother gave me, and that I am behind a computer or that I am nowhere near you when I raise a sensitive issue is important to you, feel free to use the e-mail address which comes with my comments and I will talk to you by phone or the next time I see you. I have no problem raising this issue to your face, while rejecting any notion that use of a screenname on this blog diminishes the point.

And the point is really this, and I repeat, people in positions of establishing images need to be very careful of the perpetuation of stereotypes and how they describe people. In case you are too young or you forgot, it was not too long ago that the description of smart athletes was largely reserved for whites while black athletes were spoken of as getting by on physical attributes. It is still a stereotype that persists today. Members of the New York media are still very quick to describe a black basketball player as having a low IQ, while describing a white one as smart instead of physically gifted.

Anybody that knows about the use of the word IQ and IQ tests to diminish the humanity and intelligence of blacks knows that the negative use persists today in schools across the nation. For you to suggest that Low Basketball IQ is not the same as basketball dumb is disingenuous and just made up on the fly. What is “Low Basketball IQ?” How is it measured? How is it defined? Does it mean basketball smart? Of course not, the implication is that person with low basketball IQ lacks intelligence of some sort. One who lacks intelligence is usually considered dumb.

The first thing I hear about Danilo Gallinari or David Lee is how smart they are? It is suggested that they are smart because they maximize their perceived physical attributes despite their major flaws in on-court decision-making. On the other hand, Chandler, Crawford and Balkman have low IQs. I just want to know where you people get this from.

I didn’t call anyone racist. I called a matter with racial implications to your attention. I can appreciate one’s sensitivity when he or she is linked to a racial issue, but just as much care is warranted when using references historically racially loaded in association with athletes as when reporters are called to account for the use of such references.

Obviously the Knicks should have picked Jennings but I didn’t like him before the draft (stupid interviews, underwhelming season in Italy) so I won’t kill Donnie Walsh because he passed on him.

2008 : I wanted Eric Gordon or Anthony Randolph, but I was REALLY happy with Gallinari who was the best euro prospect since Dirk Nowitzki. I did NOT like Lopez and Alexander.

2009 : I wanted Jrue Holiday at 8 and then Blair at 29.

We’ll see if Jordan Hill pans out.

I think clearing some money to try and sign a guy we may not even be able to get is cool but building the team in the process is what a great GM does!