Game Over

The New York Knicks took the first step toward restoring its image by firing Isiah Thomas as its coach on April 18. While die-hard fans like myself knew this outcome was inevitable, such a move was also long overdue.
Thomas was originally hired by the team to serve as its president in 2003, and he assumed coaching duties three years later. After a tenure marked by an endless series of bad decisions, he's been reduced to taking an advisory role for new president Donnie Walsh. From making bad trades (Eddy Curry, Stephon Marbury, Zach Randolph -- the list goes on) to hastily dismissing coaches (Larry Brown only lasted one season, yet received an $18.5 million buyout), Thomas turned what was once an elite franchise into a cruel joke.
The players looked lost on the court, and they showed little to no effort against the opposition. Subpar teams like the Indiana Pacers picked up four easy wins against them this past season, and rejuvenated clubs like the Boston Celtics made the Knicks seem like a bunch of scrubs. Being embarrassed by the competition within the Eastern Conference was a sign of things to come as they faced powerhouse teams in the Western Conference, like the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers. As the losses piled up, so did the excuses ... but the blame goes beyond Thomas and the 12-man roster he assembled.
Thomas' incompetent leadership was financed by James Dolan, a clueless owner whose only skill is handing out huge contracts for little work. (Say what you will about George Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees -- at least he pays top dollar for solid players ... and he won't settle for anything less than a championship.) But the Knicks' on-court troubles paled in comparison to being on the wrong end of a sexual harassment claim filed by former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders. In 2007, a jury awarded her $11.6 million in punitive damages after she revealed sordid details about the workplace culture she endured at Madison Square Garden.
As far as I'm concerned, Walsh is being too kind by keeping Thomas on the payroll after the five seasons of carnage he created. If he's serious about rebuilding the team, he needs to start from scratch. Hire a coach who can implement a winning strategy, waive underachieving players, and use draft picks wisely. Following this blueprint will bring the team back to respectability ... and maybe even the playoffs, where they can once again contend for a Larry O'Brien trophy.

The 'Audacity' of Obama

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. The religious holiday took on new meaning this year after Barack Obama rejuvenated his presidential campaign with a speech on March 18 that focused on the state of race relations in the United States.
Part history lesson and part life story, Obama's call for racial reconciliation struck a chord with millions of people because it was genuine. He turned what started out as a controversy over inflammatory sermons delivered by his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, into an opportunity to address the impact of racism as well as the influence of religion. Not only that, but in the course of 37 minutes, he showed that everyone has a vested interest in facing these complex issues.
It's hypocritical for commentators, whether they support fellow presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton or John McCain, to try to hold Obama accountable for words he didn't speak. If they're going to travel down the slippery slope of guilt by association, Clinton should distance herself from Bill Clinton, who's been more of a liability than an asset to her bid for the White House ... and McCain should sever ties with Rod Parsley, who called for the destruction of Islam in his book, Silent No More.
Given everything at stake in this election, the public can't afford to let partisan politics distract them from demanding solutions to pressing matters like improving the economy or ending the war in Iraq. Obama is a breath of fresh air on the political scene because he's the antithesis of business as usual. While he's not without his shortcomings, his willingness to engage the masses in the electoral process and think outside the box to resolve major crises is inspiring. Such qualities are why he'll likely be the last person standing on Election Day -- just like Jesus Christ rose above his followers on that fateful Sunday many centuries ago.