A Spike Lee Joint ain't a Spike Lee Joint if it doesn't incite heated debate and heavy conversation. In his latest film, "She Hate Me," which opened in Los Angeles and New York on Wednesday, the influential writer-producer-director's propensity for the provocative is more than a little evident.

What's the movie about? Where to begin, is a better question, as this new drama is loaded, to say the least.

The 35-second synopsis: Harvard-educated biotech exec is fired when he blows the whistle on his company's shady business -- Securities & Exchange Commission kind of shady. His corporate legs are cut from under him as he's branded unemployable. His former girlfriend, now a lesbian, makes him an offer that could only be dreamed up by a creative screenwriter: Ten thousand dollars (each) to impregnate her and her new girlfriend.

Oh, but wait for the big finish here ... soon ex-girlfriend starts to pimp out down-on-his-luck exec and his sperm to other lesbians with a desire for motherhood, each paying $10, 000 a tryst.

Yeah, loaded.

As outspoken with his filmmaking as he is courtside at Knicks games, Lee talks with Page 3 about his beloved NBA team, making sports movies, the power of film, and his dearly departed friend and colleague, Ralph Wiley.

1. Word is you are working on a project for ESPN. What is it about, and what's the status report?

Spike Lee: It's not really done ... It's not a done deal. The late Ralph Wiley and I co-wrote a script for ESPN for a potential dramatic series based on my film, "He Got Game." The TV series is about -- not Jesus (Ray Allen's character in "He Got Game") because he's in the pros now -- it's about his first cousin, Ecclesiastics (smiles). ESPN has the script; they have to decide if they are going to do it or not.

2. How much will R-Dub's voice be missed?

Oh, I think that he had a great voice. Ralph was much more than a sports writer. He was a social critic, I mean, read his books like "Why Black People Tend to Shout" ... He was not only a great writer, but he was a friend of mine. I'm still recovering from ... the man was 52 and had a massive heart attack. And when I went to his funeral, I mean, I could not believe that was Ralph.

I spoke to Ralph the day before he died. As I said before, we were working on this script and it was my turn to do my draft. And the last thing Ralph told me was, "Spike, do good work." That's the last thing he said. So when I was doing my draft of this "He Got Game" concept, I was reading his books also. Ooh, I was in a bad place because when someone -- I mean, everybody knows this, but I must say this anyway -- when someone close to you dies, not only do you miss that person, but you start to think about your own mortality, and that we all take life for granted. We're all here on borrowed time.

3. Who are some of the other valuable voices? Speaking of which, what did you think of Bill Cosby's comments?

I'm very happy that Bill Cosby is saying what he's saying now. I feel Bill Cosby deserves the right to say whatever he wants to say. And don't think Bill is saying this so that people can agree or disagree with him. He's saying -- I've talked to him -- he wants the focus to be put on our youth. African-Americans need to put the focus on ourselves, what we need to do. There are things that we can't ask anybody else to do. Because of the, some people might call them tirades -- I don't -- people are talking about these issues, issues that need to be addressed within the African-American community.

And for those people who criticized Bill because they say he's airing dirty laundry, I think that's ludicrous. First of all, white people know these things already. We're in the 21st century. And being worried about what white people are going to think and how it's going to be used against us, that game is over. I really hope that Bill's urgent call to arms will stimulate people, get people mobilized.

4. What about Cosby's comments in relation to the African-American community's money-makers, the athletes and entertainers in the millionaire class?

Bill really attacked African-Americans, our fellow brothers and sisters, who happened to be in the lower class. I think he could easily look to all positions of the social structure of African-Americans. There are a lot of people who make a lot of money who are doing very little to help the underclass. Athletes, entertainers ... they shouldn't get a free pass either. There's work that we all can do.

5. What did you think about "Fahrenheit 9/11"?

Michael Moore is a good friend of mine, and he made a great film. It's kinda early to say this but, after November 2nd, people might be able to say that "Fahrenheit 9/11" was the one that did it, the one that got the Kerry-Edwards ticket over the hump. And if that happens, I don't think anyone should ever again underestimate the power of the media, the power of film ... especially in the hands of skilled filmmakers.

6. What are some of your all-time favorite films?

"On the Waterfront," "A Face in the Crowd," "Ace in the Hole," "The Battle of Algiers," "Bicycle Thief," "Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song," "Westside Story," "Singing in the Rain," "Wizard of Oz," "Mean Streets," Roshomoan" ... a lot of films.

What about your all-time favorite sports movie?

For me, even though it's a documentary, "Hoop Dreams" is my favorite sports film.

7. Do you think that "He Got Game" was an underappreciated sports movie?

Yes, I think why it's been underappreciated is because we gave a hard, realistic view of what these young (basketball players) go through ... I mean, if you were the best high school player in the country, like Jesus Shuttlesworth, that's the stuff you go through. It wasn't such a rosy picture of basketball. A lot more people started to peep that film now than when it came out.

8. What did you think of Ray Allen as an actor?

Ray Allen did great. One of the reasons why a lot of sports films don't work is that they cast actors to play these athletes. You can get away with baseball, maybe even boxing but basketball is hard to get away with. You don't want to have to put actors on trampolines, lowering the baskets or having shots where you see the actor shoot, the ball leaves his hand, then you cut to the basket, and the ball goes through.

So we made the determination ... we looked at the all rosters in the NBA, also looked at the players who got drafted, and were coming into the league. We were looking for a good ball player who had the face of a senior in high school, but also willing to dedicate and commit their whole summer. These guys work hard. Basketball season is no joke, and your body needs recovery. So we needed someone who would commit their complete off-season. So, Ray Allen did a great job.

Are there any other athletes who would make good actors?

Oh, Rick Fox is an actor. Yeah, Rick is great. He was in two or three seasons of (HBO's) "Oz."

9. What are your thoughts on the Knicks roster? What would you do if you were that guy --

I'm not that guy. I have much respect and much love for Isiah Thomas. He's in a tough spot because he's inherited a team that's really inhibited by the cap. He's coming in behind five years of the GM before him, Scotty Layden. Isiah's done a good job, but he's got some work to do. He's got to make some moves. He knows it, and I know he's up 24/7 trying to get something done. The East -- I don't think you have to worry about New Jersey anymore -- Detroit won the championship, Indiana's still strong, Miami's up there now with Shaq.

10. What did you think about the Laker divorce between Shaq and Kobe?

I think they both got what they wanted. I don't think they can really play together anymore. But the two times they play each other, I don't want to miss those games! They don't play the same position, but I can just see Shaq's in the middle and Kobe takes off for the foul line ... (smiles), and you know he's going to try to dunk on Shaq. And Shaq's not trying to let Kobe dunk on him (laughs)!

The Lakers are going to be all right, but the West is too strong. I mean, with San Antonio. You could say that if Sam Cassell had not got hurt, the Lakers wouldn't have gotten by Minnesota last year. Now who's going to play Tim Duncan? Who's going to play Yao Ming? Who's going to play Garnett. But Kobe's glad now because no more triangle.

And Gary Payton should be happy then, too.

Yeah, we'll see. Remember what he said, "I didn't sign up for this." (Laughs)