FUN FACTS:
NEW YORK KNICKS

Hasn't been much to call 'fun' at the Garden these last few years.

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What does this have to do with the Knicks? Are we making a "Nero fiddling while Rome is burning" joke? No. Read and you'll get it.

[Ed's note: We're rolling out a 'Fun Facts' on every NBA team leading up to the beginning of the season. If you want to see more or understand the concept better, please go here.]

Calling anything about the New York Knicks "fun" over the past few seasons has been a fairly challenging task; in fact, the most 'fun' thing we can associate with the tenants of MSG is an ESPN Classic clip we saw at the gym a few nights ago. In it, a young Keith Jackson interviews a wild-haired Phil Jackson on the court prior to a Knicks/Celtics playoff game in the 1970s. Unreal. With the Mike D'Antoni era under way—"Can he turn water into wine, or does it have to be fast-moving water?" our friend asked once—we take a look at the lighter side of the squad.

1. Maybe you can go home again: rookie Dan Grunfeld is the son of former Knicks player and executive Ernie Grunfeld (now an exec with the Wizards). Ditto for pick-up Patrick Ewing Jr, who is the son of, well, you can likely figure this one out.

2. Jerome James once dunked on a 11-foot, 4-inch basket while touring with the Harlem Globetrotters.

3. Yet another reason to love Gus Johnson.

4. Mardy Collins went to Simon Gratz HS in Philly. Other notable alums: Rasheed Wallace, Aaron McKie, Joan Little, Roy Campanella, and famed concert violinist Nathan Milstein.

5. Do you remember who else came to the Knicks with Stephon Marbury ? One player was Penny Hardaway; the other was Cezary TrybaDski, a 7-2 dude who currently plays in the Greek A2 league.

6. Wilson Chandler's shoe deal is with Pony. David Thompson and Spud Webb are among the more notable NBA'ers to wear the brand in the past.

7. Two other notable residents of Marion, Indiana, which is Zach Randolph's home base: James Dean and Garfield creator Jim Davis (Davis' studio, "Paws Inc," is in Muncie.)

8. Quentin Richardson played himself in Van Wilder.

9. Reasons to love Nate Robinson: Example A; Example B; Example C; and Example D.

10. Jamal Crawford has a blog on Newsday's website and it's actually quite informative.

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