Landry Fields: Everybody's Employee of the Month

Donning a pair of Clark Kent frames and the requisite red T-shirt Knicks rookie shooting guard Landry Fields recently attempted to sell Knickerbockers merchandise to shoppers at a local Modells Sporting Goods store, presumably in Westchester where Fields lives. Like Danny Woodhead before him, nobody recognizes Fields and nobody is particularly interested in buying a No. 6 jersey. Mild amounts of comedy ensue as Fields hams it up.



Having played the male lead in the eighth-grade play (largely thanks to owning several tie-dye shirts and being a convincing enough stoner), I'd like to think that I know a thing or two about acting chops. And by my estimation, Fields is a natural. A large part of his success in these improvisational scenes is his awareness of the folks around him and his willingness to just go for it. Not coincidentally, these same two attributes are evident in the hustling put-back play that has become Fields' trademark.









In other Modells viral advertising news, Philadelphia Eagles R&R man DeSean Jackson also appeared in a similar spot. Being DeSean Jackson, though, he was recognized pretty early, making everything a little less fun.

Gallo Versus the C's

In Boston, the Celtics are affectionately reffered to as the "C's" and the NHL's Bruins as the "B's." The nicknames, in each case, are clearly derived from the first letter of each franchise's team name. There may be a lot of prestigious universities for book learnin' in the Hub but nobody has ever accused the locals of being particularly clever or level-headed up there when it comes to sports.

But, I digress. While watching the Knicks take on the Celtics this season (and last), the petulant antics of Kevin Garnett have made me think of another C-word. Not Celtics. But another C-word. With four not six letters. And, last night was no different.

The Big Ticket kept on and keeping on with his tired, highly-orchestrated and generally-in-the-direction-of-a-TV-camera demonstrations of "intensity" while counter intuitively appearing genuinely angered by anyone who attempted to play the game with similar measures of violence and energy. How dare you play assign a foe to guard me! Zounds! What nerve of another man to mix sweat with mine. Apparently scowling and hand checking are his toys. Not yours. Or Danilo Gallinari's.

I hate harping on this (aside from the fact that I don't want to seem petty for taking non-hoops digs at a better team) because I rooted for Garnett in Minny all those years. When Sprewell landed in the Twin Cities I was following the T-Wolves through the myriad twists and turns of that above-ground skyway they got out there. But he's really become both a caricature and a whiner. And a Cunt. There, I said it. I feel better.

Garnett repeatedly tried to intimidate Gallo and sent a few cheap shots his way after plays were over. Thankfully, like he has shown a penchant for doing for the past few months, Gallo was fired up and not felled by the grandstanding. He chirped back. And he got aggressive on offense, scoring 19 of his 31 points in the third quarter.


Particularly impressive was his game-winning bucket in the final minute. Boston foiled (quite easily) the Knicks' attempt to run a pick and roll for David Lee, forcing Billy Walker into a poor three-point shot. Clang. Lee industriously grabbed the offensive board and kicked it to Gallo. Unselfishly, the young Italian looked to get the ball back into Lee. But Lee slowed him up and came to the top of the key to set a screen. Bank. Game. It wasn't the prettiest shot. Or what the coach drew up. But Lee and Gallo made it work. Both showed their selflessness on the play.


Although everyone has known for some time that Gallo could bank in knock down buckets from deep, he's been trying to amp up his rep on the other side of the ball down the stretch. The last stop of the game provides a glimpse of his desire and attention if not his skill at defending. Just like Boston knew the Knicks were going to try to get the ball from Toney Douglas to Lee on a PNR on their last play, New York knows that the ball is looking for Ray Allen as Boston tries to prolong the game. Gallo denies the ball nicely and Rasheed Wallace ends up taking a bad-looking three at the buzzer.

Putting aside the fact that the buzzer was sounding, the Celtics likely wouldn't have come down with the board like the Knicks just had when forced into a bad three of their own. The Celtics hadn't been getting to many of the key boards or loose balls for some time. This was largely thanks to Lee and D-League call-up Earl Barron. When asked about Barron after the game, Gallo reveals just how his stature and comfort level have grown. He lights up like a proud father when Tina broaches the subject of his teammate's performance and even jokes that Barron's time overseas helped prepare him. The way that he carries himself off the court and goes right back at veteran bullies like Garnett shows that Gallo thinks of himself as a superstar.

Pre-Gaming Knicks vs. Hawks

7:30 PM @ Atlanta

'08 Knicks + '08 Hawks + Philips Arena = One of the Ten Worst Games of NBA calendar not involving the Memphis Grizzlies of the Seattle Supersonics.

Reasons to watch this game:
1. Al Horford. The under-the-radar Rookie of the Year candidate is averaging 20 and 10 so far this season. He's the real deal and he should have a nice matchup with David Lee, who knows him from Florida.

2. David Lee. He was a monster against Charlotte. He was all over the floor, grabbing rebound and starting breaks with aggressive, lightening-quick outlet passes.

2. Playoff Implications. Seriously. This game (and the next few games between these two teams) affects the playoff race in the East. The Hawks are currently in ninth place and within striking distance of the 6,7 and 8 seeds. And the Knicks are only seven games (in the loss column) out of the eight spot.

3. Someone has to win. Points have to be scored. Excitement may, therefore, ensue.

4. Mike Bibby. Remember when he was like Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker put together during the 2001-2002 season when he led Kings to Western Conference FInals? Well, that guy is playing for the Hawks now and this will be his second game with them. And, he's from Cherry Hill, NJ.

5. Eddy Curry. Just kidding.

6. It's the long-awaited and annually contested rematch of the 1971 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals: