Lions vs. Knicks

As I sit here on Sunday, December 10, 2006 at roughly 10pm there are plenty of teams in various sports really wishing they could be doing better. That will always be the case. The thing is for most of those teams there is light at the end of the tunnel. However, there are a few whose fans have nothing to look forward to, no young charismatic guys to rally around. Usually when a team is bad you can always cover for them by saying something like, "hey, at least they're playing hard" or "wait until next year when everyone is healthy and we have some new young guys." There are two teams that really cannot make those statements, the Detroit Lions and the New York Knicks.

Right now the Lions are 2-11 and tied for the worst record in the NFL. This isn't just a down year. Let's break down the last five seasons prior to this one: 2-14, 3-13, 5-11, 6-10, 5-11. This span has covered four head coaches. The Joey Harrington era came and went. Look back at the Lions last 13 first round draft picks, picks used to build your team, 4 of them remain on the Lions roster, all four were chosen in the last three years. This is a team with no continuity other than losing seasons.

As most people know, the quarterback is the leader and cornerstone of any successful football team. Right now the Lions are employers of John Kitna. Kitna is known as one of the great all around guys in the NFL, few are friendlier. However, if one were to look back at Kitna's record as a starter they would see a trend, 9-7, 6-10, 6-10, 2-14, 8-8, and the 2-11 mark with the Lions. Kitna is not the guy leading teams to the playoffs. That's all Lion's fans will ask for, just take us to the playoffs. This is not a fan base with lofty standards.

At the vortex of losing is team President and General Manager, Matt Millen. Matt's history with the team is a sad one. A series of poor free agent signings and missed opportunities in the draft. In 2001, Millen's first year with Detroit he drafted Jeff Backus, now, while a solid player, the Lions passed on Deuce McAllister and Todd Heap in the first round. In 2002 Millen drafted Joey Harrington to play quarterback while passing on Dwight Freeney, Jeremy Shockey, and Ed Reed. In 2003 after another dismal season Millen drafted Charles Rogers at #2 ahead of Troy Polamalu, Willis McGahee, and Larry Johnson. In 2004 he drafted another WR in Roy Williams (who, when he keeps his mouth shut, is a pretty good guy to have on a team) ahead of Deangelo Hall, and Ben Roethlisberger. In 2005 he drafted yet another WR in Mike Williams (one catch in 2006) ahead of Shawne Merriman and Alex Barron. Just pathetic. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. No young quarterback, Millen passed on Matt Leinart in 2006.

So as they are now the Lions are a team full of individuals and none of those individuals are even that good. Bad attitudes and laziness have plagued the team during the Millen era. You could argue this is the most hopeless team in professional sports and no one could argue with you if not for the New York Knicks.

Fact: The NBAs salary cap for the 2006-07 season is set at $53.135 million. Fact: The New York Knicks payroll for the same season is, $139,264,859. To contrast the Atlanta Hawks payroll is, $45,440,623. Another contrast, the Knicks are 8-14 while the Hawks, paying 1/3 of what the Knicks pay are 8-10. If the playoffs were to start today the Hawks would be in, the Knicks would not.

The Knicks have a Matt Millen of their own in Isiah Thomas. Thomas was first known as the lightning quick guard that led the Indiana Hoosiers to a National Title. He was then drafted by the Detroit Pistons and led them to two titles. After his playing career he ran the CBA into the ground, wasted Reggie Miller's prime as head coach of the Indiana Pacers, and is currently being run out of town in New York.

A quick run down on some of Isiah's players. Allan Houston is being paid twenty million this year to not play, in all fairness Isiah didn't sign him, but he's responsible for the rest of these guys, let's move on.
-Stephon Marbury is owed 60 million over the next three years to average 10 ppg and shoot 38%. (pictured)
-Steve Francis is owed 47 million over the next three years to average 11ppg.
-Jalen Rose is being paid 17 million a year by the Knicks while he's playing for the Phoenix Suns. - Maurice Taylor is being paid 10 million this year to play for someone else.
-Shandon Anderson is being paid 9 million and is out of the NBA.
-Jerome James is owed 24 million over the next four years and is averaging 1.9 pppg in 42 total minutes.

Perhaps the biggest Isiah mess up is the acquisition of center Eddy Curry. Curry is a decent player with a flaw, a heart condition. Two years ago the Chicago Bulls, Curry's team at the time, wouldn't give him a contract extension until he agreed to have his heart looked at by the team doctor. Curry refused because he knew how serious his condition was. Not only were the Knicks willing to take him off of the Bulls hands, they gave up a lot to get him. The Bulls ended up getting cap relief they would use to sign Ben Wallace and two first round picks. Last year's pick was #2 overall (Ty Thomas) and they also get the Knicks first round pick in the 2007 draft (the Greg Oden draft).

Thomas has not only taken on some awful contracts and awful players, but has completely forfeit the teams future. Thomas has now been appointed head coach of the Knicks by team owner James Dolan. Thomas has this year to right the ship or he is out of both jobs.

So who has it worse? Due to the fact the Knicks have told Thomas he needs to win this year or he's done, I'd have to say the Knicks are in better shape than the Lions. At least Knicks fans can look forward to someone else being in charge while Lions fans appear to be stuck with Millen.

I just got depressed writing all of that. Yuck.

-Blake-