T-Mac’s Arrival Energizes Madison Square Garden

By CSP Guest Contributor Jon Gleason

The chants rang out in the fourth quarter, and again in the overtime period. “We Want T-MAC” echoed throughout an arena full of fans whose faith in a long-term plan may actually be rewarded. In a wildly entertaining extra period affair, new additions Tracy McGrady, Eddie House, and Sergio Rodriguez played critical roles in staking the Knicks to an overtime lead that dissipated in the final seconds courtesy of the late game heroics of the fastest rising star in the league. Even though Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant stole the evening, he recognized there will be better nights ahead for Knicks fans and their new go-to guy.

Knicks fans haven't had much to cheer about since their appearance in the '99 Finals

“We knew there was going to be a lot of energy in the building with Tracy McGrady coming in,” Durant said. “He played phenomenal. He’s back.”

While the 121-118 OT defeat to the Thunder may go down as just another notch in the loss column, the early returns on the team’s flurry of activity at the trade deadline are promising. With even the most optimistic fans not expecting much from the artist formerly known as T-Mac, McGrady came out attacking early and often.  His 19 points at the half led all scorers on his way to a strong 26 point effort.  As his legs wore down, the scoring slack was picked up by House, who led all reserves with 24. For those unfamiliar with his past, he’s never met a shot he’s afraid to take and can fill it up in a hurry when he gets in a groove. While certainly a shell of his former self during the first half of the season in Boston, he’s a guy who Mike D’Antoni trusts to take big shots. However, perhaps the most surprising revelation of the evening may have been Rodriguez. Although many assumed Nate Robinson’s departure would lead to major minutes for rookie Toney Douglas, the quick point guard dubbed “Spanish Chocolate” showed flashes of playmaking ability perfectly suited to fit the Knicks up-tempo system. For a guard-starved squad, he may have the best chance of sticking around beyond this season.

Even though the old adage goes that games are won and lost by the players, for the next six months the person under the most scrutiny in New York will be Donnie Walsh. It’s indisputable he inherited a train-wreck of a franchise operated by one of professional sports’ truly incompetent owners, James Doaln. The sins committed over the past decade by Scott Layden, Isiah Thomas, and James Dolan will not soon be forgotten by the New York faithful. However, from day one, Walsh has sought to put his own imprint on this organization and Thursday’s deadline enabled him to clear a major obstacle to his ambitious agenda.

When the New York Knicks hired Walsh to restore their downtrodden franchise to the marquee level its famous home demands, he gave the fans a clear vision. Stick with us for two years while we clear up our finances and circle July 1, 2010 on your calendars. Given the city’s obsession with winning, this was no easy request.  Tack on the very risky nature of relying on recruiting two superstars to sign on the dotted line, skepticism and cynicism has run rampant through Madison Square Garden crowds. While at most times they have felt like helpless pawns in Walsh’s master plan, the one thing the fans showed tonight to the free agent class of 2010 is that they are ready to return to relevance. With the warm reception afforded to Tracy McGrady in his debut, it’s clear that Knicks fans are starving to embrace a superstar.

“I haven’t felt that good in a while, to really be received that way,” McGrady said of the crowds support for him. “To hear those chants, it’s been a while since I was in an arena to really hear that. It really gave chills down my spine.”

It’s also evident that if the July 1 fantasy is to become a reality, the $23 million dollar rental will have to produce 28 performances similar to his opener.