Post by John on Oct 29, 2005 16:29:16 GMT -4
Oakley knows
Sees Eddy, Knicks on upswing
BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
The number Eddy Curry wears on his back may as well be a bull's-eye.
"He got my number, huh?" said Charles Oakley, laughing. "No one asked my permission. Just tell Eddy to wear it well and wear it with a swagger. I came to play every night in that uniform. He has to do the same. That's what the fans have come to expect."
Curry happily accepted No. 34 from the Knicks and says that Oakley, his one-time teammate in Chicago, was a mentor to him.
"This was a good trade for the Knicks because with Larry Brown, Eddy will get better," Oakley said. "The same goes for Steph (Marbury). He needs to start listening to Larry as well. Eddy's still just a kid. (Bulls coach Scott) Skiles did a good job but now Eddy knows the league and he's maturing."
Oakley, who often trains at the same gym in Chicago as Curry, believes that the Knicks' newest center will dedicate himself to improving as a player. He also feels the Bulls used Curry's health "as an excuse" to trade him.
"They wanted to sign Tyson Chandler and didn't want to sign Eddy," Oakley added. "Tyson was drafted No. 2, that's why they signed him."
Oakley wore 34 for 10 years in New York and became popular among Knicks supporters for serving as Patrick Ewing's enforcer. The Knicks have talked to Oakley about working for the team in some capacity and Oakley is hoping to get a call from team president Isiah Thomas.
"They said they wanted to bring some of the old guys back," Oakley says. "Maybe they're waiting until I'm 65."
The always outspoken power forward also weighed in on David Stern's new dress code, calling it good for the league. Throughout his career, Oakley took pride in his appearance.
"Allen Iverson has been in the league for 10 years and he's still wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Grow up already," Oakley said. "I'm not trying to sound like some old guy who says this is the way we used to do it. Why not look professional instead of looking like you belong on a street corner?"
Curry wearing Oakley's #34.
Sees Eddy, Knicks on upswing
BY FRANK ISOLA
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
The number Eddy Curry wears on his back may as well be a bull's-eye.
"He got my number, huh?" said Charles Oakley, laughing. "No one asked my permission. Just tell Eddy to wear it well and wear it with a swagger. I came to play every night in that uniform. He has to do the same. That's what the fans have come to expect."
Curry happily accepted No. 34 from the Knicks and says that Oakley, his one-time teammate in Chicago, was a mentor to him.
"This was a good trade for the Knicks because with Larry Brown, Eddy will get better," Oakley said. "The same goes for Steph (Marbury). He needs to start listening to Larry as well. Eddy's still just a kid. (Bulls coach Scott) Skiles did a good job but now Eddy knows the league and he's maturing."
Oakley, who often trains at the same gym in Chicago as Curry, believes that the Knicks' newest center will dedicate himself to improving as a player. He also feels the Bulls used Curry's health "as an excuse" to trade him.
"They wanted to sign Tyson Chandler and didn't want to sign Eddy," Oakley added. "Tyson was drafted No. 2, that's why they signed him."
Oakley wore 34 for 10 years in New York and became popular among Knicks supporters for serving as Patrick Ewing's enforcer. The Knicks have talked to Oakley about working for the team in some capacity and Oakley is hoping to get a call from team president Isiah Thomas.
"They said they wanted to bring some of the old guys back," Oakley says. "Maybe they're waiting until I'm 65."
The always outspoken power forward also weighed in on David Stern's new dress code, calling it good for the league. Throughout his career, Oakley took pride in his appearance.
"Allen Iverson has been in the league for 10 years and he's still wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Grow up already," Oakley said. "I'm not trying to sound like some old guy who says this is the way we used to do it. Why not look professional instead of looking like you belong on a street corner?"
Curry wearing Oakley's #34.