NEW YORK, NY Nov. 14 (DPI) – New York Times columnist Harvey Araton extended his lobbying for Jason Collins last week, calling on the New York Knicks to consider adding the journeyman to its depleted roster.
And readers hooted – with near unanimity – at the mere suggestion that Collins, who last summer announced he is a homosexual, still merits a spot on any NBA bench. Not because he is gay – but because he was not much of a player to begin with.
Araton has taken up the cause this fall supporting Collins in columns since Collins disclosed his sexual preference. Collins, a 12-year veteran who turns 35 next month, remains an unsigned free agent this season.
Readers universally responded for Araton to “give it a rest” and stop “cheerleading” for Collins.
The five highest recommended reader posts that accompanied Nov. 6 column:
1) I don’t think it should be left up to the Knick’s brain trust – I think the new mayor should pass a law requiring all professional teams in NYC have their fair quotas of under-represented groups – including short bespectacled Jewish lawyers at point guard.
2) The NYT’s lobbying effort for Jason Collins to find an NBA job is growing increasingly tiresome. Even at his best, Collins was a plodding, slow NBA big. He’s far from his best at this point.
3) At his best Collins was a mediocre professional athlete. He is now an old formerly mediocre professional athlete who hasn’t been in camp and is undoubtedly not in game shape. Odds are he’s going to be bad. Sounds like just what the Knicks need. Who he sleeps with has no bearing on the matter.
4) Give it a rest. His game is weak and he is old. If you guys feel so committed to him, hire him for the company team.
5) Jason Collins was for a decade the slowest big man – and player – in the NBA. Even if he slept with women I’m not sure that would help him get a job. Honestly, Mr. Araton, what’s with the cheerleading?
Araton’s most recent column, while declaring “How About Collins?” is mostly a rambling diatribe of Knicks current and former management, and cited no compelling evidence that Collins — “for a decade the slowest player in the league,” as one poster put it – was now worthy of any spot on an NBA bench. His columns in the last month:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/07/sports/basketball/knicks-need-help-why-not-jason-collins.html