ESPN Earl Monroe Interview, Part 1: Knicks

via espnnewyork.com By Jared Zwerling

On a recent morning after the Melo acquisition and Jared Jeffries signing, I sat down with "Earl The Pearl" over breakfast to chat about many things, including the Knicks. Here's Part 1 on the 'Bockers:

What are your thoughts on the new-look Knicks?
I think that any time you're able to get a guy like Carmelo Anthony to be on your team, you're going to be a step up. That's where I think we're going to be able to foster a good relationship and be able to get some other guys to come in because the most important thing is not just having the guys they have. They're going to need to be able to attract more guys in who will at least be able to rebound and play defense.

Interesting similarities: Carmelo teams up with another star in Amare Stoudemire, and back in 1971, you joined a star in Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Anything you see in common?
I guess the only similarity is really that we were in New York [laughs]. When I came, this was a winning team that had just come off winning a championship and so forth and so on. With Carmelo coming, he's looked upon as one of the favorites to try and get back to that promised land. But I think the one thing in common is the fact that we wanted to win. The idea now is to do whatever is necessary to win, so that will be a lot of sacrifice and learning everybody's part so that everybody can feel a part of what this is. What it is is essentially team.

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