Give Shawne Free

Anybody know who Shawne Williams is? Most only know what's written or said about the kid from the past. He's a typical guy from the inner city. It cracks me up to type that because that's where I'm from. I also played basketball and I know what you can get into playing especially at a high level. You're popular. Everyone wants to be around you. Everyone wants to see you destroy your next defender on the basketball court. You're going to attract the wrong attention. What's not really analyzed is the fact that you more than likely will grow up with kids that will walk that fine line between good and not so good. Some will turn out downright bad! I've never been arrested. I know guys that have been. I've never been stabbed, shot, or sold a drug in my life. I do know guys that have and still are doing those things (allegedly :/). Point being, these are my friends. You have a choice to follow or lead. Some cases you might not have much of a option depending how harsh your circumstances are. Now I don't know Shawne Williams personally. I'm just painting a picture for you through my own experience. Shawne Williams has never done jail time, but he's known to have kept some grimy company. He's had a couple of brushes with the law and his door was almost closed altogether because of this. How do you cut off childhood friends when you are basically still a child.

The problem is the dude became a public figure as soon as he was drafted into the NBA. He was only 20 years old. How many people can hold down a part time job at McDonalds at 20 years old while going to school? How many have the attention span to stay focused at a full-time job at that age? People do it but these are the impressionable years where you are trying to figure out this space we call life. What are you doing? Where are you going? Why am I doing this? Why am I still friends with this person? Why won't she add me on BBM? Who's this guy commenting on my girls facebook page? While this is happening, imagine making a million dollars a year with nothing but free time, basketball, a camera and a microphone in your face? What happens when you go out with your boys from the "inner city" that you grew up with who you love like brothers and you run into a heated situation with another group that aren't too happy to see you blowing money and getting all the girls?

No excuses for this guy. Alot of you that read or probably skimmed through that first paragraph don't want to hear about that. These guys at face value have been giving a silver spoon and in some cases totally screwed up their opportunity at making millions playing a game most of us play for fun. This perspective is also fair. At the same time, people are allowed to evolve. You are not human if you don't. We have environmental issues, and family issues to break free from so you can figure out how you want to leave your life in your own space. Some never realize they have that choice and never evolve. Shawne Williams is 26 years old now. He'll be 27 in February. He's seen the street. He's seen the red carpet. He also knows what it's like to stand outside looking in, hoping someone will notice him and let him in the backdoor. Donnie Walsh was in Indiana when his nba journey began. Donnie, now with the Knicks, has given the man a second shot at redemption.

I think of Shawne Williams as that infected soldier that was chained up in the backyard of the movie "28 days Later". The dude has got to be hungry. The media is ignoring him and to his credit, he is keeping himself out of their columns with off the court nonsense. The Knicks aren't winning right now. Team captain and face of the team Amar'e Stoudamire is calling his team basically a bunch of pansies. Shawne Williams is no pansy. Only evidence we have of this in a Knick uniform is his brief showing in the pre-season. He was very active and was a tough cover in limited minutes. He was good enough to beat out fan favorite Patrick Ewing Jr. I personally think Shawne Williams can contribute to the Knicks in the 8 man rotation. If I were to compare Shawne to anyone in the league, it would be Stephen Jackson. Jackson had his share of retardation in his career but I think we all are in agreement when I say Stephen Jackson is a warrior on the basketball court. Their games are eerily similar, especially early on in Stephen's career. With that said, why not give this kid a shot at playing. The Knicks that are already on the court aren't doing the job. It's not like he's going to kill anyone's minutes. Timofey Mosgov's minutes need to be eliminated all together. Anthony Randolph probably needs more minutes. When Ronnie Turiaf get back healthy, he's going to be a lock to play. Wilson is also a lock to finish most games with 30 plus minutes. There are the dinky little minutes that Roger Mason and Bill Walker have been getting. Shawne Williams could slide into that slot. Shawne is more of forward but he can surely play shooting guard at times. The Knicks have nothing to lose at this point. The Knicks are desperate. Shawne Williams is sitting on a 1 year contract with no guarantee he'll ever be asked back on any NBA roster in the future. I'd take my chances with this guy. He's got more to lose and his focus should be at an all-time high. Amar'e wants his players to play with urgency. D'antoni has got to see Shawne Williams tail wagging at the end of his bench. Give that dog a bone.