For what it’s worth, here’s the statement Stephon Marbury released this afternoon in hopes of clarifying the controversial comments he made earlier in the week:

“It is not uncommon for my comments to be misconstrued in the media but I feel compelled to put my recent comments in the right context. What Michael Vick did was wrong and he has admitted his guilt. He should be punished. However, he should be given a second chance as others have received for more serious crimes. There is no list for which animals should be killed and which shouldn’t. As a spiritual being, I respect GOD’s divine order. We’re all created by GOD and animals are GOD’s creatures as well. I love animals and none of them should be harmed. However, we don’t react the same when other animals are being killed for sport or the sake of human pleasure. Should we as a society stop wearing fur coats and eating meat or hold those accountable who are responsible for the demise of those animals? In order to receive forgiveness we must all forgive in order for healing to take place. As an athlete and celebrity, I realize we are convenient targets for scrutiny, often unfairly. When I received a DUI, I learned from the mistake and vowed never to do it again. I came out a better person as a result. I’m sure he will learn from this mistake and become a better man. My family’s thoughts and prayers go out to him and all of those impacted by this unfortunate situation.â€?

The statement was released by the Knicks, which is a good indication of how they feel about Marbury comparing dog fighting to hunting and practically defending Michael Vick, who pled guilty to federal charges on Monday.

Here’s the original comments if you need perspective:

“I think it’s tough,’’ Marbury said, according to Albany TV station Capital News 9. “I think, you know, we don’t say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals. You know, from what I hear, dogfighting is a sport. It’s just behind closed doors.”

And in case anybody needs a giggle, I’ll include this link to Field and Stream, which seems to be a little upset that Marbury compared hunting to dog fighting.

I can live with Stephon Marbury labeling himself the best point guard in the league. Playing at this level requires unshakable confidence and only the locker room politicians would’ve come up with a different answer.  I don’t understand how the suddenly talkative playmaker can defend Michael Vick or lable dog-fighting a sport.

At this rate, a line of flavored Starburys is in order.

Since the latest remarks are only making the rounds via blogs, it’s hardly causing a firestorm. Does anybody else care? I think it’s an interesting debate. So let’s get into the subject here, do the fans in New York have a right to demand a certain level of character or intelligence from the athletes wearing the hometown colors?

Maybe the standard has slipped after six consecutive losing seasons.

I’m not jumping on a soap box, and I don’t have any moral hangups with any of these guys, but I’m wondering if anybody who is emotionally vested in the Knicks feels a little disappointed when somebody like Marbury produces questionable sound bites.

Fire away.

I was expecting a small army of nerds to show up like they do in the commercial, but Verizon only dispatched one guy to fix my phone issues. He tangled with the poison ivy and got everything squared away, so I’m back in business.

Here’s a couple of notes and quotes from my Journal News colleague Rod Boone, who visited today with Alonzo Mourning who was in the area hosting Zo’s Million Dollar Shootout at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor. He also spoke to Shaquille O’Neal. Rod is the one guy on the staff who only needs a step stool to interview these guys.

I usually need a step ladder.

Mourning was non-committal when discussing the revamped East, which is probably the right strategy for a player who is visiting New York to collect some cash from benevolent golfers to fund a charitable foundation.   

“I think it’s still up for grabs,” he said. “It’s a long season. It’s a marathon not a sprint and I think the key down the stretch is who’s going to be the healthiest. I think that was one of our biggest problems last year. Guys weren’t healthy and it kind of really affected our play down the stretch. We weren’t really whole, so we we really couldn’t compete the way we wanted to at a high level.”

That pretty much covers all of the cliches.

Here’s what Mourning came up with when asked where the Knicks fall in the pecking order:

“Zach (Randolph) is a great player, but he still has to mesh with a brand new team,” he said. “So that is going to be a transition within itself. We have a championship team. We’ve got our core group of guys that we expect to come back. But hey, it’s still up for grabs. I like our chances, especially when we are healthy. We’ve got a healthy Shaq, a healthy D-Wade, myself, J-Will. And with the additions of Penny and Smush Parker, I think those guys are hungry and they’ve got a lot of things to prove. We are going to have a great bench and I think Pat Riley is still working on trying to make some deals happen to make us better.”

How cool would it be to resume a Knicks-Heat rivalry?

O’Neal also held court, but you’ll have to read the story Rod crafted to get that end of the conversation. He acted surprised to hear the Knicks landed Randolph, which in all likelihood was just a fun and games.

He did talk about teaming up with Penny Hardaway again.

“They say that Penny looks great,” O’Neal said. “He signed a non-guaranteed contract, which tells me that he just wants to come in and ball and get his name back up to par.”

Nice use of a golf analogy.

Allan Houston was on hand, too. He was a late arrival, though, and wasn’t able to stop and discuss whether a comeback is on the horizon.

Maybe we need to make up a wild trade … David Lee for Ron Artest.

Kidding.

There is a lull in the conversation every August, which I’m discovering isn’t conducive to blog traffic. Oh, well. I suspect there will be plenty of rumors to sort through in a couple of weeks.

Like maybe Lee for Artest.

Anyway, here’s the extent of what I’ve gathered over the last few days. Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler and Lee have all stopped by the MSG Training Center in the last two weeks.

They even scrimmaged a little.

I can’t find anyone who’s seen Allan Houston on the premises. There have been reports of a possible comeback, but the former All-Star isn’t out there campaigning for a job.

After the way things ended here, I highly doubt Isiah Thomas would show any real interest.

I see Tim Donaghy is looking to give up the names of 20 NBA officials who’ve violated the league’s gambling policy before he’s sentenced. Unless they were betting on games in some fashion, I don’t want to know.

Which leads me to my favorite subject line from an e-mail I got this week from a PR official looking to sell books for a client, “Feature/Interview: Betting On The Horses Could Lead To Sleeping With The Fishes – An Inside Look At The Mafia And Sports …”

Catch up with you later.

I’m really not sure how to interpret Tim Donaghy admitting this morning that he engaged in wire fraud and transmitted waging information through interstate commerce.

The legalese is too confusing.

Let’s just say the real crime Donaghy committed was creating reasonable doubt every time a debatable whistle blows in the NBA.

The fallout is going to continue for years to come. Right now, David Stern could use a timely assist from the FBI, which investigated this case. It would be nice if somebody jumped in front of a microphone and explained the scope of the investigation.

We keep hearing Donaghy was a rogue, but it would be helpful to know an outside agency checked over the league’s roster of referees to make sure this really was an isolated incident.

There has to be a level of trust, or the game is ruined.

At least we know what Donaghy was up to, providing information to his unsavory friends in the underworld. When the inside tips paid off, he collected. The league will probably use that information to develop a new system of disseminating information to the officials.

Lock them all in a room until game time, maybe.

There is no way this is good news for the league. I honestly believe those of us who are locked into the NBA underestimate the impact of this mess. We aren’t going anywhere. It’s the fans who jump on and off bandwagons that are likely to be turned off by the league.

Any sport with a small but loyal group of supporters is just hockey.

Here’s a statement from Stern issued by the NBA:

“As expected, former NBA referee Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty today to betting on NBA games, including games in which he officiated, and providing confidential information to others who bet on NBA games. We will continue with our ongoing and thorough review of the league’s officiating program to ensure that the best possible policies and procedures are in place to protect the integrity of our game.�

Just in case you need to start counting down the days until the Knicks preview their double-wide lineup that’s likely to include Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph, here is the schedule for the upcoming preseason:

Oct. 8 Knicks at Sixers Colonial Center, Columbia, S.C. 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 Maccabi Tel Aviv at Knicks MSG 7 p.m.

Oct. 17 Knicks at Celtics TD Banknorth Garden 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 Knicks at Nets Continental Airlines Arena, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 22 Celtics at Knicks MSG 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 24 Sixers @ Knicks MSG 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 Nets @ Knicks MSG 7:30 p.m.

The Knicks will be heading for training camp in Charleston, S.C. after they get done with Media Day festivities Oct. 1, and will stop by Renaldo Balkman’s old stomping grounds before heading north.

It’s not a homecoming arranged by the Knicks. The Colonial Center is managed by a subsidiary of Comcast-Spectator, which also owns the Sixers.

The preseason is normally such a yawn that most of us write our stories before the games tip off and plug in a final score. I would bet Isiah Thomas will be anxious to see how the Knicks line up against Boston and New Jersey, so those games will have some added intrigue.

My job would be infinitely easier if only Malik Rose played 20 minutes every single game.

He is always the voice of reason in a Knicks locker room that often gets caught up in hyperbole. All of the players are accessible in season. Most of them are quotable. Rose just has a natural ability to fill up a notebook.

The only problem is, even a respected veteran like Rose struggles to maintain credibility when they watch from the bench.

A number of the beat writers had a chance to do a phone interview with him today as the NPBA worked to get the word out about its partnership with the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Rose is among the 12 players on hand this week for double sessions in the classroom. The seminar covers everything from making smart investments to evaluating business proposals. It goes well beyond the basics to the point. The participants even developed a plan for growing the International Fight League.

“The way these business minds work and put these things together, there are a lot of ways they can deceive you,” he said. “Now we’re better equipped, seeing the tricks of the trade.”

Rose has long been preparing for the future.

He’s also been quite busy in San Antonio and Philadelphia, working out and fine tuning. The hustling power forward wants to spend more time on the court. It’s not going to be easy for anyone to get noticed behind the likes of Zach Randolph, Eddy Curry and David Lee.

“I can fill any role the Knicks want me to fill,” Rose said. “But I would rather not be just the locker room voice. I’m just 32, that’s not ancient. When I was in San Antonio, the guy who filled that role was Kevin Willis. Oddly enough, he still played. Kevin got eight to 10 minutes a night, and that’s more than I’m getting in New York. I would love to be the voice of reason and voice of experience in the locker room, but there’s a lot I can offer on the court, and that’s one of my objectives, to get back on the court.”

He also talked a little about Randolph and Curry, and believes they’ll be able to happily co-exist in the right system.

And the renewed optimism was addressed, too.

“I sure hope and pray it’s a better year,” Rose said. “We’ve been good on paper for two years, since I’ve gotten here, and we haven’t found a way to translate that into a significant amount of wins. I know I’m preparing myself to give what’s expected of me. I know the Garden is expecting big things, front office and fans, so when my number gets called, I’ll be ready to produce the same way I did in the last month of the season.”

Quick, somebody name that guy a captain.

Apparently, the Knicks still don’t have enough drawing power to go coast-to-coast.

They are down for just three national television broadcasts next season.

ESPN is carrying 72 regular-season games, and will bring you the Knicks at Portland on Feb. 1 and Miami at the Knicks on March 26. TNT is airing 52 regular-season games this season, and will bring you the Knicks at Boston on Nov. 29.

That’s it. That’s all.

And from what several of us have been told, you can thank Kevin Garnett for deciding Boston wasn’t such a bad place. That game was a late addition.

Of course, if the Knicks prove themselves worthy, the schedule will be altered.

ABC is showing 18 regular-season games, and is ignoring the biggest market in the country. The schedule is made by network ratings experts with advice from the league, when solicited. It’s not a foolproof method.

The number of national broadcast is not a barometer in any sense. It does show what kind of a reputation the Knicks have established over six consecutive losing seasons. Getting a hold of Zach Randolph on draft night really didn’t change much in New York in the eyes of the broadcast powers that be.

Anyway, here’s what I take from the schedule:

• Somebody put down a red carpet in November. To help the Knicks avoid starting 6-11 again, there are four straight home games after the Nov. 2 opener in Cleveland.

• It’s going to get a little chilly in January, with 13 of 16 games against playoff teams.

• There’s really no reason to complain about the circus, either. When the elephants walk into town every April, the Knicks hit the road and Isiah Thomas complains. They visit Toronto, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Memphis, and New Orleans this year between March 28-April 4. It could be a lot worse.

• With the unbalanced schedule, the Knicks only play Charlotte, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Washington three times.

And here are some schedule notes:

• Don’t make plans on Wednesdays and Fridays during the season. The Knicks play 20 games on Wednesdays and 20 games on Fridays.

• There will be 20 sets of back-to-back games, and the Knicks will play four games in five nights on three occasions.

• Zach Randolph heads back to Portland on Feb. 1.

Here it is in full …

2007-08 Knicks Schedule
All times Eastern
Nov. 2 at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 Minnesota, 6 p.m.
Nov. 6 Denver, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 9 Orlando, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 Miami, 6 p.m.
Nov. 13 at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Nov. 14 at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Nov. 16 at Sacramento, 10 p.m.
Nov. 17 at Denver, 9 p.m.
Nov. 20 Golden State, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 21 at Detroit, 8 p.m.
Nov. 24 Chicago, 1 p.m.
Nov. 26 Utah, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 29 at Boston, 8 p.m.
Nov. 30 Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 2 Phoenix, 7 p.m.
Dec. 5 at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Dec. 8 Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 10 Dallas, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 12 Seattle, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 14 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 15 New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 17 Indiana, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 21 at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Dec. 23 L.A. Lakers, 12 p.m.
Dec. 26 at Orlando, 7 p.m.
Dec. 30 Chicago, 12 p.m.
Jan. 2 Sacramento, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 4 at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 at Houston, 8:30 p.m.
Jan. 8 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Jan. 9 Houston, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 11 Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 Detroit, 7 p.m.
Jan. 15 Washington, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 16 at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 18 at Washington, 7 p.m.
Jan. 19 at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 21 Boston, 1 p.m.
Jan. 25 Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 27 at Golden State, 9 p.m.
Jan. 29 at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Jan. 30 at Utah, 9 p.m.
Feb. 1 at Portland, 10:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 at Seattle, 10 p.m.
Feb. 4 L.A. Clippers, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 6 Indiana, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 8 San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 9 at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 13 at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 19 at Washington, 7 p.m.
Feb. 20 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Feb. 22 Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 24 at Toronto, 6 p.m.
Feb. 27 Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 29 at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
March 1 at Orlando, 7 p.m.
March 3 New Orleans, 7:30 p.m.
March 5 Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
March 7 Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
March 8 Portland, 7:30 p.m.
March 10 at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
March 12 at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
March 16 Atlanta, 6 p.m.
March 17 at Indiana, 7 p.m.
March 21 Memphis, 7:30 p.m.
March 22 at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
March 24 New Jersey, 7:30 p.m.
March 26 Miami, 7 p.m.
March 28 at Toronto, 7 p.m.
March 30 at Atlanta, 4 p.m.
April 1 at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
April 2 at Memphis, 8 p.m.
April 4 at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
April 6 Orlando, 6 p.m.
April 8 at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
April 9 Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
April 11 Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
April 14 Boston, 7:30 p.m.
April 16 at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Damn the cliches.

Isiah Thomas will eventually be sitting at the conference table with a gaggle of advisors mapping out the upcoming playoff chase. All of the previous legwork was rendered useless once Kevin Garnett landed in Boston, and he can’t afford not to look ahead.

The standard one-game-at-a-time nonsense can wait until the season tips off.

Every team in the East will be doing another side-by-side comparison of rosters to see whether changes need to be made in order to qualify for the postseason. The list of contenders appears to be expanding. In a matter of months, the conference made up a lot of ground on the West.

So who’s in and who’s out?

Boston and Detroit appear to be locks, so that leaves six openings. Cleveland, Miami and Chicago aren’t likely to experience a huge dropoff, so let’s put them in. Now there are just three spots.

See what I mean?

New Jersey, Orlando, Charlotte, Toronto, Milwaukee and New York should all be improved. We’re officially out of fingers. And we haven’t even mentioned Washington or Indiana.

Here’s my list, right now, and it will change 15 times before training camp even opens, so don’t hold me to it:

1. Boston

2. Detroit

3. Chicago

4. Miami

5. Cleveland

6. New Jersey

7. New York

8. Toronto

Getting four Atlantic Division teams in would be astounding, but until the next round of moves, I don’t see how else it could work out. I think now matter who’s in, the last two months of the season are going to be dramatic because there could be up to eight teams battling for three spots.

Let’s see what you’ve got, and be polite. Don’t forget to vote in the new poll.