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The last time he was at Staples Center, Phil Jackson sat about 10 rows behind the Knicks bench, next to GM Steve Mills. At one point, he was shown on the giant video screen above the court, accompanied by the theme from Welcome Back, Kotter. The fans on hand gave Jackson a long, loud ovation.The Knicks president smiled and waved, presenting a picture of tranquility.If Jackson attends Sunday nights Knicks-Lakers game in Los Angeles, a similar scene may play out: Jackson smiling and waving to an adoring crowd.One wonders, though, if Jackson would get the same reaction these days in New York.Judged purely on wins and losses, Jackson deserves a round of applause for the moves he made in the offseason. The Knicks are off to a promising 13-10 start, with some of Jacksons offseason acquisitions playing pivotal roles.Start with Jeff Hornacek. The first-year coach has successfully blended an offensive approach that includes plenty of high pick-and-roll with players spread on the perimeter, along with a dose of the triangle offense.The approach has allowed Derrick Rose and Kristaps Porzingis to play mostly to their strengths and has produced the NBAs 12th-best offense. For the most part, Hornacek has mixed and matched his lineups and personnel brilliantly.One example: He hasnt felt obligated to play Joakim Noah big minutes to justify the four-year, $72 million contract the Knicks gave Noah in the offseason.Hornacek wasnt Jacksons first choice as head coach, according to sources. But the team president certainly deserves credit for hiring the right guy.Other Jackson acquisitions have played above expectations as well: His recent back ailment aside, Rose has otherwise been healthy and productive, as evidenced by his 16.5 player efficiency rating. Courtney Lee has improved the Knicks shaky perimeter defense and complemented Rose, Carmelo Anthony and Porzingis well on offense. Brandon Jennings has shifted his approach to fit the roster, taking a pass-first approach that has led to the highest assist ratio of his career.Justin Holiday, who was acquired in the Rose trade, has given the Knicks productive minutes off the bench, as have Kyle OQuinn, Willy Hernangomez and Mindaugas Kuzminskas. And Porzingis development in his second season has been promising, to say the least. All those players were brought in by Jackson.Of course, Jacksons biggest acquisition, Noah, hasnt performed to expectations. He has admittedly been inconsistent in his first two-plus months in New York. Some scouts around the league say its too early to count Noah out. But, at the very least, Noahs first 23 games as a Knick give the team reason to be concerned about the length and amount of his contract.But the team that Jackson put together appears to have enough talent to make the playoffs for the first time since he took over as team president in March 2014.Perhaps more than anything, though, a few off-court issues have complicated things for Jackson and the Knicks --?and the genesis for those issues was Jackson himself.Lets start with LeBron James. No matter where you stand on the use or connotation of the word posse, fallout from Jacksons using the term to describe James friends isnt good for New York in a bottom-line sense.One of LeBrons close friends is Rich Paul, an agent and the founder of Klutch Sports, which represents several top NBA players (including James). As long as Jackson is president, its hard to imagine the Knicks landing a Klutch client in free agency if that player is choosing from a group of suitors.And then theres Jacksons recent comments about Anthony, which were made during an appearance on the CBS Sports Network earlier this week.On the show, Jackson was responding to a question from panelist Lisa Leslie, who asked if there is a conflict of interest having a player like Anthony in an offense that requires frequent ball movement.This was Jacksons response: He can play that role that Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant played. Its a perfect spot for him to be in that isolated position on the weak side because its an overload offense, and theres a weakside man that always has an advantage if the ball is swung. Carmelo a lot of times wants to hold the ball longer than -- we have a rule: If you hold a pass two seconds, you benefit the defense. So he has a little bit of a tendency to hold it for three, four, five seconds, and then everybody comes to a stop. That is one of the things we work with. But hes adjusted to [the triangle], he knows what he can do, and hes willing to see its success.Jacksons critique of Anthonys tendency to hold on to the ball too long isnt unique. Plenty of NBA analysts have given similar takes over the years.But its different when a team president delivers this criticism of his star player publicly, rather than behind closed doors. That was Anthonys message when talking about the issue on Friday. He also said he wants to keep any negativity away from the Knicks at a time when theyre playing well. Others in the organization felt the same way, with one questioning what Jacksons public comments are doing to help the Knicks win games.So what does all of this add up to?In the worst-case scenario, Jackson has upset his star player and one of the top agents in the NBA. Anthony said on Friday the issue is over as far as hes concerned. But no one around the team would describe Anthony and Jackson as best friends, and its unlikely that Jacksons critique did anything to bolster their relationship. But even if this all blows over and the Knicks continue to progress, Jacksons comments still have created a sideshow and taken the focus away from what the story should be right now: For the first time in a long time, the Knicks are playing solid basketball, and Jacksons moves -- not his words -- have been a driving force. Cheap Jerseys Ireland Free Shipping . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Ireland . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. http://www.cheapjerseysireland.com/ . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Discount Jerseys Ireland . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Clearance Jerseys Ireland For Sale . Tracey comes to the Blue Bombers after spending over a decade with Queens University. Most recently he was the schools assistant football coach. NEW YORK -- Flavia Pennetta arrived back at Arthur Ashe Stadium and had one question: Where is it?She couldnt wait to see the most recent addition to the photos of past champions displayed at the U.S. Open. Its been almost one year since Pennetta affixed her name to that list, yet as she returned to Flushing Meadows on Friday, that moment felt much longer ago than 12 months.The 2015 U.S. Open final was not only when the 33-year-old Italian won her first major title. It was also when she announced to the world that she planned to retire.I had the chance to say to everyone in the perfect moment in the perfect way, Pennetta told The Associated Press before she appeared at the U.S. Open draw ceremony as the reigning womens champion. Of course it was a big moment -- not just for the winning, but for everything.I didnt have any regrets. One year later Im here and really happy with my life now.She had decided a month before the tournament to leave tennis at the end of the season, convinced she couldnt win the years final major and OK with the fact that meant shed finish her career without a Grand Slam title. The grind of the tour was wearing her down, the constant travel around the globe from week to week to week.At too many events, Pennetta was thinking: Why am I here? I dont want to be here.Sometimes I was 100 percent on court, she recalled, and sometimes I was, `OK, I have to play -- I dont want to go. I want to be another place.Where she often wants to be these days is riding the horse she owns. Her father jokes that she seems to spend more time doing that than she did practicing tennis.This summer, where she wanted to be was on a boat cruising between Greek islands. Pennetta hails from Brindisi, in the heel of Italys boot, where seemingly everybody makes the short trip to Greece for vacations. No one could believe that she hadnt been, but there was just never the time over the summer. Until now.Asked what else shes suddenly been able to do in retirement, Pennetta laughed and pointed out the biggest one: We get married.Her wedding to fellow Italian player Fabio Fognini took place in June. Fognini is 29, aand his wife isnt trying to sell him on the merits of retirement.dddddddddddd.I push him to play until 35, 37, Pennetta said, smiling.She hopes that by then hell be playing as a father.At this years U.S. Open, the 38th-ranked Fognini faces No. 106 Teymuraz Gabashvili in the first round Tuesday. Pennetta is kept close to tennis by her husbands career, and she follows the fortunes of former Italian Fed Cup teammates Francesca Schiavone, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci.Watching matches from the stands can be agonizing. Its so easy to see which shot the player should have hit, how they should react to a missed call.But she also knows well that between the lines, none of that comes easy.From outside, you see everything so clear. When youre on court, of course not, Pennetta said. You would like to help them, but there is no chance. You just have to sit there and say, `OK, come on.It was Vinci, her former junior doubles partner, who Pennetta met for the U.S. Open title in one of the unlikeliest major finals ever. Vinci, then ranked 43rd, had just derailed Serena Williams Grand Slam bid with a shocking upset in the semis.This was the first major final for both Italians, and the 26th-seeded Pennetta was the oldest woman in the Open era to become a first-time Grand Slam champion. Then during the trophy ceremony, she threw in one last twist to a tournament full of stunners. Her on-court interview about the end, Pennetta interjected: I just need to say one thing more.She played four more tournaments to wrap up her final season. Pennetta still enjoys playing for fun but now can go a month without touching a racket.Shes done some commentating work for Italian TV and figures she might help out the countrys tennis federation. But mostly she relishes the freedom to spend time with her husband and with her family back home in Brindisi, to travel around Italy visiting friends.Now I have all this time, so now Im perfect, she said, the smile spreading across her face. Im always where I want to be. 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