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It started with a call from "Rick in the car" complaining about the Nets' past at the Meadowlands and quickly evolved into a discussion of the Nets' future at Barclays Center. After a tour of the arena site, Stephen A. Smith has become the latest ESPN writer to champion it and what it means for the Nets' franchise.
Like Chris Broussard and Rob Parker before him, Smith raved about what he saw. The bottom line: "They're coming for the Knicks. They're going to try to take over this town. The Knicks better be ready for that".
Meanwhile, Knicks beat writer Marc Berman writes that Madison Square Garden "figures to be the top candidate" for the 2014 All-Star Game, with Barclays Center another option.
The Smith transcript follows after the break.
- Stephen A. Smith: 8/10 @ 1:00:00 (Audio) - Stephen A. Smith - ESPN Radio
- Could MSG host the 2014 All-Star Game? - Royce Young - CBS Sports
"I went to the Barclays Center today in Brooklyn. I took a tour of that. that arena looks fantastic. It looks absolutely fantastic. It seats about 18,000, 19,000 for concerts. I mean first-class amenities all over the place. I mean you have a diverse population of about 2.5 million in Brooklyn. If you look at that place, I don't know many tickets they are going ot have for 50 dollars or less...
"The kind of amenities that have available...it's a good thing that Madison Square Garden is upgrading its facilities right now. but the Knicks better win some basketball games because I believe that with this facility, the New Jersey Nets, soon to be the Brooklyn Nets, are going to get some players. They're coming for the Knicks. They're going to try to take over this town. The Knicks better be ready for that".