“Manny, what’s the matter?”

It seems like this question is asked to me every night now. I won’t get into my personal life, because, well it’s personal. But there is something that really irks me. In the words of the great Peter Griffin: “You know what really grinds my gears?” It is the circus that calls 4 Penn Plaza home, also known as Madison Square Garden.

No, I’m not talking about the New York Rangers. Rangerstown and the Blueshirts will be a-okay.

I’m talking about the New York Knickerbockers. Ah, yes — the biggest joke of a franchise here in the United States of America or Canada.

No, Buffalonians. The Bills are not the biggest joke of a franchise. No, Clevelanders. The Browns are not the biggest joke of a franchise. That title belongs to my beloved Knicks.

We were on cloud nine in October. The Knicks were supposed to be a playoff team and maybe even make it deep into the playoffs. We traded for former-MVP Derrick Rose, signed former triple-double machine Joakim Noah, underrated sharpshooter Courtney Lee and that is with Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis already on the team. Damn, we were going to be good.

Rose even said that the Knicks were a “super team,” like the Warriors. Woah. Hold up, man. Golden State has Curry, Thompson, Draymond and now Kevin Durant. They’re no way near them.

The NBA, being the meanies that they are, thought it was a great idea to schedule the Knicks against the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers on opening night. They got embarrassed.

But the season went on, and the Knicks began flying high. They were 16-13 and third in the eastern conference.

Then Christmas came around.

The Knicks got caught in the middle of a six-game losing streak ending 2016 and entering 2017. During that six-game losing streak, they lost to the Hawks by two possessions and lost to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in a buzzer-beater even though the ‘Greek Freak’ had his back to the basket for more than five seconds, which is a violation. Essentially, the refs beat the Knicks that night.

Then after beating the Bucks in the second half of a home-and-home, we went on a three-game losing streak, capped off by TJ McConnell’s buzzer-beater over Porzingis and Melo. TJ McConnell. The Sixers. What?

The Knicks are currently on a three-game losing streak, losing to the Cavs and both Los Angeles franchises.

Since Christmas, the Knicks are 6-19 and have fallen well out of the playoff picture.

In the midst of this downfall, we have had wars. One of them: Jax vs. Melo.

Over the past few weeks, Knicks president Phil Jackson has been trying to get rid of Melo. Reports swirl that Melo will only accept trades to Cleveland or the Clippers, or maybe even Boston, due to the fact Melo has a No-Trade Clause and decides what teams he will approve.

Jackson recently took a page out of the Donald’s book and decided to be a coward and send a sub-tweet. Although it seems Jackson is trying hard to get rid of Melo, Melo just brushes it off his shoulder and balls out.

Another war: Fans vs. Melo.

I’m not going to lie. I hate it when Melo thinks it’s a great idea to shoot 20 times and make six buckets. For the past few weeks, I’ve been pleading for Melo to be traded. I’m tired of seeing Melo pull up from the top of the arc and throw a brick, leading to boos from me and from The Garden crowd, which Melo laughs at. But then the following night, Melo will go ahead and go 12-for-17 from the field with 30 points and suddenly we remember we love Melo.

Another war: Kristaps vs. Kristaps

The future of the Knicks is a 7’3” skinny Latvian who I booed at draft night and now plead for him to notice me. Unfortunately, KP has had Achilles problems, which is always a concern for someone as tall as he is. Since his Achilles problems arose, he hasn’t been the same Kristaps, often rushing his shots and getting into foul trouble early.

Another war: Spike vs. Jax

Knicks super fan Spike Lee was court-side on Wednesday night to watch the Knicks take on the Clippers. Spike was asked whether Melo or Jackson should go. His answer?

The latest war: Charles Oakley vs. the Knicks

Also on Wednesday, the former Knicks legend was seated a couple rows back of owner James Dolan. Oakley and Dolan’s relationship hasn’t been the prettiest. On national television, Oakley was seen pushing a Madison Square Garden security guard.

After trying to be calmed down by Phil Jackson, Oakley was arrested and escorted out of The Garden and booked at a Midtown precinct. The Knicks PR department sent out a tweet:

What the hell do you mean “we hope he gets some help soon?” Oak doesn’t need help. This sorry franchise needs more help than Oak, if anything.

According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, he didn’t spend the night in jail after being charged with three assault charges, misdemeanors and a trespassing charge. Also according to Isola, Oakley was unhappy with the organization for excluding him in 70^th anniversary festivities. Then, this from Isola:

You cannot be serious, Dolan. You’re going to revoke tickets from one of our favorites and banish him from the organization? Whatever happened to our motto “Once a Knick, Always a Knick?” Do we have to change it to “Once a Knick, Always a Knick, Unless You’re Charles Oakley?” Hell, even the acronym looks similar to Oakley’s name. OAKAAK. You are being childish, Dolan. As childish as a coward who currently calls 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue home.

This the latest from the Knicks PR department:

As Rob Perez of Fox Sports tweeted:

As they say back in New York, “You damn right!” Rest in Peace, Mase.

Jackson and Dolan’s actions are the reason no one would want to play for the New York Knicks. Jackson and Dolan’s actions will lead to free agents and players being turned off and wanting to avoid the endless drama that is the New York Knicks.

Please sell the team, James Dolan.

Being a Knicks fan is a lot like heartbreak. Every day, you wake up hoping things will get better, but at the end of the day, it just gets worse.

Let us start the revolution!

#FreeOak

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Twitter: @E_Rodriguez_24