Madison Square Garden has long been recognized as the grandest stage for athletes to perform on. Many of today's NBA players are quick to point out that The Garden is their favorite arena. Some cite the glitz of Broadway or the glamour of celebrity row. Others gaze into the rafters & consider the privilege of playing on the same floor as some of the NBA's greatest. For the Knicks of past & present, they view The Garden as home and cherish the rich history associated with it. From Willis Reed's heroic walk through the tunnel to Larry Johnson's improbable 4-point play, MSG has longed served as the backdrop to some of the greatest moments in basketball history. Of all the Knicks to ever step onto The Garden's hardwood, no one showed a greater appreciation for the opportunity than John Starks.

Of the 50 greatest moments at Madison Square Garden, John Starks' signature slam ranks in the top 20. For anyone who watched Starks play shooting guard for 8 seasons as a Knick, "the dunk" was one of several highlights he's remembered for. Consider the night he nailed 7 three-pointers in the first half of a regular season game against the Miami Heat in November 1993. After scoring 31 points in two quarters, Starks suffered a broken nose just before half-time and returned to start the third period sporting a goalie-like face mask. That moment captured the essence of the gunner from Tulsa, OK. He never let a minor injury stop him from competing hard. From playing in a flak jacket to protect bruised ribs to returning early from knee surgery to help propel the team to the Finals, Starks gave the Knicks every ounce of passion he had. Former team president Dave Checketts once said "I've seen some players come and go who had more talent, but they didn't play as hard, they didn't work as hard and they didn't care as much as John does."

John Starks' NBA career spanned over 13 years. He averaged 14.1 ppg as a Knick (12.5 ppg for his career) and set the team record for most three-point field goals made with 982. His rags-to-riches story from bagging groceries at Safeway to becoming an All-Star has been told countless times, but never ceases to amaze. In a league where so many athletes are crowned before stepping on the court, Starks earned the respect of his peers, coaches & fans alike. Fans in particular saw Starks as the player they related to most. During the 90's it was not uncommon to see New Yorkers wearing their # 3 jerseys to school, work & The Garden on game days. Every time Starks pointed to the "New York" on his chest or pounded his heart after a clutch basket, the love between the fan base & player grew.

When asked for recollections of Starks' career, some point to his struggles in Game 7 of the Finals as their most vivid memory. The vast majority of savvy Knicks fans recall his MVP-like performance through the first 6 games and think what might have been had Hakeem Olajuwon not gotten a hand on his game-winning, three-point attempt late in the 4th quarter. In the seasons to follow, Starks would endear himself to the Madison Square Garden crowd by becoming one of the central figures for the success of the 90's Knicks teams. As Patrick Ewing's wingman, Starks was both a fierce competitor and showman. He routinely rained threes from way downtown, made twisting layups & threw down big-time dunks. On the defensive end, Starks relished the opportunity to defend the league's best and never backed down from the likes of Michael Jordan & Reggie Miller.

One of the most impressive things about John Starks was his willingness to play whatever role the team needed. After the $56M signing of Allan Houston in 1996, Starks was asked to give up his starting position. Ever the team player, he accepted the demotion and subsequently became the league's Sixth Man of the Year. Furthermore, Starks befriended Houston which had a resounding impact on & off the court. The two would go on to become business partners and co-own a mobile phone store called "Three Point Wireless" which was located at 38th & 8th Avenue. During the store's grand opening, Starks & Houston were on hand to greet shoppers & fans. Their genuine appreciation for the outpouring of support left an indelible mark on a would-be sports columnist.

Throughout the course of John Starks' Knicks career, he made every effort to show how much he cared about the franchise. After being traded to Golden State along with Chris Mills & Terry Cummings for Latrell Sprewell, Starks returned to The Garden that May to cheer the team on during a hotly contested playoff battle with the Miami Heat. While standing in the tunnel, MSG cameras captured him on screen and a raucous ovation ensued. Starks would return to The Garden as an opponent in December 1999 as a member of the Warriors. Seeing him in a blue & yellow, # 9 jersey after so many seasons in the blue & orange # 3 was tough to watch. Ever the Knick at heart, Starks used the moment to show his appreciation again. No one in attendance will ever forget the image of the former Knick bowing to kiss the floor at Madison Square Garden and waiving thank you all around.

After retiring following the 2002 season, Starks returned to the New York area as head coach of the USBL's Westchester Wildfire. During his first game as coach, hundreds of fans packed the small gym to support him. Starks would ultimately find his way back home to MSG. As the Alumni Relations & Fan Development Advisor, Starks serves as a liaison to former players and is actively involved in community outreach. Moreover, he is on hand nightly during the regular season to greet patrons. On any given night, Starks can be found signing autographs for children, posing for photos with fans and chatting with luxury suite customers. He can also be found out & about raising awareness & donations for educational initiatives.

The John Starks Foundation (a non-profit organization) has provided numerous college scholarships to New York and Oklahoma-area high school seniors. In 2004, John released his autobiography "My Life" which is a touching memoir that speaks to the spirit of perseverance. Sales of the book helped raise additional funds for his charitable endeavors. During a public signing at Coliseum Books, I asked Starks what inspired him to achieve such a level of success despite being undrafted and taking the long road to stardom. He responded by saying "I never took anything for granted." During this session with roughly 100 fans in attendance, I took the opportunity to thank him publicly for all he had given to the city of New York. He flashed that trademark grin and said "I should be thanking you folks."

In the world of professional sports, clichés come a dime a dozen. Dynamic players are commonly referred to as individuals who make everyone around them better. In the case of John Starks, he made every player around him care more. He was passion personified. I once asked Jeff Van Gundy on a plane ride in 2002 for his impressions of Starks. Van Gundy raved about how great a teammate he was and said Starks "sure loved to shoot it." Patrick Ewing was once asked if he considered Starks one of his favorite teammates over the course of his illustrious career. Ewing responded "he is my favorite teammate."

There are many reasons why the post-Van Gundy era Knicks have struggled mightily. Cleary, a lack of talent has never been the issue. The issue stems from what lies beneath. If today's Knicks have designs on becoming as successful as their predecessors, they need to grasp the importance of cherishing every moment. John Starks did just that and is loved by The Garden faithful for it.

Greg Hutchins is the Senior Columnist & Knicks historian for Garden Grasp Independent Media Group. Hutchins has followed John Starks' career since he joined the team as an unheralded free agent in 1990. The accounts listed in this article are firsthand. Questions or comments may be e-mailed directly to gardengrasp@gmail.com