Music to his ears
Randolph band in tune with Knicks
Robert Randolph, a big Knicks fan from Irvington, N.J., is back as lead musician for “Friday Night Knicks’’ on MSG Network, having just filmed a new lead-in spot at a Brooklyn studio, Cinema World, in Greenpoint. He is also filmed darting through the subways, greeting Knicks fans during rush hour.
But in an interview with The Rumble’s Marc Berman, Randolph seemed intent on clearing his name as a “reporter’’ on Twitter. Randolph issued the infamous tweet in July — “Hearing Steve Nash is coming to the Knicks’’ — that caused something of a frenzy. Randolph was forced to issue a subsequent tweet, apologizing, saying he was just joking. The next day, Steve Nash was headed to the Lakers but, Randolph said his tweet had merit.
“I had a source who knows Steve well that gave me good information on that,’’ Randolph said. “The plan was the next day to fly to New York and commit. The last second, the Lakers swooped in. He was getting calls from Kobe [Bryant], Pau Gasol. When I tweeted it, it was out of excitement. Knicks fans were calling me out on Twitter and Facebook. This is what I get? He was coming. The Lakers blew him out of the water.’’
This will be the fourth year of “Friday Night Knicks” — an idea hatched by Knicks telecast director Spencer Julien, adding bands to basketball. When the team is on the road, the Knicks try to feature a musical band tied to that city. Robert Randolph and the Family Band is the staple. There will be 16 Friday night Knicks games this season, starting this week vs. Miami in the home opener.
“I’m a Knicks fan back to Rory Sparrow and Eddie Lee Wilkins,” said Randolph, a former shooting guard for Irvington High. “But my favorite Knick of all time is Mark Jackson. I tried to walk like him, look like him and I would do the helicopter [move].’’
Randolph got kicked off his high school basketball team because music called.
“I got booted. I wasn’t one to go to practice,’’ Randolph said. “That’s when I developed my true love for playing guitar. I didn’t want to do anything else but chase girls at church and play my guitar. But I had a deadly 3-point shot, brother.’’
Randolph said he never “had the handle’’ to be a point guard but loves the Knicks at that position.
“We got a great team,’’ said Randolph, whose band will play the Brooklyn Bowl during Thanksgiving holiday weekend. “To me, the only team that may be better than us in the East is Miami. People say we’re old, injured. They’re older guys and know how to preserve their body. No reason to be playing preseason. You try to pace yourself.’’
As for the new lead-in, Randolph said, “It’s going to look cool, look great, with the subway shots, walking through the streets. ‘Friday Night Knicks’ gives viewers something to look forward to on Saturday night.’’
Landeta joins benefit for Amazin’ cause
Because Hope Shines For Shannon Forde, Giants two-time Super Bowl champ Sean Landeta will be there at the Thursday night meet-and-greet fundraiser at Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park, N.J., for the angelic longtime Mets public relations aide, who is battling breast cancer.
“Through the years, the Mets and Jay Horwitz and Shannon Forde have all been such a great friend to me in numerous ways that when I heard they’re having an event to help Shannon, there was no way that I would not be there,” Landeta told the Rumble, “because Shannon does so many nice things, not only for me, but for many others. What the event is for anyway is such a great cause, but on top of it, since that is such an exceptional person that I’ve known personally for years, I’m glad that I’m able to help in any way I can.”
Also joining the star-studded cast in support of Shannon will be John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman, who have donated four seats to a Yankes-Mets game at Yankee Stadium. The winners also can spend time in the booth during the game with them. For information, call (201) 906-9255 or visit hopeshinesforshannon.com.
Goodell takes timeout for Strahan on radio
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sat down last week for a special one-hour Town Hall event hosted by Michael Strahan at the SiriusXM studios in Manhattan. Goodell took questions from listeners on a variety of topics that included fan and player safety, the Saints’ bounty scandal, the expansion of the schedule, NFL games in Europe and more.
At the end, one of the audience members had a question for Strahan about his new job: How has it been working with his new co-host, Kelly Ripa, on “Live with Kelly & Michael”?
“Being with Kelly Ripa, she smells a lot better that Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck,” cracked Strahan. “A lot better looking, too!”
Brown album release a Giants success
Giants Prince Amukamara, Spencer Paysinger, Henry Hynoski and Tyler Sash celebrated Rachel Brown’s “Building Castles” album release Monday night at The Darby.
“Just went to The Darby and listened to her play one night, and then after she got done playing got to meet her and the band and say hi and just praise her on how much we liked her music,” Amukamara said. “She kinda has like [a] Norah Jones’ voice with like an Adele style, but it’s her own style.”