After 2 more weeks of intense training. The Knicks management finally decided to call Dante for trial training the next day.
Strangely enough, instead of an actual trial training, they actually only measured his physical and technical data.
There was no actual game that happened, not even a 1 on 1. Dante thought that every thing was just a cut scene and they would send him on his way home soon. Now this is where it went strange.
He actually got called to the manager's office and after some pleasantries, he went out with a signed 10-day short contract in his hands which will take effect a day before the regular season starts. So Dante has a week left before he has to report to the team.
What Dante doesn't realize is that because of the teams abysmal record the past years and despite the reinforcements done in the lineup during the summer where the got Chris Duhon as a free agent.
The Knicks management as well as the media, all agree that they still have no hope of making the playoffs.
So they are determined to rot this season and get a good pick for the next draft. They already planned to trade away Jamal Crawford and Zack Randolph during the start of the season.
There is even a rumor that they even planned to waive Stephon Marbury after his contract expires in February.
The Knicks are already determined to rebuild. Now they just have to satisfy their fans and not make it too ugly when they lose.
After all, they're sitting at the basketball mecca in the world. One of the things that the Knicks management thought of was to take away the fans attention from their current games and to look forward to their future.
So they signed Patrick Ewing Jr, son of former Knicks star Patrick Ewing, as a gimmick.
Of course, they also had a fluke mentality, hoping that Ewing Jr. could at least have one half of his father's talent but with his abysmal record in the summer league, averaging 4.8 points in 4 games, their hopes unfortunately went down the drain.
This is where Dante came into their eyes.
***
October 15, 2008.
1 week ago, In the general manager's office, Knicks owner James Dolan was discussing with Knicks general manager Donny Walsh with a bad tone.
"Donny, I don't understand one thing. I pay them so much money yet they give me such abysmal results. We haven't even entered the playoffs for 4 years, as for the fans, saying that they are dissatisfied is an understatement."
"Boss, you should try to forget about these unpleasant things, it will only dampen your mood. Besides boss I have 2 good news here. First, we currently have offers from the Heat, the Bulls and the Warriors for Jamal Crawford while the Clippers are currently pursuing Zack Randolph. I'm confident that by the second half of November, I can seal this deal. We can finally free up some salary space for our plan to get Lebron James after his contract expires in two years."
"Very good, Donny, finally some good news. By the way what happened to Patrick's(Ewing) son, didn't we sign him in the summer?"
"He's no good boss, he only averaged 4.8 points in 4 games in the summer league. I thought that if he at least had one half of his father's talent, I was hoping we could use him as a gimmick for the new season in order to take the fans attention from our current games and make them look forward to our rebuilding of the team. But don't worry boss, I already have a solution. This just came to my desk yesterday." said Donny Walsh while a handing some files to James Dolan.
"Dante Strife, Hey Donny, why are you handing me a file about a model/actor, we're not running a fashion show here." James Dolan was immediately annoyed at Donny Walsh, thinking that he must have made a mistake.
"Hear me out first boss, This Dante Strife came to our office a week ago, wishing to join the team and asked for a trial training. Yes, he's a model and an actor but he's most famous for being Taylor Swift's ex-boyfriend, you know, the popular country singer who recently released a single. Speaking of that single, this Dante Strife is the male lead of the MV for that single. What is strange is that for the past month, no one has seen him. Everyone wants to know his opinion about his recent breakup with Taylor Swift. Now boss, here's my plan, we sign this Mr. Strife as a gimmick. This way we can tell the world that we fulfilled Mr. Strifes dream of playing in the NBA, highlighting our generosity. I'm sure this can soften the blow to the fans when they hear that we're rebuilding the team."
"I like your plan Donny, call him for a trial training next week. Wait, forget the trial training, just measure his physical and technical data and sign him a 10-day short contract while I prepare the media." James Dolan was quite pleased with Donny's operation this time. This proves that his decision to fire Isaiah Thomas last season was not wrong.
"Right away, Boss!" as a new general manager for the Knicks this season, Donny Walsh was eager to perform in front of the boss and one of his motto is to make as little mistakes as possible.
*****
So right after Dante got out of the Knicks office building. He was surprised to find that reporters were already waiting for him outside.
Although he already expected that the Knicks management will use him as a gimmick, considering their record for the past few years.
What he didn't expect was that they would do it so soon, he literally just signed the contract like a minute a go.
"Are you Dante Strife?" Asked one of the reporters.
"Uh yes, I am" Dante quickly calmed down his nerves. After all he already anticipated this coming a month ago.
"Mr. Strife why did you just come out from the Knicks office building?"
'Hoho' Dante chuckled in his mind. He knows that these reporters already know why he's here. Since he decided to become a professional player, Dante can't escape from the media. So he decided to play along: "Oh, I just signed a 10-day short contract with the Knicks"
The reporters' excitement quickly upgraded by a notch, one of them quickly asked him: "But aren't you a model/actor, why did you suddenly decide to become a basketball player? is this related to your breakup with Taylor Swift?"
Dante sighed in his mind, It finally came, so with practice, he replied: "First of all, No this not related to my breakup with Taylor Swift. My decision to become a professional basketball player is currently undecided. I felt that I had some talent in basketball, so I thought of contributing my talents to my hometown team. Okay last question please."
This time a beautiful reporter with brunette hair asked: "Mr. Strife is your white hair natural? If not, why did you dye it?"
"This is actually a long story but to make it short, I was actually raised by my grandmother. So I wanted my hair to be the same color as hers. okay this is the end, I haven't had lunch yet so goodbye" Dante quickly ran away.