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Curry only makes headlines off the court

Anthony Rieber

1:20 PM EST, January 13, 2009

Say this for Eddy Curry: As big as he is, it seems like he can't hide. Except on the court.

The 6-11, 300-or-so-pound Knicks center always seems to be in the middle of something. The only thing he's not in the middle of these days is the Knicks' lineup, or their chances for this season, or their plans for the future.

Last month he was sued for allegedly skipping out on a $41,000 clothing bill in Chicago. Now it's an explosive sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a former employee who is either a) a hardworking guy treated really badly or b) a slimy weasel looking for a payday.

I have no idea which it is, and neither do you.

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All we do know is the details of the lawsuit -- I just finished reading it and you will be able to elsewhere on Newsday.com -- made me go, "Ewww." And "Yuck." And "Wow, I hope that's not true."

The alleged misdeeds by Curry of a sexual nature, if true, would make Stephon Marbury blush. The gunplay allegations would make Plaxico Burress shake his head and say, "Dude, what were you thinking?"

By all accounts, Curry is one of the nicest guys in the NBA. He never fails to say hello, or give you a smile, or politely move aside if you are an opposing player driving in for a layup or going up for a rebound.

Nice guys usually finish last, but these days Curry is living large, quite large, lawsuits notwithstanding. The Knicks are paying him $9.7 million this season and he is so overweight and has such bad knee problems (gee, think maybe that's related?) that he has only played three minutes in 2 1/2 months. But they were three quality minutes: two points, two rebounds.

Curry, who also has a heart problem that bears monitoring, has player options worth $10.5 million and $11.2 million for the next two seasons. The Knicks would like him to opt out or - excuse the expression - round into playing shape so they can trade him to a team that is willing to take the chance that Curry will one day get fit, play hard, care about defense and become a winning player.

Fat chance. There's a better chance Curry will rehire his former driver David Kuchinsky, the author of the shocking, salacious $5-million lawsuit.

In the press, Curry is never mentioned in the same breath with the malcontent Marbury. He's friendly and pleasant to reporters, two words never associated with Marbury, and don't think that doesn't go a long way with how the media portrays you to the public. Reporters are human beings (believe it or not) and are less likely to call someone to task if the person is likable. (There. The secret is out.)

One day not so long ago, Isiah Thomas once pledged to rebuild the Knicks on the backs of these two talented players. Marbury at least came into this season's training camp in shape, hoping to resurrect some semblance of an NBA career.

Mike D'Antoni took care of that. Now Marbury is exiled and Curry's only stab at defense is against Kuchinsky's allegations. If only he defended the paint with as much gusto . . .

"This is absolutely false," Curry said on Monday night after word of the lawsuit leaked out. "It's incredible. I can't even believe it."

Why not? Curry should know better than most that rich athletes can be targets- if that's what is going on here. In 2007, Curry and his family were robbed at gunpoint in their home in suburban Chicago. Curry was restrained with duct tape and was relieved of cash and jewelry. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and two men were later arrested and charged with the crime and also with robbing then-Celtics star Antoine Walker in similar fashion in the same neighborhood.

A person familiar with Curry's current situation told Newsday that Curry had around 30 people on his payroll. He recently let go of some, including his personal chef, in an effort to trim his expenses, if not his waistline.

Maybe Curry really is guilty of nothing more than being a nice guy, of spreading his wealth around too freely like the federal government on a bailout binge, of trusting the wrong people. Maybe the details of his privileged life are left to others, and those people have let him down.

Or maybe Eddy Curry is off the court exactly what he is on the court, especially if even one of Kuchinsky's allegations are true:

A big disappointment.