By ANDREW MARCHAND
Every Friday in NYP TV Sports, our sports television pullout that appears in the middle of the print edition and online, we present “Five Questions for …” This is the 6th Question, where we post more of my interview.
This week, I spoke with Clyde Frazier
Q: Did you ever think about becoming a GM or a coach?
A: No, I wouldn’t want to be a GM. I like dealing with the people. I relish my role now because I can meet the fans and sign autographs. I talk to them. As far as coaching, I never thought of it once I left the game. Now, as a broadcaster, I see many things, especially defensively, that I can help guys with – just little tips. So sometimes I wonder if that might not be a good challenge for me to try to get into coaching.
Q: What is the most vivid thing about that night that you remember about Game 7 in 1970?
A: Willis coming onto the court because when we left the locker room we had no idea he would play. So we were just as flabbergasted as everyone else when he came on the court. We turned around to see what was all the commotion. There was Willis. He hit his first two shots and that really set the tempo for the game. Then the crowd became our sixth man. They just became so vociferous and they gave us so much confidence we thought we could do anything.
Q: You were known for your play on the court and your style off of it. Where does the style come from?
A: I think it is genetics. My dad was a good dresser. It is funny when I was in college I wore buttoned down collared shirts with penny loafers, like everybody else. Then, coming to New York, which is a Mecca for fashion, I kind of watched what my teammates were wearing because in those days everybody used to dress up. I kind of copied when they bought their suits and their shirts. What set me apart was the hat. I bought that hat about two weeks before the movie Bonnie & Clyde came out so then I wore it everybody said, ‘Hey, look at Clyde.’ Also the fur coat – I used to wear the fur coat, mink coat. So I was sort of the consummate dresser. I had the shoes, the coat, the hat, I had the whole thing going on?
Q: Who was the better coach? Red Holzman or Red Auerbach?
A: I don’t know I only played for Red Holzman, but Auerbach I guess was similar to [Holzman.] He was very strict, team-oriented so I think they were pretty much carbon-copies of each other.
Q: What is your take on where the Knicks are going?
A: Their record is not much better than last season, but the team, to me, is better. They have a focal point to me in Eddy Curry. I think Stephon Marbury is playing his best all-around basketball. He is really working diligently on his defense. He is becoming a leader on the court. Jamal Crawford is still improving. He is perhaps the best clutch player on the team.