NBA

Marv says Holzman would have sat Smith, too

The legendary Marv Albert said he believes Hall of Fame Knicks coach Red Holzman would have benched J.R. Smith after his shoelace charades … but may not have needed to.

“I think he would have done exactly what Mike Woodson did,” Albert, who will be inducted into by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame the weekend of June 5-7 in Salisbury, N.C., told The Rumble. “These days, the only way you can really get back at a player is take his minutes away.

“But the great teams that Red had, they won championships (1970 and ‘73) … I don’t know if that kind of activity would have occurred. There was such respect for that group.

“And Miami [Michael Beasley and Chris Andersen] and Indiana have that type of situation. … That’s why they are able to take in players who have had some personality issues and it turns around. … LeBron [James] and [Dwyane] Wade and [Chris] Bosh, [Shane] Battier and [Rya] Allen … they’re not going to accept that.

“It’s the same thing when [Dennis] Rodman played with the Bulls — Michael would give him that look. With the really good teams who have really good guys — not to say the Knicks don’t have good guys — these other teams I’m talking about are a step above. There are a lot of young guys on the Knicks.”

Now that the sit has hit the fan for Smith, could he have gotten the message, finally?

“It might get him going. … I mean, the guy can play,” Albert said.

As for his latest Hall of Fame honor, El Marveloso cracked: “The Czar [Mike Fratello] feels my working with him over the years cinched it for me.”

Humanitarian awards for Gee, Parnell

The fathers of Dillon Gee and Bobby Parnell are firemen, and both Mets has devoted a great deal of his spare time to community service. That’s the reason they will receive the Joan Payson Humanitarian Award at the New York Baseball Writers annual dinner Saturday night at the Hilton Hotel.

Parnell and Gee have been long-time supporters of 9/11-related charities, including Tuesday’s Children, an organization that has helped care for the more than 3,000 children who lost a parent during the attacks.

“I have the utmost respect for firemen and policemen who put their lives on the line each and every day,” Gee said.“One of the things I have enjoyed about New York is how dedicated our ownership is to serving and doing the right thing. I am just glad to do my part.”

“I literally grew up in a firehouse,” Parnell said. “I know what these guys give back on a daily basis. Anytime I have a chance to make a visit or see some kids up here, I jump at the opportunity.”

Russell gets Sirius about King’s ‘dream’

NBA legend and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Bill Russell will join SiriusXM host and noted NAACP activist Mark Thompson for a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day show honoring King’s life and legacy as the preeminent leader of the civil-rights movement.

The hour-long special, “Remembering the Dream,” will air Monday at noon on SiriusXM NBA Radio, channel 217.

Hot Stove League dinner on deck

Baseball season unofficially kicks off with the 49th annual N.Y. Pro Hot Stove League dinner Friday night at Leonard’s of Great Neck. Yankees scout and former general manager Gene Michael will be guest speaker. Among the honorees will be Astros top prospect George Springer, who had a monster minor league season last year, batting .303 with 37 home runs, 45 stolen bases, and 108 RBIs.

Stars slated for Super party

Coastal Advisors, LLC Insurance Consultants CEO Rich Salgado will host the Big Daddy Super Bowl Party at Saks Fifth Avenue on Jan. 29 with a star-studded guest list of his clients — celebrities from sports, television and Hollywood. Scheduled to attend are Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, Brian Billick, Chris Canty, Reggie Bush, Ronnie Lott and Miss USA 2012 Nana Merriwether.