As awesome an idea that it is I'm concerned

The euro weakened after ECB Vice President Lucas Papademossaid on Sunday that more rate cuts may be needed to shield theeuro zone economy from recession. ID:nN04347375 "His comments have dented some of the euro's appeal bysuggesting that lending rates could fall aggressively in thecoming months, which is a bit of an about-face from recentremarks by other ECB officials, who had suggested a resistanceto cut rates as aggressively as the U.S.," said Omer Esiner,senior market analyst at Ruesch International in Washington. EURO ZONE WOES Figures on Monday showed Italian EU-harmonized consumerprice growth slowed in December while similar Spanish datashowed inflation tumbled to a 10-year low. nL581407 These numbers add pressure on the ECB to cut rates furtherwhen it meets next week to decide on monetary policy in thecurrency bloc. Markets have largely priced in a half percentagepoint rate cut to 2 percent. Investors also see the probability of borrowing costsfalling more sharply to 1.75 percent ECBWATCH. "ECB President Trichet has played down the risk ofdeflation, describing the risk as just a temporary base effect,(but) monetary conditions are currently tightening," Bank ofTokyo-Mitsubishi wrote in a note to clients.

"Tightening conditions will force the ECB to act moreaggressively than is currently expected, prompting a reneweddrop in the euro/dollar rate," it said. (Reporting by Nick Olivari and Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss;editing by Gary Crosse). The NBA has always had its stars. It's always had players that astonish the crowds with spectacular play The faces of the league. The ones that grab shoe deals, the ones that do ads for today's hottest retail items The ones on the covers of magazines and video games. The household names that everyone knows.The NBA has other stars that don't quite get the respect or exposure that they deserve The guys who don't showboat The guys who, day in and day out, give everything they have. The guys who play the game the way it should be.One of these unsung players is Knicks center, David Lee.

On a franchise struggling to find its way out of the dark tunnel Isiah Thomas led them into, Lee has thrived and been a consistent spark for the Knicks. He is a reliable source for double-doubles and a rebounding machine.The Knicks have rotated a number of players demanding high dollars for low production. Marbury, Curry, Randolph and Richardson are some of the names associated with that reputation. A fool and his money...Then there are the guys who have egos that demand that they try to play above their abilities. Making bad shots, crying over every call against them, and committing careless turnovers while trying to be pretty.David Lee is a role model to up and coming players as he lets his body of work do the talking. The Knicks should be grateful that even when all was bleak, Lee has played professionally and unselfishly for a team going nowhere.That could change in 2010 as free agency promises to boast names like Wade and James. The Knicks threw out a lot of trash and cleaned house to attract some of these names to Gotham.

Will Lebron be the "King of New York" Will Wade be a Knick Will we see them both in NYRumor has it that the two are discussing career destinations that could land them as teammates Either or both would fit in D'Antoni's run-n-gun offense They both would provide major upgrades in defense. One has a ring and the other is destined to win one.As awesome an idea that it is, I'm concerned. If the Knicks can entice either or both, would it be at the cost of the brilliant David LeeThat would be a shame. The Knicks had a chance to sign him to a deal but didn't want him on a long term contract. I can understand why they are hesitant to make a move as other contracts have shown little reward but, Lee was playing like a star before landing a long term deal.After not having his way, he didn't go Marbury on us and sit on his butt courtside, or cry like a baby on theInternet.