NEW YORK, October 30, 2005 -- Naturally, the venerable Madison Square Garden basketball floor is customarily the focus of some very talented and very tall young men’s hopes and dreams. But thirty-two young men -- with thirty-two dreams -- giving their all and laying their very guts out there all in one competition? That’s what the “Last Man Standing” Finals -- the culmination of the summer long one-on-one street-ball tournament produced by the Madison Square Garden and sponsored by McDonald’s with apparel by Game Over -- was all about.

Among the multitude of prizes, the winner was going home with a 2006 Toyota Camry especially equipped by Jerome Williams (a. k. a the Junk Yard Dog) and his Brooklyn based 212 Motoring. 1st Place also included $2,000 in cash, Knicks season tickets, a Game Over championship jacket and trophy while 2nd – 4th place also received cash prizes, Opening Night Knicks tickets and Game Over championship jackets and trophies. But perhaps most significant of all was Last Man Standing raised over $6,000 from participation entry fees to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities ® of New York and New Jersey for children suffering from cancer.

Tune in to MSG Network on November 23 to see Last Man Standing tournament highlights as part of the NYK Way show and tune in on December 2nd at 6:30 PM to see the hour long Last Man Standing Tournament Show.

Besides the hundreds of fans and family members -- many of them stayed over after the Knicks Open Practice -- a sextet of current (and numerous onetime) Knicks peppered the sidelines looking forward to all the terrific talents displaying their skills and furious intensity. “This is where everything starts for basketball players,” swingman Penny Hardaway said. “The street, the skills, the heart.” “The best defensive player will win,” predicted rookie guard Nate Robinson, super-cute one-year old son Nahmine playing with a toy car while happily gurgling in his lap. “Defense, that’s what it’s all about in hoops anywhere at any level.” Stephon Marbury appeared on court with the elite 8 participants for well wishes and a group photo and Knicks teammates Malik Rose, Quentin Richardson and David Lee supported the players from the sidelines. Isiah Thomas – Knicks President and General Manager – introduced himself to all 32 players before the event in the Garden locker rooms for a closed door pep-talk and a personal welcome to the tournament. Also in attendance to cheer for the 32 participants and vocal throughout the day were Knicks legends John Starks, Cal Ramsey, Micheal Ray Richardson and Brooklyn Streetball legend and former Garden PSAL champion Dwayne Pearl Washington.

From all over the tri-State area two hundred and forty players started this tournament -- thus, understandably, the final 32 was going to be both tremendously tough and deeper than deep. Both that toughness and depth displayed itself right away as one of the prime pre-Finals favorites -- 6-9 David “Spida” Harrison, the tallest player in the tourney -- was immediately eliminated in a 7-5 first-round scorcher by Jerry Jacquez.

Even Corey “Homicide” Williams, the probable No. 1 favorite who was the last cut in the Toronto Raptors training camp, took his time warming up in his 7-2 first round win. Still, of all the players out there, he appeared the physically strongest, possessing perhaps the best combination of defensive quickness, outside shooting, and driving force.

The most fun early-round tiff matched co-favorite Tim “Headache” Gittens against ball handling extraordinaire Bobbito Garcia. “He taught me everything I know,” said Headache while hugging Bobbito Garcia after the hard-fought 7-5 win. “Without the old man right here I wouldn’t be the player I am today.”

The first quarterfinal matched Jacquez against Damian “Country” Mills. Jacquez’ awkwardness served him well once again but in the end the stronger Country proved too much, 7-5. The emotions elevated as the 6-3 Homicide found a killer opponent in just as strong but shorter Christopher Gachette. The two pounded (and talked) each other nearly into the Garden floor before the near-NBA player survived 7-4. Anthony Davis made the comeback of the afternoon defeating Marcus Moses 7-6 on a parking lot jumper after falling behind 5-2. Headache beat Idris Sherrard while suffering no pain.

“It’s amazing to watch the match-ups between different types of talent,” the ebullient JYD, who shared announcing duties with B. Boy London, said. “It really becomes a matter of who can force his style onto the other.”

Neither player quite managed doing that as Anthony Davis beat Country 7-6, after exploding back from a 5-1 deficit, in the first semifinal. Then the much-awaited Headache-Homicide battle began. “I know he’s the favorite,” Headache said beforehand. “But that just makes me hungrier.”

Still, Homicide was stronger and equally quick. Headache soon relented to hoisting strictly outside jumpers, never the best sign, losing 7-2.

After Headache beat Country 3-2 in the third-place game, Anthony Davis proved to be a much tougher Finals match-up for Homicide than anyone could have anticipated. Homicide drove and posted him pretty much at will but Davis, extra strong himself, came back time after time with funky drives and a pure outside “J”. An off-dribble jumper even put Davis up 6-4 but Homicide then proved relentless, winning 7-6 on a back-up drive and the only long jump shot he attempted all afternoon.

“Play hard, be tough, play defense,” an elated Homicide summed up the keys to his victory (and the Camry). “This is all about heart. Now I’m going into the Developmental League or maybe the CBA, whichever is the best road to ‘The Show.’ Don’t have any doubt about that whatsoever; expect to see me in the NBA soon.”