The New York Knicks invite military officials to Sunday’s game against the Utah Jazz at 3:00 p.m. in honor of their brave service to our country. The Knicks will host “Military Appreciation Day,” which will include a special pre-game performance of “God Bless America,” performed by Country Music Channel’s Nashville Star, Fireman Tommy Stanley. There will also be an on-court halftime presentation by the Naval Academy’s silent drill team, The Jolly Rogers. The afternoon will be capped by a special tribute from NAVYForMoms.com.

The Knicks are offering special ticket packages on the nyknicks.com website in honor of “Military Appreciation Night.” Fans can log on to the Knicks website for special terms and conditions and must use the code “USA” in order to be eligible for these discounted tickets.

Knicks 2008-09 ticket plans are now available, including Season Subscriptions starting as low as $25 per game. For more information call (877) NYK-HOOP or long on to nyknicks.com

The NBA’s New York Knickerbockers basketball team, in its 63rd year of operation, is part of Madison Square Garden, L.P. Madison Square Garden, L.P. is owned by Cablevision Systems Corporation and includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, the legendary Chicago Theatre, as well as an exclusive co-booking agreement with the venerable Wang Theatre in Boston, and which manages wholly-owned live entertainment properties including the Radio City Rockettes and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular; MSG Media, which is comprised of television networks MSG and MSG Plus, MSG Interactive, which oversees all company wireless and online initiatives, and Fuse, the only national music television network; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.

The New York Knickerbockers announced today that starting immediately, there will be on-going discussions with Allan Houston about having a new role for him within the franchise.

The following is a statement by Allan Houston:

“First and foremost, my family and I would like to thank Knicks President Donnie Walsh and Coach Mike D’Antoni for their allowing me  the opportunity to be a part of the New York Knicks organization  again.  These are two of the most knowledgeable and respected men in  basketball and I look forward to learning more from them. Although I was very excited about potentially joining my teammates this year  in uniform, I believe that the circumstances suggest that I am best  suited to serve the team in a different role. I realize that we  often make our own plans in our heart, but God always has the right  plan for us. I am extremely blessed to have witnessed a special era  in New York Knicks history, and I know basketball fans everywhere,  especially Knick fans, are ready for the return of this franchise. Hopefully, I serve in being a part of that again.

I want to also sincerely and personally thank family, friends, fans,  prayer partners for all of your overwhelming support. Through  Allanhouston.com & the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation, we will stay  connected to you and remain committed to equipping our next  generation to live fruitful lives.”

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that guard/forward Dan Grunfeld has been waived.

Originally signed as a free agent on Sep. 25, the rookie appeared in one preseason game.

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that the team has exercised the fourth-year option on the contract for guard Mardy Collins and the third-year option on the contract for forward Wilson Chandler. As part of the collective bargaining agreement, rookie contracts are two years in length, with team options for the player’s third and fourth seasons.

Chris Duhon, Danilo Gallinari, Anthony Roberson and Knicks Alumni lead

Garden of Dreams children on bus tour of NYC’s famous landmarks

 The New York Knickerbockers and Garden of Dreams Foundation invite media to ride along as they tour New York City’s famous landmarks on a double-decker bus, donated by Gray Line Bus Tours. Tomorrow, Sep. 24, youngsters from The Children’s Aid Society’s Drew Hamilton Center will pick up the Knicks’ newest additions, Chris Duhon, Danilo Gallinari and Anthony Roberson and alumni, John Starks and Cal Ramsey at Madison Square Garden before visiting the Empire State Building, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center and Times Square. The children will receive a souvenir from the players at each landmark visited, along with a goodie bag and autographs. Before boarding the bus, the players will also distribute vouchers to preseason home games to select lucky fans.

            This New York City bus tour will launch the season’s “Show Kids NY” program, a partnership between the Knicks and Garden of Dreams Foundation. The program will feature Garden of Dreams’ children touring New York City landmarks with Knicks players as their personal tour guides.

                                                       Who:  Guard Chris Duhon

                                          Forward Danilo Gallinari

                                          Guard Anthony Roberson

                                                                  Alumni John Starks & Cal Ramsey

                                                                  Families from the Children’s Aid Society’s Drew Hamilton Center

                                                                  (Harlem, NY)

                                                     When:   Tomorrow, September 24, 2008

                                                                  4:15 p.m.

                                                    Where:   Player pick-up at Madison Square Garden

                                                                  (32nd Street and Seventh Avenue)

Atkinson joins the Knicks after spending the 2007-08 season as the Director of Player Development with the Houston Rockets where he was responsible for improving player performance through on-court, one-on-one skill development and the use of video analysis.

Atkinson joined the Rockets after three years serving as the Director of Player Development/Assistant Coach with the Paris Basket Racing Club in France from 2004-06. While in Europe, Atkinson also was a Reebok EuroCamp Coach in Treviso, Italy during the summers of 2005 and 2007. He spent the 2006 summer as the Director of Player Development for the national team of the Republic of Georgia.

Following a standout collegiate career at the University of Richmond where he led the Spiders to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the Northport, NY-native and St. Anthony’s HS (South Huntington) graduate played professionally in Italy, France, Holland, Germany and Spain from 1991-2004.

New York’s regular home schedule is highlighted by two visits from the World Champion Boston Celtics on Sunday, Jan. 4 and Friday, Feb. 6, one visit by the Western Conference Champion Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, Feb. 2 and one appearance by the Chicago Bulls and the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Derrick Rose, on Monday, Jan. 19, in its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day game. The team will play five total afternoon games at home.

The Knicks will play 18 back-to-back sets and four-games-in-five-nights on three occasions.

Prior to the 82-game regular season, New York will participate in six preseason games, including three at Madison Square Garden. Tickets for the preseason home games at MSG go on sale Thursday, Sep. 4 at 9:00 a.m. and can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, nyknicks.com, (800) 4NBA-TIX and TicketMaster outlets. The preseason schedule will be released later this month.

Knicks 2008-09 ticket plans are now available, including Season Subscriptions starting as low as $25 per game. For more information call (877) NYK-HOOP or log onto nyknicks.com.

Media Day is scheduled for Monday, Sep. 29 at Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, NY.

Green, 6-0, 177-pounds, averaged 1.6 points and 4.4 minutes in 17 games last season for both Portland and Denver. Originally drafted by the Trail Blazers after his junior season at the University of Florida in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, Green was acquired by the Nuggets on Feb. 21 in exchange for guard Von Wafer. In addition the Fort Lauderdale, FL-native appeared in eight total games in the NBA Development League with the Idaho Stampede and Colorado 14ers.

Jones, 6-7, 215-pounds, averaged 3.8 points and 11.3 minutes in 47 games last season for San Antonio, Miami, Houston, Memphis and Denver. In addition, the Compton, CA-native appeared in fives games in the NBA Development League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Originally drafted by Minnesota out of the University of Washington in the second round (37th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft, Jones was traded to Philadelphia and appeared in 44 games for the 76ers last season.

Balkman, 6-8, 208-pounds, averaged 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 65 games for New York last season. Originally drafted by the Knicks after his junior season at the University of South Carolina in the first round (20th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft, the Staten Island-native finishes his career in blue and orange having played in 133 career games, averaging 4.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 15.2 minutes over two seasons.

Roberson, 6-2, 195-pounds, has career averages of 4.1 points and 8.8 minutes in 36 career games with Memphis and Golden State. The 25-year-old Saginaw, MI-native averaged 2.2 points in 5.5 minutes per game with Memphis in 2005-06 before tallying 5.6 points in 11.4 minutes per game with Golden State the following season. Roberson spent last season playing overseas in Turkey and Israel.

The University of Florida product was undrafted and signed with Memphis as a free agent in August 2005. After splitting time with Grizzlies and their NBA Development League affiliate during the 2005-06 campaign, Roberson signed as a free agent with the Warriors prior to the 2006-07 season. In 28 career NBA D-League games, Roberson averaged 17.1 points.

Roberson averaged 14.8 points in five games with the Knicks’ entry in the 2008 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV.

Limited tickets for this historic event, with proceeds benefiting Breast Cancer Research, are still available by logging onto nyliberty.com.

Prior to the game, a FREE fan-festival will be taking place outside Arthur Ashe Stadium from 5:00-7:30pm; it is open to the public. The festival will feature New York Knicks star David Lee with Knicks and Liberty alumni John Starks, Charles Smith, Cal Ramsey Kym Hampton, Teresa Weatherspoon and Sue Wicks; and former Big East and MSG’s 50 Greatest Moments Star Dwayne “Pearl” Washington. Children will also have the opportunity to enjoy carnival rides, interactive games and special Knicks and Liberty prizes.

Also, fans will be treated to a post-game concert with teen sensations MENUDO and V-FACTORY.