Don’t Choke

Brian Mecca

Age: 36

Resides:: Windsor
Terrace, Brooklyn

Occupation: Operations supervisor

Glad Sprewell is here? It’s a really bad move given the current
climate of basketball.

Does he deserve a second chance? Absolutely. He just needs to be reevaluated. I thought we all got away from that primordial impulse.

What’s the worst fight you ever had with a boss? A while ago I threw a boss into a
dumpster. It was for years and years of
frustration. But it’s one thing I really
regretted. I found out later some of the
other people who worked there threw
him into the same dumpster.

David John

Age: 25

Resides:: Crown Heights, Brooklyn

Occupation:
Construction contractor

Glad Sprewell is here? People say he’s got an attitude problem, but that doesn’t mean it’s true. Everyone sometimes has violent tendencies, not because he’s black.

Does he deserve a second chance? It’s not about second chances. He plays basketball.

What’s the worst fight you ever had with a boss? I don’t remember exactly, but it worked out in the end. He was the boss. I had to
accept what he said.

Sebastian Porte

Age: 44

Resides:: Harlem

Occupation: Investment analyst

Glad Sprewell is here? Happy about it. He’s the best all-around
talent the Knicks have had since Bernard King, offensively speaking.

Does he deserve a second chance? He has
to understand the Knicks are paying him more than just a salary. They’re selling him
to the public.

What’s the worst fight you ever had with a boss? One complained about the quality of my work. I argued with him and he finally told me exactly what he wanted. So now we have a better working relationship.

Holly Cash

Age: 35

Resides:: New Jersey

Occupation: Coordinator

Glad Sprewell is here? Yes. I hope he chokes them all. I can’t stand the Knicks. They’re a bunch of bullies.

Does he deserve a second chance? Not him. He choked his coach. He should’ve been kicked out.

What’s the worst fight you ever had with a boss? I did curse at my boss once. It was
when I left the job. And I left because of her.

James Suraty

Age: 36

Resides:: Queens

Occupation: Machinist

Glad Sprewell is here? He’s an athlete. They get psyched up sometimes. Maybe he’s had bad
influences in his life.

Does he deserve a second chance? Oh yeah. We all screw up.

What’s the worst fight you ever had with a boss? I slapped one in the face once. I was working as a mechanic at this place— the guy was taking bribes from the other mechanics for the better jobs. I confronted him and we got into it.

Ricky Vicente

Age: 26

Resides:: South Bronx

Occupation: Mailroom clerk/Student

Glad Sprewell is here? For the Knicks it’s good. An offensive player is something the Knicks really need. But for Sprewell, if he couldn’t survive San
Francisco, what makes him think he can
survive here? Do something wrong here and you get your ass kicked. This is New York.

Does he deserve a second chance? Hard to say.

What’s the worst fight you ever had with a boss? I don’t mess around with the boss.

Francesca Hayes

Age: 35

Resides:: City Island, Bronx

Occupation: Publishing

Glad Sprewell is here? It’s a tough call. It’s
not right he choked
the coach, but he’s a good player.

Does he deserve a second chance? Yeah, sort of.

What’s the worst fight you ever had with a boss? My boss yelled at me one time for being late to a meeting in front of everybody. It happens. You just try not to resort to physical violence.

Laura James

Age: 33

Resides:: Long Island

Occupation: Accountant

Glad Sprewell is here? I think it’s good. If he’s a good player and he
controls himself.

Does he deserve a second chance? Sure.

What’s the worst fight you ever had with a boss? My first job out of college at this
accounting firm. Well, I guess now you
would call it sexual harassment. I just left.