By Bobby "The Voice" Ciafardini

It's what basketball is all about. It's why they play. It's why we watch. "It" can only be defined by the measure of the game, and by the legendary players who shape the NBA's amazing history. At the center of it all was Patrick Ewing, leading the charge for the New York Knicks on the hollowed grounds of Madison Square Garden against the likes of Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, and Hakeem Olajuwon.

"PATRIIIICK EWIIIING," Knicks public-address-announcer Mike Walczewski would bellow during the introduction of lineups at MSG.

I can still feel the electricity surge through my veins. Nothing comes close to watching those playoff battles, and even if something did, it just wouldn't be the same without Patrick.

For 15 seasons, Patrick Ewing was the heart and soul of the Knicks, and New York fans realized it was game time when "33" strutted out to the floor. I still get goose bumps when I recall hearing his name echoing through "The World's Most Famous Arena."

For me it's more than his introduction or his outstanding career. It's more than the statistics, the highs and lows, the promises and misfortunes.

It's the lasting image of my idol, his presence towering over opponents and his determination to carry the Knickerbockers to the promise land. That image is imbedded in my brain in the form of an outside jump shot that only Patrick could deliver. That jump shot was pure poetry in motion.

I could still see him deep in the left corner, near the baseline, turned away from the basket. Ewing measuring his defender, backing nearer to the goal, and then at only the most perfect moment, extending off the ground and releasing a turnaround fade-away jump shot at the highest point of release. "SWOOSH" ... Nothin' but the bottom of the net.

Disappointments in both the NBA finals of 1994 and 1998 do not ruin this near perfect image, and for me they have not tarnished Ewing's 17-year Hall of Fame-caliber career. As a loyal fan, I have no regrets and I hope that Patrick doesn't either. Patrick did not finish his career in orange and blue, but he has forever carved his place in Knicks history.

Ewing retires as the Knicks' all-time leader in games, points, field goals made, free throws made, rebounds, steals and blocks. Ewing was the top overall selection in the 1985 NBA Draft. He won the rookie of the year in 1985-1986, averaging 20.0 points per game. In 1997, he was named as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA History. Ewing was an 11-time All-Star, and a two-time gold-medal winner with the U.S. Basketball teams of 1984 and 1992.

What concerns this writer in the wake of his September 17th retirement is the lack of respect for one of the best athletes in New York sports history.

I cannot advocate for the type of lifestyle that Patrick appears to have lived off the court, and I cannot deny the fact that he never reached the pinnacle of his profession in regard to that elusive championship title. Nevertheless, one things for sure, and that's Ewing never received the credit he deserved.

I was fortunate enough to know Patrick on a friendly level. I meet my childhood idol while I was attending Purchase College, the practice facility of the New York Knicks for the past 15 seasons. Despite the fact I am a professional journalist, I found it tough not approaching Patrick as a fan. Even though I covered the Knicks for the College paper I shied away from attempting to deal with Patrick, because I figured if I needed to speak to a player I would just approach one that I was impartial towards.

When the time came, I asked Patrick if I could shake his hand. I was polite and because of that he called me over and extended his right-hand. We shook hands; I smiled and said, "You're the greatest Knick of all-time."

Then it happened -- he smiled back. Patrick Ewing was not an easy personality to figure out, but in my mind, his abrasive persona was more a response to the fans that spurned him in times of defeat. It was in response to the media who painted a picture of Ewing as a failure, and as a player that the Knicks would never win with.

The bottom line is that the Knicks did win, they may not have win it all, but they never would have been close if it wasn't for the "The Big Fella." He carried them on his back, constantly putting them in position for the winning shot, and consequently making "big shots."

We are quick to remember his "misses," and equally quick to forget that Ewing was the only one during his campaign with the Knicks franchise who could take the "big shot." He was the go-to-guy, who never played alongside another Hall of Fame-caliber player. It wasn't until the very end of his career that the Knicks organization surrounded Patrick with weapons he could use to win. By that time, it was too late.

Don't get me wrong, John Starks and Charles Oakley and even players like Anthony Mason were "good" players, but they benefited from playing alongside Ewing -- Not the other way around.

I know that Patrick worked harder than anyone did in practice. I remember watching him perfect his "finesse" touch during shoot-arounds at the Purchase Gymnasium. Ewing soaked in sweat and pushing by then his 36-year old body to the limit. He battled through countless injuries and seemingly gave 110% nightly.

Ewing made some mistakes and one of the biggest might have been not allowing the media into his world, but in his eyes, he just wanted to play basketball.

What's not to respect about that?

Lastly, I leave you with a little story about Patrick. After Ewing was traded to Seattle, I remember believing that the media might be right. That maybe it was time for the Knicks and Ewing to part ways. Then I realized that the media wanted to blame Patrick because of his distant personality.

I decided to stick up for my idol, just the way he had for all Knicks fans during his career. I made a picture of that image that I described to you above. I painted it and framed it. Before I framed it, I decided I would sign it and save it for the next time I saw Pat.

I got a chance to give him the picture of his fade-away jumper in the summer when he returned to Purchase to workout and to visit old teammates. After waiting a few hours by the locker room doors, Ewing finally appeared and it had been a while since his last saw me. He didn't realize it was me, and he thought I was asking him for his autograph and then Patrick Ewing, Jr., who's gonna be a great player himself someday, said "Dad he's giving it to you."

Ewing turned to me and smiled. He seemed pleasantly surprised, walking away with the picture in hand. He turned around before getting in his car and waved good-bye.

I signed the picture with a short inscription that read, "Thanks for the memories."

All Patrick ever wanted was the respect he so rightfully deserved.

I realized then that we needed Pat and Pat needed us.

The game just won't be the same without "33."

"Thanks for the memories...Big Fella."

Bobby is a sportswriter for the Associated Press in New York. Note: These opinions below do not necessarily represent those of the AP or InsideHoops.com

Bciafardini@ap.org