“I told you, I told you, I told you!” 7-2 Jerome James hugged, did a little jig with, then gave a major noogie to, a smiling Channing Frye when he finally landed back on earth. “I told you I was a great bowler! How about THAT, dude?” THAT was a game of nine strikes and three spares in succession. “The big guy is something,” acknowledged the second-year forward. “Myself, I‘m happy if I bowl 102, 103. “I’m not very good.” Frye proves his point with two gutter balls in a row. “But, you must admit, I do it with style!” he adds, answering the good-natured razzing from James.

You think Jerome and Channing were having a good time at Knicks Bowl 8 presented by Bud Light? Well, NOBODY was having a better time than rookie forward Renaldo Balkman who was basically the biggest, and certainly the tallest, kid among the hundreds of kids in attendance. “I think I’m showing a little something-something here,” Renaldo would say after every frame, whether it was a strike, gutter ball, or something-something in-between. “What do you think, little dude?” Balkman’s biggest problem was to find a way to eventually scrape off all the “little dudes” and dudettes who were draped all over him all night long. “I love the kids, man,” he boomed over the bowling-alley din in his unique basso profundo. “It’s all about the kids.”

Yes, Knicks Bowl 8 was about bowling -- and much, much more. “I think an event such as this, one that allows the fans to come out to get to know us and hang out with us in person, is fantastic,” forward David Lee said with a smile. “We are a tight team already anyway -- these are a great bunch of guys -- but an evening here can only serve to get us tighter. And then if you can help a good cause as well…” Knicks Bowl presented by Bud Light is the New York Knicks' largest annual fundraiser, with all net proceeds going to the Garden of Dreams Foundation, which is dedicated to working with all areas of Madison Square Garden to “make dreams come true for kids in crisis.”

Lee, still feeling his injured ankle, did not bowl. “We miss you David, come back soon, “ Rico Rodriguez shook Lee’s hand. “I know -- trust me when I tell you, no one misses me more than me,” Lee answered with a wry smile. “It’s torture just sitting there watching the guys make a run at the playoffs and not being able to help.”

Even while injured, Lee remains one popular guy. “He’s my favorite Knicks player because he works so hard,” eight-year old Lilli Hymowitz related breathlessly. “And he’s CUTE!” Lilli’s big sister Jenna celebrated her thirteenth birthday by having a large poster of herself rooting at a Knicks game signed by every player. “I still need Marbury,” her eyes searched the room. “Where’s Steph?”

Marbury magically appeared to squeals from Jenna and friends. “Where do I sign?” he smiled.

“He’s my favorite player in the whole league,” related Rodriguez. “Starbury’s got qualities I really admire. Of course, I was a pretty good point guard myself who could also score, so I can relate. I think with his leadership we’ll make it to the postseason.”

And what would that mean to the City -- and to the Knicks? “Everyone I talk to is so-o-o-o-o-o psyched,” said Rodriguez.

“It would be a huge accomplishment and a great confidence-building stepping stone in the development of the franchise,” Knicks President and Coach Isiah Thomas said. “And we COULD make it. True, some of the injuries came at the wrong time but I really like the resilience of the young guys. What I’m not as impressed with is my bowling. Actually, my wife has all the bowling talent in the family. She has trophies.”

If Malik Rose doesn’t have any trophies, he should. Just ask him. “I’m just holding back so these other guys don’t feel so bad at the display of all my skills,” he smiled. Rose regularly bowls with his brothers in the off-season and admits to a 180-190 average with a high game of 276. “Make sure you write that down correctly,” he warned. “That’s two, seven, six.”

Told about James’ “striking” exploits, Rose kids “Get him over here. It’s on.”

“I love Malik and David Lee,” 10-year old Jake Margolis glowed. “They have a great attitude. I’m the BIGGEST Knicks fan. I’ve been going to games at the Garden with my Dad MY WHOLE LIFE.”

Eleven-year-old Sidney Lipshitz loved Channing Frye “because he’s tall and cute.” Her friend Samantha Light was a Nate Robinson aficionado. “We’re about the same height,” she informed. ”He’s just way cool.”

Besides Knicks players and coaches, fans of all ages had a chance to mingle with celebrities such as Ed Lover, Petra Nemcova, John Starks, and a host of others. Still, no one put on a better show than Knicks City Kids Ness and Sellenah who were dancing up a storm all night, choreographing their own steps to whatever music happened to be playing. “I’d love to be a Knick City Kid,” mused Lilli who simply couldn’t get enough of the Kids. “I can dance, you know -- but I’m not as good as they are.”

“No problem,” David Lee consoled the little girl. “Just do what we do, work hard, practice, practice, practice. Next thing you know, you’re a Knick City Kid.” Or a bowler who could match Jerome James -- or the leading candidate for the NBA “Sixth Man of the Year” award while playing on a potential playoff-team, for that matter.