Reports: Knicks owner had employees record Carmelo Anthony's on-court talk

The NBA has no restrictions on audio recording equipment in the arena. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) By Rob Mahoney Every professional sport

The NBA has no restrictions on audio recording equipment in the arena. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Rob Mahoney

Every professional sport operates in its own sphere of insanity. There are things that go on at the game's edges that simply wouldn't make any sense in any other context, and yet within the framing of the game are either understood or expected. Players get deeply offended when their victorious opponents score at the end of a game that's already been decided. Some squabble with their coaches or teammates over the pettiest of problems. Superstitions are assumed, a lack of perspective is implied and hilarity is inevitable.

Within the weird world of pro basketball is an even stranger subset of oddity, reserved for that much-scrutinized team doing business in the sport's alleged mecca. The Knicks are forever on their own plane of absurdity, as James Dolan and those he employs find ways to outdo themselves year after year. The latest: In response to some trash talk between Kevin Garnett and Carmelo Anthony in a game last week, Dolan tasked a few MSG employees with recording all that was said by and said to Anthony on the floor.

first reported by Dave D'Alessandro of the Newark Star-Ledger

confirmed by ESPN New York

The New York Post

a photo of one of the creeping sound technicians