When the press release came across my desk, I must admit it sounded just like a hundred other press releases I get every week. Athletes, school kids, a reading program ... not exactly our next cover story.

But call me a softy, I couldn't resist. It was the Knicks, after all, and with the season opener just days away vs. That Old Guy, I wanted to sneak a peek at Allan Houston and Marcus Camby (whose sore left foot was still too hurt to fit into a shoe. Bad sign.) Could they handle MJ on Opening Night? Were they mentally prepared?

Plus, the release said that the Knicks would team up with kids and celebrities (Eve, Chris Rock, Judge Hatchett, Billy Crudup and Ananda Lewis among others) for a writing contest. After an hour of brainstorming, they'd present their piece on stage. It was all part of "Knicks Reading Zones," part of the NBA's Read to Achieve program. Its goal is to create reading zones at Barnes and Noble bookstores across the city.

My cynicism faded as soon as I passed the three security checks to get into the Theatre at the Garden. Inside the vibe was more backyard barbecue than photo op. Everyone was loose. Camby, Mark Jackson and Howard Eisley chatted up Eve and Ananda. Jeff Van Gundy, who could have passed for the guy checking bags at the door, mingled with the crowd of about 75 mostly media types.

"Oh my God, that's Eve! She's in my group. I saw her on TV," said one girl from the Beginning with Children Charter School. "I have Chris Rock and Camby. Our story's gonna be the best," bragged a boy from P.S. 194. All 50 of the kids were psyched about meeting their idols and performing their stories. The mood was infectious. Gone were worries that now fill every New York day: bomb threats in the subways, bag checks and anthrax scares. Soon the students were delighting us all with their magical stories, which oddly all seemed to focus on the upcoming Knicks season. The kids even had a few predictions:

·Marcus Camby will lose his lucky shoes -- glittery golden Nikes -- on Opening Night just before the game. But after a little crying he'll puff up and lead the Knicks to a huge win over the Wizards. (What foot injury?) Mark Jackson, by the way, will have 20 points and 10 assists by the half. "But Coach still won't be satisfied."

·Allan Houston will lead the Knicks to a win over the Nets. But first, on his way to the game in his new Jeep stretch limo, Allan will rescue a bunch of school kids who were stranded on the shore of the Hudson River and give them all courtside tickets to the game.

·After trailing by 20 points to the Sixers, the Knicks will come from behind and nail the win with a three-pointer by Shandon Anderson with 10 seconds on the clock.

And the Garden crowd goes wild!

Roxanne Jones is a deputy editor at ESPN The Magazine. E-mail her at roxanne.jones@espnmag.com.