The harassment of Oakley reminded me of the Rodney King beating given to him by police officers. I'm looking forward to the lawsuit with McEnroe as star witness. We'll find out if Oakley was just minding his own business or not. Put your hands on a man and you should expect to get put back in your place. Have we gotten to where its okay to paw at someone because you're a security guard? Seems Dolan sent his security to just "stand next to his seat and let him know he's being watched." The lawsuit should be front page news unless it gets quashed as the Dolans are capable of doing with all that family Power. NYC is behind you Charles.
Why would any basketball player -- in his right mind -- want to play for the Knicks after this. If I was C. Anthony, I would waive my no-trade clause, and try to go play for a "winner" as soon as possible.
I wouldn't walk around the corner to watch an NBA game, even if you gave me free court-side tickets. The officiating is laughable and there are more divas per square than at the Met. If you wanted to have a conversation about the game (maybe discuss substitution patterns or defensive decisions?) with a person sitting next to you, you'd have to compete with the incessant "entertainment," cheerleaders, T-shirt cannons, ear-damaging music...all in all less fun than sitting home and watching the Weather Channel.
The MAJOR problem with Anthony's contract is that he is guaranteed $26 million next year and $27 million the year after, NOT that it has a no-trade clause. Do you think that ANY TEAM wants to be on the hook for that $$$$???
I'm not sure about that KJD. After increasing the cap last year non-all stars like Mike Conley were getting more than $25 million per. LA Clippers apparently are prepared to send some not particularly special high priced players to the Knicks in the hope the relationship between Phil and Carmelo is so bad the Knicks will just dump him
DSM-
Do you know anything about basketball? Do you realize that a winning team is not the coach, any number of superstars, the owner or the GM? It is the right combination of individuals at the right time. Even the best coach cannot force wins for certain teams- likewise- a team chock full of superstar talent and ability- cannot succeed without a decent coach. So how do we measure ability? Some would say, winning percentage. Not every superstar team has been successful and there are plenty of examples of superstar-less teams- that have won championships (Pistons for one) So what makes the difference? The coach has to be able to decipher how to combine players, bring out the best with what he has, draw up appropriate plans for his team and whatever opponent they face- all the while dealing with personalities/struggles- ( Dennis Rodman) KB etc etc Phil Jackson is the winningest coach of ANY professional sport. Right now his talents are not be utilized
Do you know anything about basketball? Do you realize that a winning team is not the coach, any number of superstars, the owner or the GM? It is the right combination of individuals at the right time. Even the best coach cannot force wins for certain teams- likewise- a team chock full of superstar talent and ability- cannot succeed without a decent coach. So how do we measure ability? Some would say, winning percentage. Not every superstar team has been successful and there are plenty of examples of superstar-less teams- that have won championships (Pistons for one) So what makes the difference? The coach has to be able to decipher how to combine players, bring out the best with what he has, draw up appropriate plans for his team and whatever opponent they face- all the while dealing with personalities/struggles- ( Dennis Rodman) KB etc etc Phil Jackson is the winningest coach of ANY professional sport. Right now his talents are not be utilized
1
Nlitinme-
Management is responsible for putting together the team. The owner is responsible for hiring the right management and then staying out of their way so they can execute a good long term plan to build a quality team. Its happening in Boston and it will soon happen in Philly. As long as Dolan owns the team I doubt it will happen in NYC. As long as people/corporations are willing to pay exhorbitant sums for "entertainment" rather than good basketball nothing will change.
Management is responsible for putting together the team. The owner is responsible for hiring the right management and then staying out of their way so they can execute a good long term plan to build a quality team. Its happening in Boston and it will soon happen in Philly. As long as Dolan owns the team I doubt it will happen in NYC. As long as people/corporations are willing to pay exhorbitant sums for "entertainment" rather than good basketball nothing will change.
1
If justice had prevailed, Dolan would have been thrown out and arrested, and Oakley would have been given his seat, to the cheers of true Knick fans.
4
That same thought crossed my mind. They always catch the retaliator. Sometimes they just cold bloodedly shoot him in the back. We've all seen the videos and choose to believe our eyes, not like some of you who believe what you've been indoctrinated to believe.
Harvey, an article idea:
Is it possible that Phil -- who promised transparency with the media -- has been ordered by Dolan explicitly not to talk to the media?
Dolan is likely the one behind the fiasco that ejected a Knick fan favorite Charles Oakley last night.
Dolan was sued.
In fact, based on what happened to the Clippers ownership after Adam Silver forced the sale of that team,it would have been not only possible,but probable that had Silver been commissioner during the Dolan/Isiah era he would have FORCED DOLAN TO SELL, as he did Sterling, for his behavior.
Phil may not be helping himself, but he did THE SAME THING in LA tweaking Kobe (about not passing enough), and Shaq (weight issues)-- mid 3peat,but the difference is now every comment is made into an example of Knicks dysfunction.
Maybe your Phil or Melo/who should go comedy piece missed the point. It starts at the top. You just wrote Steve Balmer's Clippers are "a stable, forthcoming organization that stays on top of incendiary team issue", could you have ever imagined writing that sentence under Sterling? Dolan is NY's Sterling.
Asking him to sell will trigger his defiance, as we saw with Oakley ejected last night (a logical guess).
So make a case for him to sell. Find a buyer who could afford to overpay & make him an offer he cant refuse: Larry Ellison (who wanted GS)? New Yorker Zuckerberg?
Dolan is doing a lot of great charity work, let him focus on that &his band.
Maybe he'll listen to you Harvey
Is it possible that Phil -- who promised transparency with the media -- has been ordered by Dolan explicitly not to talk to the media?
Dolan is likely the one behind the fiasco that ejected a Knick fan favorite Charles Oakley last night.
Dolan was sued.
In fact, based on what happened to the Clippers ownership after Adam Silver forced the sale of that team,it would have been not only possible,but probable that had Silver been commissioner during the Dolan/Isiah era he would have FORCED DOLAN TO SELL, as he did Sterling, for his behavior.
Phil may not be helping himself, but he did THE SAME THING in LA tweaking Kobe (about not passing enough), and Shaq (weight issues)-- mid 3peat,but the difference is now every comment is made into an example of Knicks dysfunction.
Maybe your Phil or Melo/who should go comedy piece missed the point. It starts at the top. You just wrote Steve Balmer's Clippers are "a stable, forthcoming organization that stays on top of incendiary team issue", could you have ever imagined writing that sentence under Sterling? Dolan is NY's Sterling.
Asking him to sell will trigger his defiance, as we saw with Oakley ejected last night (a logical guess).
So make a case for him to sell. Find a buyer who could afford to overpay & make him an offer he cant refuse: Larry Ellison (who wanted GS)? New Yorker Zuckerberg?
Dolan is doing a lot of great charity work, let him focus on that &his band.
Maybe he'll listen to you Harvey
Hey Phil! He means you.
"because he has not yet devolved into a holier-than-thou, thin-skinned curmudgeon."
"because he has not yet devolved into a holier-than-thou, thin-skinned curmudgeon."
Does anyone still believe that Phil Jackson is a basketball genius, rather than someone who was incredibly fortunate to be given multiple superstars discovered by others to coach?
And is Dolan anything other than a rich kid who has only caused harm to what he was given by daddy?
And is Dolan anything other than a rich kid who has only caused harm to what he was given by daddy?
5
I am commenting here since no comments were invited on the separate Oakley story. Charles Oakley is not one for half measures. If he was your teammate your back was protected. He dislikes the direction of the club and hasn't hesitated to criticize the Knicks organization and Jim Dolan personally. Neither man likes the other, but that's besides the point. For what Oak did as a player, he should have been among the Knick greats recognized during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the franchise. Excluding him was childish.
The classy thing for the Knicks to do would be to ask for the criminal charges to be dismissed, then have somebody like Pat Riley, who coached Oak and isn't part of current Knick management, mediate setting up a Charles Oakley Night in the Garden. God knows Knick fans could use a reason to go to a game, with the on-court product so appalling. Let Dolan have the guts to introduce Charles, say that they do not and probably never will see eye to eye, but he respects that Oakley gave his all for the Knicks, and that deserves recognition.
The classy thing for the Knicks to do would be to ask for the criminal charges to be dismissed, then have somebody like Pat Riley, who coached Oak and isn't part of current Knick management, mediate setting up a Charles Oakley Night in the Garden. God knows Knick fans could use a reason to go to a game, with the on-court product so appalling. Let Dolan have the guts to introduce Charles, say that they do not and probably never will see eye to eye, but he respects that Oakley gave his all for the Knicks, and that deserves recognition.
7
You have to have class to do something classy. Also, since they had him arrested, it might not be that easy to drop the charges. Based on the videos there is no basis for a charge of Assault in the Third Degree (Penal Law 120.00-1). There appears to be no way that any one in that video suffered physical injury based on how that element is defined under New York Law.
1
All roads lead to and go from Dolan. He is the one variable that has handcuffed this team to the exclusion of all others. Another spoiled rich overgrown spoiled child in charge not unlike....you know who! (I'd rather not utter the name. There's too much of it to go around and around and...)
3
By resigning Carmelo to a contract with a no-trade clause, Phil probably forfeited his last his chance to turn the Knicks around. Carmelo may be well-liked by his peers (he's a very nice guy) but I wonder how many of top flight players believe they can truly compete for a championship with him in a leading role on their team. After Phil departs, I'm sure he'll come out with another tome. I wonder whether Phil will divulge whether Dolan forced him to resign Anthony. Or maybe Phil's contract contains a non-disparagement clause that will require him to remain silent. That would be ironic.
3
I viewed the coming of Phil Jackson with some skepticism, but I had no clue that his reign would lead the Knicks further down the rabbit hole. Compounding the grave error of trading for Anthony, giving him a top dollar, no trade, franchise player contract was sheer insanity. I'm not the greatest basketball mind around, but the time he had spent with the Knicks clearly showed that while he undoubtedly is a first-rate offensive player, his overall game is a notch (or two) below the many truly great players in the league.
Was the contract Jackson's doing or Dolans? We'll never know, but Jackson has no leg to stand on; if Dolan forced the move, Phil should have stood up to him, up to and including walking away. There was always another job awaiting him in LA if he needed the money, and the "story" was that he was going to have "complete control". Shame on him for not standing up to Dolan if that was the case. If not, and the decision was Jackson's that's even worse.
The current Carmelo stay/leave fiasco is being managed as poorly as can be imagined. Public criticism of any player at any time is not a good idea. Criticism of Anthony while trying to trade him and his bloated contract?...."hey--we've got this guy, he's a ball hog, he's not a winner, doesn't make his teammates better and he's got this bloated contract--what can I get back for him?"
If Carmelo is traded, it's pretty clear the Knicks won't be getting much of value.
Was the contract Jackson's doing or Dolans? We'll never know, but Jackson has no leg to stand on; if Dolan forced the move, Phil should have stood up to him, up to and including walking away. There was always another job awaiting him in LA if he needed the money, and the "story" was that he was going to have "complete control". Shame on him for not standing up to Dolan if that was the case. If not, and the decision was Jackson's that's even worse.
The current Carmelo stay/leave fiasco is being managed as poorly as can be imagined. Public criticism of any player at any time is not a good idea. Criticism of Anthony while trying to trade him and his bloated contract?...."hey--we've got this guy, he's a ball hog, he's not a winner, doesn't make his teammates better and he's got this bloated contract--what can I get back for him?"
If Carmelo is traded, it's pretty clear the Knicks won't be getting much of value.
2
Trade Jackson. This primadonna needs to go....now!
3
If there was any justice in the world it would have been the arrogant Dolan who was dragged off.
12
Charles Oakley charged with Assault in the Third Degree (N.Y. Penal Law 120.00). This means that he intentionally caused physical injury to another person. Oakley is not playing basketball anymore, so he's being treated like most black men are treated in New York City. He's a nobody. The police have arrested him, and it appears that the District Attorney may charge him. If he is charged the Court will probably issue an order of protection preventing Mr. Oakley from going to Madison Square Garden -- or from having contact with certain other people (violation of the order of protection is a crime). The powerful use the police and the criminal justice system to do their dirty work. This is a perfect example.
6
As a refugee from NYC, now living in an undisclosed location. I cannot understand why New Yorkers would spend $ 50,000. $60,000 or even more. For season tickets to
Watch such a hapless team year after year. Don't Spike Lee and John McEnroe
Have anything better to do with their money and time.
Time to blow it up and start all over..................again.
Watch such a hapless team year after year. Don't Spike Lee and John McEnroe
Have anything better to do with their money and time.
Time to blow it up and start all over..................again.
3
Oakley for next Knicks coach.
2
The Knicks will NEVER be winners with that pathetic joke of an owner Dolan.
How dare he eject Oakley who played his heart out for the Knicks and got them within a basket of winning a championship. The Knicks are currently a clown with ringmaster Dolan. Eject HIM!
How dare he eject Oakley who played his heart out for the Knicks and got them within a basket of winning a championship. The Knicks are currently a clown with ringmaster Dolan. Eject HIM!
4
Dolan must go. There should be a boycott of going to games and watching them on tv. Perhaps a boycott of Cablevision would be better. There is not a player on this team who can play with the fire and grit as Charles Oakley. It is a disgrace how Oakley was treated last night. I hope he sues. Jackson is a joke too. Give me Jordan, Pippen, Shaq, and Bryant and I'd win. And stop blaming Melo for being who he is, and for taking the money he was offered. The Garden brass are amateurs, and they've now stepped over the line.
6
Doc Rivers is a fine coach who gets as much as possible out of a team that has had unfortunate injury problems at unfortunate times. Los Angeles should be pleased to have Rivers and wait for better team health and a subtle remolding of the team bench.
4