The difference between how the Knicks and Giants handle the media has a lot to do with the Mara family knowing how to navigate the area and understanding the importance of relationships. Dolan takes everything said about anything he's associated with personally and the hounds know this. He has no concept of objective criticism and can't separate real fans and real journalists from tabloid fodder.
It also has a lot to do with the difference in GM's. Isiah came in thinking he was going to be king of New York and can't understand why he isn't. Reese is more concerned about winning than he is making a date with David Letterman or being viewed as a savior. Reese has no problem doing his job instead of doing what will make a name for him personally, team be damned.
Posted by Allanfan20:
I pretty much think there is no possible way for this to happen Misterearl. I think you pretty much have to buy the Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, Radio City, and all of everything that's associated with Madison Square Garden, if you're gonna get the Knicks.
That's correct.
Perfect example: people have been trying to buy the Liberty for the longest and Dolan hasn't bit because he views everything as "part of the empire" even if he does act like they don't exist on a daily basis. They have one of, if not the smallest budgets of any team owned by a corporate entity and up until this offseason when he threw a little money their way (after many complaints and turnover) they only had about 4 people in the entire front office due to the small budget. They also had the worst fan relations in the league.
The team only costs $10 million, which you're allowed to pay in installments over a number of years depending on the financial health of the team. This was done by the new owners of the Seattle franchise to keep Bennett from moving them to OKC. But apparently a few people were willing to double that for the Liberty (which may not have even met the approval of the board of directors) just to get them away from Dolan. But some people think it's likely that he'd charge whoever bought the team an arm and a leg in a lease agreement just to keep them at MSG.
Supposedly, Jay-Z made some overtures about trying to buy the team when the Nets move to BK. He's very good friends with Teresa Weatherspoon who a lot of people around women's basketball feel is next in line for a coaching or more likely executive position with the large market team of her choice.
Dolan gets offers from the Knicks on the daily according to him, and that's the one thing I believe him on. But unless you've got $2 billion just laying around, and can convince him that he's not the Steinbrenner of basketball and hockey, every entity of MSG Sports & Entertainment is screwed because they'd NEVER sell the actual Madison Square Garden building...unless they get hit hard on that tax issue and can't move across the street to the post office. It's bad enough they've got David Lee begging for change on behalf of the Garden of Dreams.
