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Rich
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Joined: 12/30/2003
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http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/50499.htm
HE'S THE MAN
By MARC BERMAN
Larry Brown was ready to accept the Knicks' head coaching job last night after having an Italian dinner in Westchester with interim coach Herb Williams and Knicks president Isiah Thomas in one final powwow, according to Brown's wife, Shelly.
Shelly Brown and agent Joe Glass said Brown was scheduled to take a tour of the Knicks' Westchester training campus last night. Shelly said contract negotiations could begin today, with a press conference as soon as tomorrow.
"Just some little things have to be tied up before saying 'yes,' " Shelly told The Post last night. "I'm starting to get excited, I hope it works out.
"I'm starting to feel like it is destiny," Shelly said earlier in the day. "And I didn't feel that a week ago. Maybe it just is. I'm trying to stay out of it, but he's got my blessing."
After running a Hamptons basketball clinic, Brown flew in by helicopter to Westchester in the early evening. Brown hopes to name Williams his top assistant and wants to break down the roster with him.
Agent Joe Glass said he is prepared to enter contract negotiations with the Knicks today if Brown gives him the green light. "I think we could wrap it up in a day," Glass said.
The Knicks are expected to offer "Phil Jackson money," at least $10 million a year over five years. It is unclear if the Knicks will require a clause in the contract regarding Brown's health woes.
"It's about Xs and Os now," Shelly Brown said. "It's about Larry looking at the team, trying to learn the team. It's all basketball now, and there's still a lot to discuss. I know there have been a lot of meetings but we're coming off an emotional downer and we want to make sure we're going to be joining good, honest people."
In particular, Brown wanted to make sure owner James Dolan was not Bill Davidson, the Pistons owner who fired Brown last Monday and ripped him for not being "a good person." Dolan met for three hours with the Browns at their East Hampton home Sunday night.
Shelly admitted Davidson's recent remarks about Brown, in which he said the former Pistons coach cared only about himself, "hurt." Davidson never forgave Brown for referring to the Knicks in January as his "dream job" and speaking to the Cavaliers about their presidency.
"The people here are terrific," Shelly said. "I liked Jim very much. Isiah, we've known him for a while, he's a good guy and he's been honest. That could be nice. We want to make sure everyone is on the same page. They are. We don't want to find out afterwards they're not. We want to make sure the expectations are in check."
Meanwhile, Williams spent the day golfing at an ailing children's charity event for Angel House at the Trump National Course in Briarcliff Manor. Since getting fired, Brown has been ultra-sensitive to Williams' cause and said as recently as last week he deserved the job.
"It's definitely flattering," Williams said, "coming from someone like him. The things he's accomplished. He's a Hall of Fame coach, no ifs, ands or buts. I'll sit and listen to what he has to say."
The Knicks are in a rebuilding mode, with Thomas adding five young players since season's end, on a club that finished 33-49. Williams believes Brown will have no trouble dealing with that situation. "He's been successful everywhere he's been," Williams said.
The Browns want this wrapped up by week's end as they leave Monday for Los Angeles, where Brown will work at Michael Jordan's basketball camp for two weeks.
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7/25/2005 9:40 PM
