I just simply think he has a huge ego and is in denial about his disasterous moves for this franchise. It's really strange. It's more like dolan' is in denial of his bad moves. isiah just has an ego, but you notice, he is much more cautious about what he says and does nowadays. isiah has always conducted himself this way. The only difference is he doesn't have the smile on his face anymore.

It's actually possible to be talented while experiencing NPD. There are two primary categories, stable and unstable. I suspect, Isiah is more likely to fit the stable category.

Yes, Isiah has a history of success, and is no question an extraordinarily talented b-ball player, but look at what happened with Jordan and the Dream Team.

Check this quote from the book I referenced earlier:

In many respects people with narcissistic personality structure, especially if talented, may be reasonably happy, although they may be difficult to get along with." Problems arise if, for whatever reason, adulation and subservience do not come their way. In such instances they may pout, stomp about, or become depressed.

Although Isiah came from a difficult background he started experiencing "success" at a young age, especially as a star basketball player, where he was the center of attention and praise. This didn't stop, really, until later in life when that view of him changed, so I wonder some of the behaviors may have not reared their head, at least publicly.

Those that display NPD characteristics can often come from a "spoiled" upbringing, so Isiah's success at a young age could have facilitated that. In fact, one could argue that many who experience celebrity status at a young age might be at greater risk for developing NPD, which probably explains a lot of behavior we see from sports stars and celebrities that create negative view from the public. I'd be curious to see any literature about that.

Displaying a huge ego is exactly what goes on. Here's another quote:

[For] a person with [stable] narcissism....The world revolves around one god, and the god is "I."

However, it's actually it's a cover for insecurity and fear.

[Edited by - PresIke on 03-05-2008 11:34 AM]

[Edited by - PresIke on 03-05-2008 11:35 AM]

[Edited by - PresIke on 03-05-2008 11:35 AM]

What about Marbury and Dolan? I don't think they're right in the head either. What's the diagnosis Dr. Ike?

Posted by BasketballJones:

And here all I along I thought he was just a prick.

Interesting.

[Edited by - basketballjones on 03-05-2008 11:40]

I find this whole thing hallarious as hell!
The last resort of suggesting the possibility that it was a mental disorder that caused isiah to make all of these bad moves. So the suggestion is that 'it's not that he's not smart', he just has a mental problem'?

Well, that's good enough for me either way to throw his ass out of here. I tell you's, the excuses that we've given to all of this fiasco. It's been something else.

4949,

Hey man, I honestly did not intend to "excuse" Isiah's decision making as coach and GM of the team, but to provide a potential explanation for what's behind his behavior, and how it may have led to a lot of things that we have observed as concerning (or angry at).

If he is someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder then this is even more reason to be concerned, if Dolan is considering keeping him on as coach or GM. It would also mean that if he is not in treatment then it may be to his benefit, and the Knicks while he is still part of the organization, to seek it.

While it's certainly true that many people have personal problems that they cope with and can function, some problems are more severe, and some problems are harder for some to deal with, causing impairment in life functioning.

MANY jobs offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) to their workers, sometimes due to legal issues regarding equal opportunity employment. Whether it's for those with disabilities, chemical dependencies, family/personal problems, etc. there are laws intended to protect workers from discrimination.

It's complicated, in part, due to the culturally dominant thinking in our society (as expressed, in some form, with your response -- not to say it is inappropriate, because as Knick fans we want to see us win) that focuses on "the bottom line." This is also not to say that this focus is wrong either, but that its hard to find a way of helping those who may need it, while not undermining the success of a business, by having to keep (maybe even pay for) an employee to get assistance while still there, etc.

However, in the case of Isiah -- if I were the Knicks -- while I would be concerned for his own well being (given the "diagnosis" I suggested) we can see some evidence that his behavior has been/is detrimentally affecting other workers, and the organization as a whole.

Look no farther than the reputed feuds and/or treatment Isiah has had with these members within the organization:

Marbury
Browne-Sanders
Curry
Brown
Randolph
Nate
Balkman
Wilkins
Cheney
Shandon
Taylor
Rose
James
Nichols
Morris

and arguably others on the team, and off like Karl, Popovich, Greg Anthony, Simmons, Knick fans etc. who challenge his authority/decision making. This could all be understood as symptomatic of NPD.

The major issue I have with "helping" him while staying as GM/coach (which I am not suggesting Dolan does by any means) is that he is also FAR MORE privileged (mostly, financially) than many others who experience significant mental health problems. Those individuals are often afraid to let others and their employers know about their life issues, with good reason.

That reason, in our post-modern capitalist society (no, I am not a socialist, btw) relates to "the bottom line" perspective that is dominant, and when you have less power and privilege the consequences of resisting this tend to be far greater than for those who have higher levels of stability in those areas.

In a nutshell, I'm not excusing what Isiah as GM/coach has done, or saying keep him. If someone is expressing legit homicidal or suicidal ideation/intentions we can't just neglect the fact that this is dangerous. Anyway, I think Isiah should move on from his roles on the Knicks one way or the other, but I was amazed when thinking about it how much his behavior sounds like someone who is like NPD.


[Edited by - PresIke on 03-05-2008 3:12 PM]

Yeah, I understand all of that, but still 'what do we do about that'? I mean that's not our place to look into things like that. All you can do is get rid of what is viewed as a problem. I mean we wouldn't exactly be sending a poor man into the streets. Financially, he's set for life or should be.

Anyway, maybe we should look into the psyche's of all of these playerrs and start caring for them. What do you guys think? (see what I'm getting at?)

It's good to care, but I think my problem is one of many. We are conditioned to apply the pressure and push' when it's not working out. I mean at what point do we get to complain about basketball and how our team is doing and what needs to be done, that isn't being done to make it better?

Has it occured to you's that maybe some of we fans' are suffering from things like NPD? Who's gonna speak up for poor us and come take care of us, hmmm? Nothing like a good championship to heal that part of the process, if you ask me.

I posted something similar awhile back but I said that he was a sociopath. I am at work and do not have the link but if you google it you will see that he fits the description. He is a scary guy and he needs to be fired.

Look at this list. It fits him almost perfectly.

1.Superficial charm and good intelligence
2.Absence of delusions and other signs of irrational thinking
3.Absence of nervousness or psychoneurotic manifestations
4.Unreliability
5.Untruthfulness and insincerity
6.Lack of remorse and shame
7.Inadequately motivated antisocial behavior
8.Poor judgment and failure to learn by experience
9.Pathologic egocentricity and incapacity for love
10.General poverty in major affective reactions
11.Specific loss of insight
12.Unresponsiveness in general interpersonal relations
13.Fantastic and uninviting behavior with drink and sometimes without
14.Suicide rarely carried out
15.Failure to follow any life plan

This has turned into one interesting topic. It's probably all true. I'm starting to wonder about my own' sanity and why I even care anymore. God help us all.