NEW YORK -- Ex- Madison Square Garden president Dave Checketts talked to 1050 ESPN.com Monday night as he attended the Knicks' home finale against the Celtics. It was the first time that Checketts, who owns season tickets, has been at the Garden for an NBA game since Larry Brown was the Knicks coach two seasons ago.

Checketts, who runs Sports Capital Partners, which owns the St. Louis Blues, among other franchises, did not hold back in his assessments. Here are the highlights:

• Checketts basically said that Isiah Thomas should be fired. Checketts said, "The bottom line is that with the highest payroll in the history of the game for years and years, he doesn't have a playoff win to show for it. That's how you make that evaluation."

• Checketts said the Knicks don't have a winning environment.

"They have just made a lot of mistakes," Checketts said. "There is no environment that demands winning. You can watch it on the bench and you see Zach Randolph shoot an airball from three, come out of the game and get congratulated by everybody. I think Jeff Van Gundy would have spit on him. That's too dramatic, but there is not an environment that demands winning, that expects winning and the kind of character guys that want to win."

One thing I would do if I was owner---I would make sure that Crawford Lee Nate and Randolph[just because of his expensive arse] do NOT play in the last game. There is no way we can afford injury to any of these players after what happened to Wilson Chandler-- and it is in the absolute BEST interests of the franchise to lose this next game without question. Losing to the Celtics B team with our starters at home and losing Chandler to a knee injury is enough--we should've ensured we finished the season without that 3 game winning streak[likely cost us a realistic chance at beasley rose all to satisfy a few players and a dead man walking coach who should not be allowed in the building] please someone take serious control of this POS who cares about free hot dogs except Big Game. If the Celtics can rest their top guys--we can sit our guys down as well.

[Edited by - BRIGGS on 04-15-2008 1:02 PM]

Mans got season tix and does not go to a game in two years?

Wow!

Talk about mailing it in!