Don't you love the Knicks:
OWNER: 'I'M SORRY WE MADE A MISTAKE' HIRING LARRY
http://www.nypost.com/seven/1213200...a_mistake_hiring_larry_knicks_marc_berman.htm
By MARC BERMAN
December 13, 2006 -- Knicks owner James Dolan, in breaking a six-month silence yesterday, took several vicious swipes at Larry Brown and apologized to the fans for hiring the Hall-of-Famer.
Dolan said Brown was so awful that he considers their second-year players still rookies.
"I'm sorry about last season," Dolan said, "about what happened with our coach. I'm sorry how it negatively impacted the team. I'm sorry we made a mistake hiring that coach. In the end, I had lots of help with lots of people who thought it was the right move. In the end, it was my move, my decision as owner of the team.
"Nothing can make me feel good about the fact we lost last season. We have good young players. We could be farther along today than we were now, and that's my fault. I feel bad about that. But I can't go back and change it. All I can do is keep moving forward. I'm bereft to find anything positive out of that experience, and I apologize to the fans for making a bad decision."
Dolan shelled out $28 million for a 23-59 record - $10M for last season and the $18M settlement.
One of Dolan's major issues with Brown was retarding the growth of promising 2005-06 rookies Channing Frye, David Lee and Nate Robinson.
"I consider our players in their second year, I feel they're really in their first year," Dolan said. "I don't think they developed much last year."
The organization believes the Garden's empty seats are a result of the Brown fiasco on and off the court and not the play of this season's squad. The Knicks lost 15 percent of their season-ticket base over the summer. Dolan said Isiah Thomas won't be judged on attendance figures.
"I can't let the empty seats affect how I'm going to change the team," Dolan said. "It doesn't work that way."
Unlike Thomas, Dolan saluted the Knick fans' intelligence and their right to boo.
"I think we have smart fans, very enthusiastic fans too," Dolan said.
"They know when we see something real and not real on the court."
Stephon Marbury has heard most of the catcalls. Dolan seemed unsympathetic, saying if Marbury "hit five straight shots," the boos would disappear. Dolan also hinted the team might be better off relying less on Marbury, 29.
"I think Steph's trying real hard," Dolan said. "I hope he's successful. But I know Isiah is committed to developing this team. I rely on Isiah to handle that issue."
OWNER: 'I'M SORRY WE MADE A MISTAKE' HIRING LARRY
http://www.nypost.com/seven/1213200...a_mistake_hiring_larry_knicks_marc_berman.htm
By MARC BERMAN
December 13, 2006 -- Knicks owner James Dolan, in breaking a six-month silence yesterday, took several vicious swipes at Larry Brown and apologized to the fans for hiring the Hall-of-Famer.
Dolan said Brown was so awful that he considers their second-year players still rookies.
"I'm sorry about last season," Dolan said, "about what happened with our coach. I'm sorry how it negatively impacted the team. I'm sorry we made a mistake hiring that coach. In the end, I had lots of help with lots of people who thought it was the right move. In the end, it was my move, my decision as owner of the team.
"Nothing can make me feel good about the fact we lost last season. We have good young players. We could be farther along today than we were now, and that's my fault. I feel bad about that. But I can't go back and change it. All I can do is keep moving forward. I'm bereft to find anything positive out of that experience, and I apologize to the fans for making a bad decision."
Dolan shelled out $28 million for a 23-59 record - $10M for last season and the $18M settlement.
One of Dolan's major issues with Brown was retarding the growth of promising 2005-06 rookies Channing Frye, David Lee and Nate Robinson.
"I consider our players in their second year, I feel they're really in their first year," Dolan said. "I don't think they developed much last year."
The organization believes the Garden's empty seats are a result of the Brown fiasco on and off the court and not the play of this season's squad. The Knicks lost 15 percent of their season-ticket base over the summer. Dolan said Isiah Thomas won't be judged on attendance figures.
"I can't let the empty seats affect how I'm going to change the team," Dolan said. "It doesn't work that way."
Unlike Thomas, Dolan saluted the Knick fans' intelligence and their right to boo.
"I think we have smart fans, very enthusiastic fans too," Dolan said.
"They know when we see something real and not real on the court."
Stephon Marbury has heard most of the catcalls. Dolan seemed unsympathetic, saying if Marbury "hit five straight shots," the boos would disappear. Dolan also hinted the team might be better off relying less on Marbury, 29.
"I think Steph's trying real hard," Dolan said. "I hope he's successful. But I know Isiah is committed to developing this team. I rely on Isiah to handle that issue."
