New York Knicks owner James Dolan, a seasoned critic of the NBA’s revenue sharing, slammed the league’s new media deal.

In a letter sent Monday, Dolan outlined a critique of a potential eight percent league office cut of the new $74.6 million media deal. Dolan accused the NBA of tampering with the business model of regional sports networks and stated that it “deemphasized and depowered the local market.”

The Knicks’ chairman announced his resignation in November from his positions on the NBA’s influential advisory/finance and media committees. His resignation comes after suing the Raptors organization for stealing confidential files.

“Member teams depend on revenue received from local rights fees and local fan engagement through high-quality broadcasts that provide tailored coverage for local audiences,” New York’s owner wrote. “The proposal threatens to eliminate RSNs without a comparable replacement offered by the league and no plans to address the distribution vacuum that the league will create to disrupt the RSN industry.”

Dolan, who owns MSG, a regional sports network, was discontented with a $358 million increase in the NBA’s new media deal.

According to Dolan, the proposal “would have a negative impact on the value of each member team’s local sponsorships, including the delivery of camera-visible benefits at as few as 23 home games.”

Dolan notes that 42 million households ditched traditional paid television while his Knicks experienced a 45 percent decrease in the MSG network.

Dolan goes on to write that the NBA “will say it doesn’t matter because your franchise value will continue to rise” and that “ownership pride is what’s sacrificed.”

Hockey Hall of Famer and New York Rangers legend Ron “Mr. Ranger” Gilbert has passed away. The team announced his passing on Sunday evening.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Rod Gilbert — one of the greatest Rangers to ever play for our organization and one of the greatest ambassadors the game of hockey has ever had,” Rangers owner James Dolan said in a statement. “While his on-ice achievements rightly made him a Hall of Famer, it was his love for the Rangers and the people of New York that endeared him to generations of fans and forever earned him the title, ‘Mr. Ranger.’ Our thoughts are with Rod’s wife, Judy, and the entire Gilbert family during this difficult time. They will always be a part of the Rangers family.”

Gilbert spent 18 seasons with the Rangers from 1960 to 1978. During his playing career, he tallied 406 goals and 615 assists as a winger for a total of 1,021 points in 1,065 games.

Gilbert played with the Rangers from 1960 to 1978. Across parts of 18 seasons, Gilbert tallied 406 goals and 615 assists as a winger, for a total of 1,021 points in 1,065 games. Gilbert added 34 goals and 33 assists in 79 playoff appearances, including two trips to the Stanley Cup Finals. In the playoffs, Gilbert had 34 goals and 33 assists in 70 playoff appearances. He led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals twice, but the team failed to win the cup.

Gilbert’s No. 7 jersey became the first number ever to be retired by the Rangers and was raised to the rafters in 1979. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982. In his post-playing career, he dedicated himself to humanitarian efforts and partook in various charities including the Garden of Dreams Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House.

Charles Oakley has no interest in having his jersey retired by his former team.

When speaking on a podcast earlier this week, former New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy stated that he believed that Oakley’s jersey should be retired and hanging in the rafters of Madison Square Garden. Whether or not Oakley was actually present for the ceremony did not matter to Van Gundy, as he argued that his play for the team and relationship with the New York fan base was enough to warrant his jersey retirement.

Oakley’s personal view, however, does not line up with Van Gundy’s perspective. Earlier in the year, Oakley spoke on a podcast about the fact that he had previously declined the Knicks’ offer to retire his jersey, and does not want it to hang inside the Garden. Oakley sees his jersey retirement as only benefitting the team, and would prefer to have it just outside MSG so it can be visible to anyone who passes by. “Put it outside with the flag and people don’t have to pay to come in and see it,” Oakley said. “Let them drive past and see it. Let it be a tourist spot,” he added.

This debate comes on the heels of a 2017 incident at the Garden between Oakley and Knicks owner James Dolan, which led to a scuffle and Oakley’s removal and ban from the world’s most famous arena.

Oakley is not the only celebrity to have issues with Dolan and Madison Square Garden. Long-time Knicks fan and director Spike Lee along with Knicks legend and current Georgetown basketball coach Patrick Ewing have both also had run ins with employees at the arena.

While the Knicks may finally be turning a corner with their on-court display this year due to the youth movement (currently 8th in the Eastern Conference), drama, scandals and chaos continues to be a problem for the Knickerbockers off of the court, specifically due to the negative feelings the fans have about the team’s owner. Many fans are counting down the days until Dolan retires and the Knicks go a different direction in terms of ownership.

As if New York Knicks fans needed yet another tough pill to swallow after losing out on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to their cross–town rivals, more gut–punching reports surfaced this week that detailed a potential meeting between Kawhi Leonard and the Knicks, which New York decided to cancel.

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As the world continues to follow Leonard while awaiting his potential league–changing free agency decision, the Knicks exited a group including the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers, all of which met with and extended an offer to Leonard.  Although few believe New York held a true chance to lure in the star forward, the Knicks took their own names out of the hat after canceling their meeting. The Knicks entered this offseason with around $70 million of cap space, which they intended to deal out to big name free agents. However, after failing to attract any players deserving a max contract, the Knicks dished out the money to other players such as Julius Randle, Taj Gibson and Bobby Portis. 

Controversial Knicks owner James Dolan ignited New York fans’s hopes midway through last season, mentioning the team’s future cap situation and claiming that multiple star players intended to play at the garden next year while on the radio.

The Knicks now possess far too little cap space to intrigue Leonard even after canceling the meeting. However, the news continued to illustrate the dysfunction within the Knicks franchise, as they once again failed to bring a star to New York, this time by their own hand. The fact that the Knicks essentially said “no,” to Leonard only drew further calls for Dolan to sell the team. Since inheriting the Knicks from his father, Dolan continues to frustrate a passionate New York fan base which endures rough times season after season as this year Knicks’ title drought extended out to 46 years.

The lone bright spot amongst yet another depressing Knicks headline, R.J. Barrett, debuts as wearing the orange and blue this weekend apart the NBA Summer league. With the Knicks now looking to rebuild themselves behind Barrett rather than a big name free agent, perhaps the former Duke player’s talent can adjust this historic franchise’s culture away from one that cancels meetings with star players.

New York Knicks owner James Dolan recently put the WNBA’s New York Liberty up for sale and said the Knicks could potentially face the same fate soon — if an adequate offer presents itself.

James Dolan Hints At Selling Knicks For $5B

In an interview released Monday, Dolan — who also owns the New York Rangers — told ESPN’s Ian O’Connor that offers of $5 billion and up have recently been made for the Knicks, although there has yet to be a “bona fide offer” for the franchise.

“You hear numbers all the time,” Dolan told ESPN. “… I think people have sent feelers out, but never any that were pursued. Yeah, [the feelers are] around that number [$5 billion], but those things, it’s like a stock price. It’s only important if you’re going to buy or sell.”

The 63-year-old chairman of Madison Square Garden also noted that he has shareholders to think of.

“You have a responsibility as the guy who runs the place to deliver on that for them, that’s being open and transparent. And so in that position, I could never say that I wouldn’t consider selling the Knicks,” Dolan added. “Now, my family is not in that position, and they are the majority shareholders. They hold the majority of the vote.”

He continued: “As a majority owner, I don’t want to sell, either. As the head of the public company, you can’t say you can’t sell, because then you’re telling your shareholders that your own personal feelings about your assets are more important than their money. And they won’t invest with you if you do that.”

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The Knicks have severely struggled in recent years, and haven’t reached the NBA Finals since 1999, Dolan’s first year as MSG chairman. New York’s last NBA championship came in 1973.

The franchise has also undergone severe turnover at the top coaching and executive levels over the last few years: the team has had 12 head coaches and seven presidents. Only two Knicks coaches — Mike Woodson and Jeff Van Gundy — have enjoyed winning records.

In May, the Knicks hired David Fizdale as head coach to replace Jeff Hornacek. Fizdale, a former Memphis Grizzlies head coach, also worked as an assistant for the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks.

In his latest two-hour interview, Dolan also discussed his legal disputes, his 25 years of sobriety and his relationship with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

The New York Knicks announced Wednesday morning that the team and president Phil Jackson have mutually agreed to separate after three years.

Phil Jackson Had Been The Knicks President For Three Years

Jackson was notified of the team’s decision on Tuesday.

“After careful thought and consideration, we mutually agreed that the Knicks will be going in a different direction,” said Knicks owner and executive chairman James Dolan. “Phil Jackson is one of the most celebrated and successful individuals in the history of the NBA. His legacy in the game of basketball is unmatched. We wish him the best and thank him for his service to the Knicks as both a player and an executive.”

The Knicks have struggled under Jackson’s leadership, posting an 80-66 combined record in the last three seasons for one of the worst in the NBA. The team did not make the playoffs in any of those three years. For this reason, the general consensus among both Knicks fans and NBA pundits on Twitter early Wednesday seemed to be that feelings of elation were appropriate.

Here are the hilarious reactions of rejoicing Knicks fans and others from the basketball world:

Jackson previously won 11 league championships as a coach for the Chicago Bulls (1987-1998) and Los Angeles Lakers (1999-2004, 2005-2011). The 71-year-old executive had two years and $24 million left on his contract with the Knicks, for whom he played as a power forward from 1967 to 1978.

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 12: Basketball coach Phil Jackson speak on stage at Phil Jackson in Conversation with Ben McGrath at the MasterCard stage at SVA Theatre during The New Yorker Festival 2014 on October 12, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for The New Yorker Festival)

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has weighed in on the feud between New York Knicks owner James Dolan and former Knicks star Charles Oakley, and he appears to have taken Oakley’s side.

Draymond Green Criticizes James Dolan For Treatment of Charles Oakley

Green criticized Dolan on his “Dray Dray” podcast on Uninterrupted. “You doing it against me — you speaking out against my organization — it’s not good anymore? That’s a slave mentality. A slave master mentality. That’s ridiculous.”

The Warriors star continued: “It was all fine and dandy when he was laying people out, taking fines and all this stuff for your organization. But now, all of a sudden, when he says something that he feels, it’s a problem.”

Green went on to say that the Knicks’ handling of Oakley– who was arrested at Madison Square Garden last week-– and president Phil Jackson’s criticisms of Carmelo Anthony will hurt the organization in free agency.

“When you look at what’s going on now with the Melo situation in their organization and now how you do a legend in Charles Oakley, I don’t know a free agent that would want to go there” said Green. “I don’t know someone who would really want to go there.”

Green seemed to assume Dolan owned the Knicks when Oakley played for them, which is incorrect. Dolan took charge after Oakley was traded from the team.

Oakley was ejected from the Garden and arrested on Feb. 8 following an altercation with arena security.

Dolan banned Oakley indefinitely from the arena two days after the incident, although he lifted that ban on Tuesday after meeting with Oakley and commissioner Adam Silver, with Michael Jordan also joining via conference call.

Oakley told ESPN later on Tuesday that he’s still upset over Dolan’s public accusation that he has a drinking problem and that he wouldn’t accept the Knicks’ invitation to a future home game. The former Knicks star claims Dolan has shunned him for all the public criticisms he’s made about the organization since he left.

Green and several others in the NBA have criticized Dolan for his suggestion that Oakley has anger issues or a drinking problem.

“That’s not something that you say to the world. That’s not classy at all,” Green said on his podcast. “It’s not OK for you to go say to the world as a multibillion-dollar organization.”

Green explained later in the podcast, “How can you even pin that on someone? Even if he does or doesn’t, to the world now, people think he has an alcohol problem. How can you pin that on someone? Just throw that out there like that’s no big deal. That’s grimy. I think that’s wrong.”

The Knicks (23-34, 12th in Eastern Conference) have struggled significantly this season, and seem doomed to miss this year’s playoffs.

OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 02: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts in the first half while taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the 2016 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 2, 2016 in Oakland, California.

The New York Knicks welcomed a notable alumnus back to Madison Square Garden on Sunday night: Latrell Sprewell.

Ex-Knick Latrell Sprewell and Owner James Dolan Sit Together At Game

The 46-year-old former player sat next to Knicks owner James Dolan during the team’s 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

Sprewell and Dolan have had a strained relationship for quite some time. Sprewell, who helped lead the Knicks to the Finals in 1999, shouted profanity at Dolan in his first home game back in New York in 2003, following a trade from the Knicks to the Minnesota Timberwolves– something that only worsened their rapport. He was fined for the incident.

“I can’t tell you why I haven’t been back here, but I’ll tell you when I left, I was not happy,” Sprewell, who played with the Knicks from 1998-2003, told ABC. “New York is like a second home for me. I love the fans here. The fans have embraced me. There’s no place like the Garden to play in. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play in the Garden?”

Nevertheless, the pair seemed to get along just fine on Sunday, unlike the incident that occurred with another former Knicks star four days prior suggested. On Wednesday, retired player Charles Oakley, who also has had a tenuous relationship with Dolan, was arrested at Madison Square Garden following a scuffle with security guards during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Oakley, who was simply attempting to get close to Dolan to talk to him– claiming he doesn’t understand why the Knicks owner has ignored him– was handcuffed and removed from the arena, much to the disappointment of fans, who chanted for him to be let go.

Dolan has since been heavily criticized for the way Oakley was treated, and drew further anger following his unsubstantiated suggestion that Oakley may have a drinking problem. Dolan announced that Oakley was banned indefinitely two days after his arrest, and after Oakley heard of his former owner’s accusations that he had a drinking problem, the former player denied this Saturday in an interview with the New York Post.

Other ex-Knicks also sat near Dolan on Sunday, including Bernard King and Larry Johnson. Johnson, now an employee of the organization, told the New York Daily News he felt conflicted about attending Sunday’s game after Oakley’s arrest on Wednesday.

Nine former Knicks in total attended Sunday’s win. The team played a video tribute to Sprewell on the Jumbotron in the first quarter, and then he was shown sitting in the crowd, which drew cheers.

“I’m just happy to be back now,” said Sprewell, who got a warm reception from the fans Sunday. “A guy named Jonathan [Supranowitz, Knicks vice president of public relations], I’ve kept in touch with him over the years and he worked his magic and he was able to pull some strings and get me back.”

When asked about the Oakley incident, Sprewell said he was saddened by it, even though the two never played for the team at the same time, and that he hopes the Knicks organization can resolve any issues of that type appropriately in the future.

“Obviously, it’s a disappointing thing,” Sprewell said. “No one wants to see anything like that. Not just for New York, but just for the NBA family. I mean, it happened. Hopefully, it will be something that everybody can just somehow iron out and get past. I mean, just an unfortunate situation, obviously.”

MINNEAPOLIS – APRIL 21: Latrell Sprewell #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his three point shot in the first half against the Denver Nuggets on April 21, 2004 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Charles Oakley became the center of attention midway through the first quarter of the New York Knicks’ home game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, when the former Knick was arrested following an altercation with security.

Ex-Knick Charles Oakley Arrested At MSG

Oakley, who played 10 years with the Knicks, was reportedly arguing with owner James Dolan before the situation escalated. The 53-year-old was removed from his front row seat, handcuffed and at one point knocked to the ground by Madison Square Garden security after Oakley became physically aggressive when responding to security’s efforts to calm him down.

Play briefly stopped as everyone in the arena observed the scuffle unfold. Fans reportedly began chanting “Free Oakley,” as the former NBA star continued to angrily argue and even at one point said, “F— that, let me go,” as he was being dragged out into the tunnel at MSG while Knicks president Phil Jackson attempted to calm him down. “I didn’t do nothing,” Oakley also yelled.

Knicks PR issued a statement on Oakley: “Charles Oakley came to the game tonight and behaved in a highly inappropriate and completely abusive manner. He has been ejected and is currently being arrested by the New York City Police Department. He was a great Knick and we hope he gets some help soon.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQSDbfchB-i/

Following the altercation, Oakley was charged and arrested with three counts of misdemeanor third-degree assault and one count of misdemeanor criminal trespass, according to The New York Times. He was released with an appearance ticket. He has a court date scheduled for March, according to ESPN.

Oakley later said Thursday that he has attempted to repair his broken relationship with Dolan several times, but the Knicks owner has shunned him on every occasion.

“He don’t want to meet with me,” Oakley told The Undefeated’s Mike Wise. “Man won’t even shake my hand.”

Oakley has criticized the Knicks over the years, specifically slamming Dolan’s leadership as owner at times. . But Oakley told The Undefeated he was really hurt when Dolan refused to shake his hand when Oakley approached him at the 2014 All-Star Game in New Orleans.

Since then, their already-strained relationship has only worsened, Oakley said.

“Whenever I go to the Garden now, security has been told to inform him immediately,” Oakley said. “Last year against Charlotte I went to a game and a bunch of security people came up to me right away and told me not to walk around, stay where I am. He just doesn’t want me in the building.”

Oakley played with the Knicks from 1988 to 1998.

NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 05: Former professional basketball player Charles Oakley attends the 2012 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award presentation at Espace on December 5, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

After the James Dolan’s wonderfully aggressive letter to a fan, the people behind ‘Fire John Idzik‘ have decided to lash out and create ‘Knicks 4 Sale.’ The website highlights the “awful personnel, incompetent management and terrible coaching” as key signs of Dolan’s inability to run the team.

The site promises to cover all of the Knicks’ slip ups — these days that is a lot of coverage — while also asking for to donations to put up a Knicks 4 Sale billboard on 30th and 7th ave, near Madison Square Garden: all people who donate $50 will receive an “an official ‘Knicks 4 Sale – 86 DOLAN’ campaign t-shirt.”

Photo © Knicks 4 Sale

For those who do not know, here is the fan letter sent to the Knicks’ owner, which featured the sub-title, “I have been a Knicks fan since 1952.”

At one stage I thought that you did a wonderful thing when you acquired EVERYTHING from your dad. However, since then it has been ALL DOWN HILL. Your working with Isaiah Thomas & everything else regarding the Knicks. Bringing on Phil Jackson was a positive beginning, but lowballing Steve Kerr was a DISGRACE to the knicks. The bottom line is that you merely continued to interfere with the franchise.

As a knicks fan for in excess of 60 years, I am utterly embarrassed by your dealings with the Knicks. Sell them so their fans can at least look forward to growing them in a positive direction Obviously, money IS NOT THE ONLY THING. You have done a lot of utterly STUPID business things with the franchise. Please NO MORE.

Respectfully,

[Aaron Bierman’s dad]

And here is the now infamous response from Dolan.

Mr. Bierman

You are a sad person. Why would anybody write such a hateful letter. I am.just guessing but ill bet your life is a mess and you are a hateful mess. What have you done that anyone would consider positive or nice. I am betting nothing. In fact ill bet you are negative force in everyone who comes in contact with you. You most likely have made your family miserable. Alcoholic maybe. I just celebrated my 21 year anniversary of sobriety. You should try it. Maybe it will help you become a person that folks would like to have around. In the mean while start rooting.for the Nets because the Knicks dont want you.

Respectfully

James Dolan

Lets be honest, no one likes to be criticized: but also, you do not feed the beast. This man calls out Dolan’s stupidity, yet the Knicks’ owner responds with, dare I say, stupidity. Dolan huffing and puffing over one fan email is like answering trolls on Twitter or any other forms of social media. There is certainly some validity to what the fan said, however, the vitriol in the response confirms exactly what New Yorkers already think of Dolan.

In the end, Dolan’s image becomes worse than it already is — especially since he randomly called the fan an alcoholic — and the New York Knicks still stink. Hopefully, Phil Jackson will turn the organization around: if not, New York will soon be asking for the owner’s head.