New York Knicks owner James Dolan explained the team’s lack of a public statement about George Floyd, telling Madison Square Garden employees in an e-mail, “As companies in the business of sports and entertainment, however, we are not any more qualified than anyone else to offer our opinion on social matters.” Dolan started the internal message: “We know that some of you have asked about whether our company is going to make a public statement about the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. I want you to know, I realize the importance of this issue. Therefore, I want you to understand our internal position. “This a turbulent time in our country. The coronavirus and civil unrest have taken their toll on our way of life. We at Madison Square Garden stand by our values of a respectful and peaceful workplace. We always will.”
Tag: James Dolan
James Dolan embarrasses the Knicks again and players have every right to be furious
What an embarrassment.
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James Dolan is easily one of the worst owners in all of sports, which he showed again on Monday, and now more than ever it’s clear that the players, MSG employees, and fans of the team deserve so, so, so much better than this man.
What did Dolan do this time? Well, he sent an email out to all employees explaining why the team hadn’t commented on George Floyd’s death and the subsequent protests around the country that have followed over the past five days. Why have the Knicks not commented on it? Because Dolan doesn’t think it’s their place to do so, even though the Knicks are basically the only team not to have an official statement and players are reportedly furious about it.
For real.
Dolan said:
“This is a turbulent time in our country. The coronavirus and civil unrest have taken their toll on our way of life. We at Madison Square Garden stand by our values of respect and peaceful workplace. We always will.
As companies in the business of sports and entertainment, however, we are not any more qualified than anyone else to offer our opinion on social matters.”
I mean, it doesn’t get more pathetic than that. It’s basically like “as a company we’re afraid to have feelings for our fellow humans/employees so we don’t want to say anything at all. Hope you understand!”
Thankfully, nobody on Twitter understood and crushed the Knicks for it all Monday night.
If I’m a Knicks fan, which, thankfully, I’m not, this would be a breaking point for me. This awful owner once threw Charles Oakley out of MSG, has treated fans horribly for questioning how he runs the team, and now this silence over such a heartbreaking and important story?
I’d be Done. Goodbye. See ya, Knicks.
It’s such a shame, too, because this franchise should be a lot better and a much more important part of the NBA. But instead, Dolan keeps falling on his face in public and looking like the thing that we all sit down on and the Knicks remain irrelevant.
And Dolan remains an embarrassment.
Monday’s biggest winner: Gregg Popovich.
The Spurs coach continues to be a million times smarter than almost every politician running this country, which he proved again on Monday when he ripped president Trump for his embarrassing actions after George Floyd’s death. Pop said a lot, which you should check out here, including this: “It’s unbelievable. If Trump had a brain, even if it was 99 percent cynical, he would come out and say something to unify people. But he doesn’t care about bringing people together. Even now. That’s how deranged he is. It’s all about him. It’s all about what benefits him personally. It’s never about the greater good. And that’s all he’s ever been.” Fantastic.
Quick hits: Jonathan Toews makes powerful statement… Islanders’ rough statement… DeSean Jackson’s brilliant idea… And more!
– Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews weighed in beautifully on the death of George Floyd and the protests that have happened since.
– The New York Islanders made a statement about George Floyd and the protests and, yeah, it wasn’t great.
– Eagles WR DeSean Jackson has a brilliant idea for what the NFL should do if fans aren’t allowed in stadiums this coming season.
– ESPN’s Dan Le Batard did a great job of calling out Roger Goodell.
– We need some light moments in our lives right now, so here are 19 of the best movies that are new to Netflix in June 2020.
Be good to each other, folks.
Pablo Torre: I’m told that Knicks …
Pablo Torre: I’m told that Knicks players and employees are furious that the team hasn’t made a public statement about George Floyd. And I just obtained the e-mail that owner Jim Dolan sent to MSG employees today defending the organization’s decision to stay silent:
James Dolan’s awful email to employees on why team hasn’t made statement on George Floyd
Knicks players and employees are reportedly furious and rightfully so.
The New York Knick are one of two NBA teams that hadn’t made a public statement about George Floyd and the protests against racism and injustices that have been happening across our country for the past five teams.
On Monday, Knicks owner James Dolan sent an email to employees of MSG explaining why the team hasn’t said anything, and his explanation was awful and embarrassing, even for Dolan who has grown used to being both of those things over the years.
By the way, the other NBA team that hasn’t said anything is the Spurs, but head coach Gregg Popovich had a lot of brilliant things to say on Monday.
Dolan, however, was the opposite of that in this email, and apparently players and other employees are not happy:
I'm told that Knicks players and employees are furious that the team hasn't made a public statement about George Floyd. And I just obtained the e-mail that owner Jim Dolan sent to MSG employees today defending the organization's decision to stay silent: pic.twitter.com/xG1BA7tV5V
— Pablo S. Torre (@PabloTorre) June 2, 2020
As companies in the business of sports and entertainment you’re not qualified to offer an opinion on a matter as serious as this? How about just being a human being? It’s not hard to have an opinion on the awfulness of Floyd’s death and the racism that is going on in this country.
Well, it’s hard if you’re James Dolan, I guess.
The Knicks finally made it official …
The Knicks finally made it official that there will be no more games at the Garden for the 2019-20 season. The Knicks emailed their season-ticket holders Monday morning informing them they will get a full refund on the eight postponed regular-season games — or have option of rolling it over to next season with a gift for doing so.
The Post obtained a copy of the letter, …
The Post obtained a copy of the letter, stating if fans rolled it over, they’d receive a bonus of either a food and beverage credit, MSG Store credit or an RJ Barrett authentic jersey. “As a season-ticket member, we would like to offer you the option to receive a refund on the 2019-20 postponed game if you so choose,” the letter stated.
Before the NBA suspended its season in …
Before the NBA suspended its season in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Knicks were set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their 1970 championship. But Albert, the team’s longtime radio voice who had a legendary call for the final, did not make the guest list. “I expected it,” Albert told the New York Times’ Marc Stein for his weekly newsletter. “[Knicks owner James] Dolan and I disagreed, let’s say, on the philosophy of broadcasting.” Albert lost his job in 2004 after a dispute with Dolan, who reportedly believed Albert was too critical of the team. The 78-year-old remains an iconic voice and the lead play-by-play man for TNT’s NBA coverage.
Clippers officially acquire Forum arena
Ownership of the Forum arena formally changed hands Monday after the sale from Madison Square Garden Co. to a group controlled by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer became complete — a purchase that officially removes an obstacle in the way of the Clippers constructing their own arena nearby.
Jeremy Lin really wanted the Knicks to …
Jeremy Lin really wanted the Knicks to match and tried to lower the Rockets’ infamous offer sheet in July 2012. That is what Lin says now in an hour-long one-on-one interview with MSG Network broadcaster Mike Breen in the capper to “Linsanity Week’’ that airs Friday. Lin’s run in New York ended when owner James Dolan refused to match Houston’s rearranged offer sheet that included a $15 million poison-pill final year that would’ve put the owner in luxury-tax hell. The Post reported at the time Lin was a restricted free agent and the Knicks encouraged him to find an offer sheet to match.
“I was only offered one contract,” Lin …
“I was only offered one contract,” Lin told Breen. “We couldn’t get anything from any other team. And so, I had to go find a contract from somebody. And I remember when Houston gave the offer, I promise you, I had just finished a workout and got into my car and got the phone call from my agent and I said to him, ‘can you tell Houston to lower the offer, this is too much. Can you tell someone to lower the offer’, because I wanted to go back to New York and I wanted New York to match.”