Do the Knicks ever just play sports?
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the disembodied voice of Charlotte Hornets’ owner (and Charles Oakley BFF) Michael Jordan intervened to try and quash the beef between Oakley and Knicks’ owner James Dolan. Silver issued the following statement:
NBA commissioner Adam Silver statement regarding Charles Oakley & the MSG situation. pic.twitter.com/UyrJlN3kEu
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) February 14, 2017
All-Star Weekend’s a-coming and you know the NBA didn’t want the latest Knick drama mushrooming any further and distracting folk from C-list celebrities pseudo-balling or the Sisyphean struggle to breathe life into Byzantine slam-dunk contests. Jordan knows a little something about owners alienating franchise legends, though for Knick fans of a certain age and temperament, his involvement sets off our 1990’s PTSD.
Michael Jordan is still running my 90s Knicks in 2017. My 12-year-old self is sick.
— KG (@KG_NYK) February 14, 2017
It’d actually be pretty cool if the Dolan/Oakley situation could reach a peaceful accord, seeing as how:
1) Dolan can’t possibly hope to win this public relations battle.
2) DOLAN CAN’T POSSIBLY HOPE TO WIN THIS P.R. BATTLE!
3) The more he tries to, the worse it’s going to get.
4) Nothing good can come out of this conflict for Oakley, either.
5) Dragging this out any further means subjecting us all to future MSG reunions starring J.R. Reid, Shandon Anderson and Tracy McGrady (I would have thrown Jalen Rose in there, but I’m pretty sure he’s on the blacklist now).
If you’re keeping score at home, the Knicks under Dolan have twice as many rebukes/interventions from commissioners as they do playoff series won. Sing it, Ja’net!