IT'S GOOD TO BE RICH
IF the KnicksNew York Knicks wanted to Bogart the pot (Mike D'Antoni)
by raising the coaching ante to an unmatchable peak, as alleged by
ESPN, what's taking 'em so long?
It's not like Camp Cablevision can be outbid for anything or anyone it
covets?
Years ago, shortly after Charles Dolan created Cablevision, he and a
friend of mine stood alongside each other at an East End horse show
watching their daughters compete.
Debbie Dolan, now an Olympic equestrian hopeful, was riding a newly
purchased jumper worth $500G, while my friend's young daughter, who
could clear heights accomplished woman twice her age and experience
failed to navigate, was mounted on a mare that maybe cost $15G.
"How can you afford to pay that much," my friend wondered after Dolan
revealed the purchase price.
"When you put those wires in the ground you can't spend it quick
enough," he said matter-of-factly.
So, how come the Knicks haven't tapped that inexhaustible resource in
their recruitment of D'Antoni?
Either they want him in the worst way or Donnie Walsh is merely mildly
enamored.
Either D'Antoni honestly wants the job or he's simply using the Money
Bags franchise as attempted leverage to force the Bulls to make a
lucrative offer.
If Walsh truly believes D'Antoni is the right man to coach the
majority of the Knicks' current unmovable, incompatible parts for the
next two or three seasons, as numerous reports lead us to believe,
then what's the holdup?
If Walsh is confident D'Antoni, whom he once asked Isiah Thomas to
consider as a Pacers assistant, can get through to players unreachable
by Larry Brown and Thomas, by all means, let's do 'dis, Brutas.
If Walsh is satisfied D'Antoni can covert Stephon MarburyStephon
Marbury (deemed uncoachable by him in Phoenix), from a $20 million,
one-year liability into an asset, inspire Eddy CurryEddy Curry to
rebound, motivate Zach Randolph to share the ball, and induce the team
to play the kind of defense undetected under the previous pair of Hall
of Fame-credentialed, high-profile personalities (or in Phoenix, for
that matter), then make a move.
Proposition D'Antoni and insist he come to an immediate command
decision before Bulls' managing partner Jerry Reinsdorf and GM John
Paxson have a chance to sort things out after meeting with him again.
We see this hardball strategy all the time in player free agent
negotiations. Either get on the bus, Gus, or forget about us.
Why permit D'Antoni to choreograph the dance steps, if that's really
what's going on here?
What if D'Antoni actually is Walsh's preferred pick? Then again, what
if he's not and Mark Jackson has been waiting in the "patience room"
all along?
One way or the other, what if D'Antoni gets the kind of pay day he's
maneuvering for in order to give up his 2-year, $8.5M Suns guarantee,
and does a home run trot to Chicago next week?
How silly will the Knicks look silly should that go down? Nobody will
know for sure the veracity of the situation.
On second thought, how silly will Jackson look should he then become
"the chosen one" of Walsh? It'll appear as if the only reason he got
tapped on the shoulder was because he the last one on the dance floor.
I certainly understand Walsh's deliberation in evaluating this
critical hire which assuredly will shape the franchise for years to
come.
I also appreciate the pluses of compiling as much info and as many
ideas as possible regarding the Knicks roster from a wide assortment
of candidates, and to find out how they'd approach the almighty
challenge.
At the same time, I comprehend that Dolan took flack for deciding on
Walsh to run the Knicks without interviewing Jerry Colangelo and Jerry
West so you want to do your homework thoroughly.
A few decades ago, I wanted to do a column on Dick Barnett shortly
after he retired from the Knicks. I've never forgotten his answer.
"I'm not going to let you use me. I'll let you know when I want to use
you."
Walsh would be wise (and gain a lot of respect) to employ an identical
attitude. Anybody identified as using the Knicks should be
disqualified. A message should be sent that those days are over. It's
time for the Knicks to reverse that process and start to get the
benefit of perception, which, as we all know, is more important that
reality.
It's overtime (a little Lovin' Spoonful music, please) "to pick up on
one and leave the other behind."
Just go home, Donnie, and make up your mind.
(Taken from NY POST)
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