In a different time and place in New York Knicks history, James Dolan detailed one of the more stressful parts of owning a dreadful NBA team.
The hecklers on the street. The fans who said hurtful things to him when he was shopping or out to dinner. Dolan said these strangers made it impossible for him to enjoy the nation’s largest and loudest market without a security person stationed nearby.
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“They like to jump out, shout something horrible and run away,” Dolan said. “That happens all the time. … It’s not fun.”
In the middle of what would be a 17-65 season in 2018-19, Dolan sat with me for two hours to explain how and why he runs his sports and entertainment businesses the way he does. At times, the conversation revolved around the subject of fun.
Dolan made it clear he wasn’t having any while running his basketball team.
The Knicks were a staggering 182 games under .500 for the six seasons preceding the hiring of Tom Thibodeau, who immediately delivered the pandemic-stricken city an unforgettable gift — a playoff berth. Thibodeau followed a Year 2 setback with three consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference semifinals, including last yea
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