Fathers and Sons - A Sports Business Saga - Page 3

Thursday night's Knicks loss to the Celtics (104-59, in case the wound had stopped throbbing) felt like Truth to most Knicks fans living the Dolan experience. Isiah Thomas, the Alan Alda of the 21st Century, couldn't draw up a single defensive adjustment during the contest. The players checked out sometime around tipoff. Knicks fans wanted to do the same, but it was impossible to look away.

Over the last few years, the Knicks have given themselves few chances to attract those eight-year-olds they can count on for future support, much like the Blackhawks did for so long. Still, the Blackhawks never had to try to explain to those eight-year-olds why Coach Keenan thinks gender slurs are an acceptable business practice, and why Chris Chelios keeps that sheet of plastic on the back seat of his truck.

Knicks fans must hope Charles Dolan is finally ready to accept that his son is a better rock 'n' roll star than businessman and take back the team to run it more like his brother Larry runs the Indians. The Knicks will have far more than the Blackhawks ever had to recover from, but it's possible to return to new glories eventually.

Still, they may want to get started down that long road soon. With the Brooklyn Nets a distinct possibility, there's not much time before eight-year-olds all over the NYC metro area learn to love the new team. At that point, no amount of family ties will save the Knicks from deeply reduced profit margins and second-tier status.

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