The Man Without a Title: Isiah Thomas, and How He Demolished a Franchise

April 18 came with redemption and left offering hope for the ever-so-faithful fans of the New York Knicks.

As Donnie Walsh announced that former General Manger/Head Coach, Isiah Thomas, would no longer have the title, a simultaneous sigh of relief came from Knicks fans around the world.

Thomas will still be there smiling his evil grin, but without any power. His new job is unknown to the public and has no official title.

The man, who so many people referred to as IT because his name caused to much pain, is now nameless. Fans remain nervous as the search for a replacement is taking place, yet to an even worse degree, they are nervous that Isiah " Zeke" Thomas is remaining with the team in any capacity.

A fan, known as Stretch, commented on the "Knicks Fix" (a blog by Newsday beat writer Alan Hahn):

"Only an organization as dysfunctional as the Knicks with an owner as inept and impotent as Jim Dolan would retain Isiah in any capacity whatsoever and years of epic and colossal failure and ineptitude."

IslesFan added,

"This is total garbage and just exposes Donnie Walsh as another Dolan puppet. He doesn't have the autonomy that the dog and pony show tried to make us believe. And by doing this at 5pm on a Friday afternoon, he doesn't have the authority to change the media policy. This was completely unprofessional in how it was handled.  Donnie Walsh is useless if he thinks Isiah has anything to offer this organization. Complete BS.The Knicks are completely dead to me now.It'll be interesting to see how fooled the NY media is by this crap. I hope you aren't Alan. Only a complete fool would think that Isiah is out."

It was recently announced that Thomas will be banned from contacting any of the players to prevent him from undermining the new head coach.

Currently, the coaching candidates include, Thomas Thibodeau an assistant with the Boston Celtics, former player Mark Jackson, and current assistant Herb Williams.

Speculation has Jackson to be the front runner, despite his lack of experience. Thibodeau, who is currently with Boston, a club who will likely go deep into the playoffs, will probably interview later this week and has expressed great interest in the opening.

Williams has a very slim chance of getting the position, but will probably be kept on as an assistant.

It all began when Zeke decided to bring home a hero. Stephon Marbury, the Brooklyn baller, the boy who had scored that final free throw for Lincoln High School and captured the championship despite his odd hairdo, was home. Everyone buzzed with excitement, the media swarmed him anxiously, the fans cheered for the number three who would be their savior,but it was all downhill from there.

There was Starbury and then there was everyone else. Coaches (see Larry Brown) and players (see Keith Van Horn) got shipped out as quickly as Marbury said the magic words. He and IT shared an agent, they were neighbors, they were friends, and together, they brought down a franchise.

Player after player fell during the preseason, player after player failed, player after player was traded and then succeeded as the sinking ship sunk even further.

Buyouts and feuds, lax policies and and a losing mentality, all courtesy of Isiah Thomas. So as the search for the next head coach drags on, let us all remember what once was.

Let us think of the 1990s and the 1970s: the glory years. Let us all hope, as Knicks fans, that the glory is restored in the magical place we call home. Madison Square Garden should shake again from the sounds of the fans, from the jumping crowd, from the excitement of a championship run.

Let freedom ring as the pride of the New York franchise is restored.