Knicks Owner James Dolan Responds to Email from Upset Fan

Tyler ConwayFeb 8, 2015

Owner James Dolan replied to an email from an angry New York Knicks fan on Jan. 23, telling the supporter to go root for the Brooklyn Nets.

Dolan will not be punished for the reply.

Continue for updates.

Dolan Comments on Replying to Email

Friday, Feb. 13

"
Marc Berman of the New York Post reported Dolan's stance on whether or not he should have replied to the email:
“Here’s what happened: I was sent a bad, hateful email,’’ Dolan said. “I get emails all the time, like I’m sure you understand. I generally don’t respond to the bad ones. This one, it caught me at the wrong moment and I responded sort of like tit for tat.
“I knew I shouldn’t have done that, but I did it anyway because it made me angry — it was a personal, hateful attack. Basically it’s over and we got All-Star Weekend. I’d love it if we all just focused on that.’’
"

Dolan Will Not Face NBA Punishment

Monday, Feb. 9

Tim Bontemps of the New York Post spoke to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who confirmed that Dolan will not face any punishment from the league for his email to a Knicks fan:

Dolan Replies to Angry Knicks Fan

Sunday, Feb. 8

New York Knicks owner James Dolan has one message to disenfranchised Knicks fans: Go root for the Brooklyn Nets.

Timothy Burke of Deadspin acquired a recent correspondence from Dolan and an unnamed Knicks fan—referred to as the father of filmmaker Aaron Bierman—in which the owner responds to the fan's email and criticism:

"
On Fri, Jan 23, 2015 at 8:15 PM, James Dolan
Mr Bierman
You are a sad person. Why would anybody write such a hateful letter. I am.just guessing but ill bet your life is a mess and you are a hateful mess. What have you done that anyone would consider positive or nice. I am betting nothing. In fact ill bet you are negative force in everyone who comes in contact with you. You most likely have made your family miserable. Alcoholic maybe. I just celebrated my 21 year anniversary of sobriety. You should try it. Maybe it will help you become a person that folks would like to have around. In the mean while start rooting.for the Nets because the Knicks dont want you.
Respectfully
James Dolan
"

Howard Beck of Bleacher Report confirmed the email's legitimacy. In the email to which Dolan responded, Bierman's father claims to be a Knicks fan "in excess of 60 years." He goes on to bemoan the controversial owner's ways, citing Dolan's handling of Steve Kerr as the most recent in a long list of transgressions.

Kerr was team president Phil Jackson's first choice as Knicks coach before settling on Derek Fisher. After prolonged negotiations, Kerr spurned Jackson to coach the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors currently have the league's second-best record at 40-9, while the Knicks are an NBA-worst 10-41.

The fan goes on to implore Dolan to sell the Knicks so "their fans can at least look forward to growing them in a positive direction."

James Dolan is the son of Cablevision founder Charles Dolan. He currently heads The Madison Square Garden Company, which runs the Knicks, New York Rangers and New York Liberty, among other holdings.

The Knicks have made the playoffs only five times and won one playoff round since 1999-00 despite typically having one of the NBA's highest payrolls.

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