When Rod Thorn left the Nets this summer, something was not right. He would not have left the franchise in turmoil. He's not a quitter.

Thorn was eager to work for Mikhail Prokhorov, the Nets' new owner. He knew he could win with the billionaire's money. Unfortunately, that marriage was shorter than Tony Parker and Eva Longoria's.

When Thorn took the Sixers job this summer, people had questions about his decision. The answer came when he told New York Post's Peter Vecsey that he hated working for Nets CEO Brett Yormark.

Yormark fired back, saying the Nets have work to do after Rod's 12-70 season last year. Those were fighting words by both men, and it became clear that Thorn's departure was ugly.

The Sixers played the Nets last night for the first of four regular-season meetings, beating New Jersey, 102-86. Knowing how competitive Thorn is, he'll want the Sixers to sweep the Nets this season. This is personal for him, and it should be. After all, New Jersey coach Avery Johnson, Yormark and Prokhorov exiled him from the Nets organization.

There was no way Thorn could work with those three men. Obviously, the feud between Yormark and Thorn lasted a long time. Prokhorov wanted his own people to run the team, and Johnson wanted control when it came to personnel.

At Thorn's age, 69, he didn't need the hassle. He shouldn't, either. He accomplished plenty in this league to be treated fairly. Good for him that he moved on to another project in the 76ers, and he will do a fine job in Philly.

Shame on those three for running Thorn out of town. This franchise could use him. He knows more basketball than those three. It came down to them wanting all the power in the franchise.

If Johnson thinks he can do it, he's fooling himself. He knows nothing about personnel. He never evaluated anyone in his life. He may be a great coach, but that does not translate to finding young talent. Sure, Billy King is the general manager, but that title is in name only.

It comes down to Johnson having a final say. Already, he is moping about his players. He mentions they are not tough enough. He does not think they are smart. It's clear he wants to weed out most of Thorn's players and get players who can defend.

Prokhorov wants to be involved with the players, and he wants his own people to be part of the management team. He feels he and his staff have plenty to offer, and they were not going to back down. They knew Thorn wouldn't stand for it, so they kept demanding until they got what they wanted.

It's great the rookie owner knows a lot about the game, but being a fan and running a team are two different things. An owner needs a general manager who knows what he is doing. He needs a guy he can trust. What do his people know that Thorn doesn't?

It's dangerous to have neophytes assist Johnson in running a franchise. These men know nothing. For them to act like they do is sheer arrogance. So far, those guys want to reinvent the game.

Yormark's assertion on Thorn is amusing. Only he knows why he thinks he is the expert. He was hired to market the team, but he failed miserably. Now he thinks he can operate a franchise?

If one guy has to go, it's Yormark. He embarrassed the organization by yelling at a fan last year. He ripped fans for not going to games. He did everything possible to alienate people in New Jersey by marketing to New Yorkers.

What does Prokhorov see in him? Yormark has done a fine job of BSing his way for years. He is part of the problem. Unless he goes, this franchise will go nowhere. He will be a problem for Johnson. They will make nice, but it will be interesting to see where this is headed. Somehow, there won't be a happy ending.

It's remarkable how those three all of sudden think they know about basketball. Johnson has a case at least. Still, being a general manager requires a special skill set. It requires diligence and instincts. It's hard to believe a head coach, an owner and a marketing guru can grasp that.

 Losing Thorn will hurt the Nets. He built this team from the ground up. He made smart trades and drafted well all these years. The Nets appeared in two NBA Finals, and they could have won a championship had then-Nets owner Bruce Ratner decided not to break up the team.

For anyone who blames Thorn for these last two years, could it be that his power was zapped by Ratner and Yormark? It was Kiki Vandeweghe who ran the show. He is the one who drafted the players for the last couple years. He should be accountable for them not panning out.

It's ridiculous how this is on Thorn. But this is not his problem anymore—that's on Johnson, Yormark and Prokhorov.

Those three wanted to clean up this mess, and now they get the chance—and Thorn gets a fresh start.

It will be interesting who wins this battle. Neither team is getting better anytime soon. At least the Sixers won the second pick of this year's draft, and they can build around a star in Evan Turner. The jury is still out on Derrick Favors for the Nets.

Make no mistake—if the Nets become an elite team before the Sixers do, those three arrogant men will gloat and take credit for it. They would even mock Thorn for pleasure.

But if it's Thorn who has success first, he won't say a word. He'll let his results speak for him.

Don't bet against Thorn. When he seeks a challenge, he embraces it and gets it done.

Johnson, Prokhorov and Yormark can only pray that Thorn's age gets the best of him.