N.Y. Knicks: Disgusting Drama Fueled by Isiah Thomas and James Dolan

ESPNNewYork.com’s Ian O’Connor gets big names for his sports column. That is why he is always in demand from local newspapers and sports sites.

O’Connor found another guy he can do a story on, and this one had people talking. Isiah Thomas knows O’Connor does not think much of him, but he used the sportswriter to get his point across in an interview Thursday afternoon.

Thomas knows he is going to be running the Knicks. It will likely come next season. That’s why he is not shy to open up.

Knicks owner James L. Dolan hasn’t discouraged that thinking at all. He could have put a stop to Thomas’ nonsense by denying it or telling him to keep quiet, but that’s not the case here.

Dolan and Thomas do not care that Knicks president Donnie Walsh and head coach Mike D’Antoni are being undermined with all this nonsense. In the process, they are insulting Knicks fans, who want no part of this drama.

It’s bad what those two are doing. Walsh and D’Antoni shouldn’t be treated this way. There’s no question both of them have not done a good job in their tenure, but that’s lack of class to make Walsh and D’Antoni worry about their jobs.

Of course, we shouldn’t be surprised at this behavior. It’s what Thomas and Dolan do.

Thomas is known to turn people off. Here’s a list of his act:

He did not get along with Michael Jordan, Larry Bird or Magic Johnson as a player.

When he ran the Raptors, he alienated ownership.

He bailed out on the CBA by taking the Pacers job rather than trying to save them.

He ran many good basketball people out of town in New York. He certainly didn’t care about his players when he ran the Knicks.

He engaged himself in fights with Knicks fans at the Garden often. He instigated brawls with other teams by having his players punch other teams' players.

Looking at that list, this is Isiah’s M.O. He likes to screw people when they screw him. He wanted to get his revenge at Walsh for firing him as a Pacers coach and as a Knicks coach, and now he's achieved it.

There’s no question Walsh is upset about all this. He shouldn’t have to go out on this note with his former employee mocking him.

Not only is Thomas trying to get Walsh’s job, but he wants D’Antoni’s job, too. He wants the dual role of general manager and head coach.

Only Thomas is naïve enough to think he can do both jobs. His ego would not allow another coach to take credit for his success.

If Thomas had his way, he would have coached the minute Dolan hired him in 2004. Dolan wanted Thomas to be the general manager only and clean up the mess.

Even when Lenny Wilkens was fired, Thomas had that coaching bug. Now he says Bill Laimbeer would have been his first choice in 2005, but everyone knows he is lying. Plus, it’s hard to believe Laimbeer and Thomas would have worked together.

Things won’t change now. If Carmelo Anthony signs with the Knicks next year, Thomas will want to coach. This time, Dolan won’t be in his way.

If the Knicks owner desires to make a change, it’s his right. Still, it’s crazy for him to think Thomas is the answer to the team’s woes.

After Thomas’ first awful stint, there’s no reason for Dolan to bring him back. It comes down to this: Over the years, the Knicks chairman would be mocked by basketball people who worked for the Knicks. Thomas is the only one who butters him up even though he does not mean it at all. All Thomas wants to do is hold onto a job, and he knows he can do so by just praising his boss.

This is not a way to run a franchise. An owner’s job is to go pay his players and his front office. He should be staying out of the way.

That’s not what Dolan wants. He wants to be around the team. He craves the attention that comes with it. He feels he should be part of the team because he is the owner.

Bad publicity for Dolan is good publicity for him. He likes that Thomas, Walsh and D’Antoni are currying favor from him. Walsh and D’Antoni won’t play that game, though. Dolan also loves seeing his name in the paper.

Thomas is willing to let Dolan have all the fun. That can’t be said for other successful coaches who'd rather do other things than be around Dolan.

Each party will give the other what he wants. This is why Thomas will get a job, and why Dolan will get love from Thomas.

It’s pathetic both want to do this. Thomas should be focusing on coaching at Florida International University, while Dolan needs to just go away and enjoy watching his team.

Walsh and D’Antoni should be left alone to do their jobs. Walsh should get an opportunity to finish what he started, and D’Antoni should get an opportunity to try to win with this roster.

There’s no reason for the team to go through distractions. They had some lean years, and they are trying to get back to the playoffs. The last thing they need is to hear this.

Unfortunately, this is just the way Dolan and Thomas like it. It does not speak well of either of them.