New York Knicks chairman James Dolan has always been a ridiculed owner. You might assume, then, that his consistently laughable decision-making – not to mention life in the public eye – would make him comfortable reacting to criticism. But you’d be very, very wrong. In a real but parody-like response to an e-mail from a disgruntled Knicks fan, Dolan called his customer a “negative force in everyone who comes in contact with you” and urged him to root for the crosstown Brooklyn Nets.
The e-mail below was provided to Deadspin by filmmaker Aaron Bierman, the author’s father:
Subject: I have been a knicks fan since 1952
At one stage I thought that you did a wonderful thing when you acquired EVERYTHING from your dad. However, since then it has been ALL DOWN HILL. Your working with Isaiah Thomas & everything else regarding the Knicks. Bringing on Phil Jackson was a positive beginning, but lowballing Steve Kerr was a DISGRACE to the knicks. The bottom line is that you merely continued to interfere with the franchise.
As a knicks fan for in excess of 60 years, I am utterly embarrassed by your dealings with the Knicks. Sell them so their fans can at least look forward to growing them in a positive direction Obviously, money IS NOT THE ONLY THING. You have done a lot of utterly STUPID business things with the franchise. Please NO MORE.
Respectfully,
[Aaron Bierman’s dad]
Harsh, but also tough to rebuke. And no matter how few punches were pulled in the original message, Dolan’s reply certainly isn’t an exercise in prudent customer relations:
*[sic] throughout*
On Fri, Jan 23, 2015 at 8:15 PM, James Dolan wrote:
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
Should we be at all surprised by Dolan’s response? Nah – it’s no secret that he’s this type of guy. But to see evidence of that reality in writing is still a sight to behold.
The Knicks have the worst record in the NBA and have won a single playoff series in the past 14 seasons.
(H/T Deadspin)
What do you think?
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