NBA Commissioner David Stern “wanted to snuff any lingering tension” between Knicks Owner James Dolan and Nets Owner Mikhail Prokhorov during a meeting he orchestrated to “prevent a full-blown feud” between the two, according to sources cited by Fred Kerber of the N.Y. POST. A source “confirmed Stern assisted in getting the pair together in an attempt to prevent a wave of spitballs going back and forth over the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.” The source said, “There was such a meeting and the parties both said it was a very cordial and pleasant one.” A separate source said that Prokhorov “stokes the rivalry fires because he believes the feud ‘is great for both teams’ and insisted it is ‘not at all personal’ against Dolan.” Sources added that Dolan was “furious about the 22-story, 21,375 square-foot billboard and called league officials to complain, a tactic he repeated last year after Prokhorov referred to him as ‘that little man’ in a New York Magazine article” (N.Y. POST, 8/27). SportsNet N.Y.’s Adam Schein said of Dolan's complaint, “Doesn’t this sound like a petulant child crying for mommy and daddy? What an embarrassment.” Host Marc Malusis said it "looks awful” that Dolan is that “bothered.” Schein added Dolan is "clueless" (“Loud Mouths,” SNY, 8/27).
