Knicks Owner James Dolan and former NBAer Charles Oakley yesterday "worked to begin to patch up their differences" in a meeting at NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's request, according to Scott Cacciola of the N.Y. TIMES. Silver said that Dolan "expressed a hope that Oakley would return to the Garden as Dolan’s guest in the 'near future' -- a stunning reversal that would be a welcome relief for Knicks fans." Silver last week was in attendance when Oakley was "led out of the arena." Silver then "brokered the peace summit over the weekend." Hornets Owner Michael Jordan, a "close friend of Oakley’s," participated in yesterday's meeting by telephone. The meeting "came as the Knicks -- and Dolan, in particular -- were facing increased public pressure over the incident involving Oakley" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/14). ESPN N.Y.'s Ian Begley cited sources as saying that it was "clear there was a desire among people close to both parties to help repair the relationship." Jordan's inclusion was "crucial for Oakley." Sources said that Jordan and Oakley have a "close bond," as evidenced by Knicks President Phil Jackson's decision to "call Jordan in the wake of Oakley's arrest to try to connect him" with Oakley (ESPNNY.com, 2/13). In N.Y., Braziller & Berman cite sources as saying that former Knicks player Larry Johnson "may have met with Oakley" either Sunday or yesterday (N.Y. POST, 2/14). Also in N.Y., Frank Isola notes Oakley "wants more time to process everything that transpired over the past tumultuous week." Oakley said that an "immediate resolution would be difficult only because 'some of the things that were said about [him] hurt" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/14). Meanwhile, The Undefeated's Mike Wise reports that Oakley's MSG ban "is over" (TWITTER.com, 2/14).
SILVER CREDITED FOR HIS ROLE: ESPN's Mike Greenberg said Silver's meeting with Dolan and Oakley was "brilliantly handled," as it "doesn't make anyone look bad." Greenberg: "It provides a satisfying ending to the hideous part of this. It puts them on a path where they can start moving forward, where everyone can stop talking about it like it’s a joke. It doesn't humiliate anyone. It doesn't antagonize anyone. This is extraordinary leadership and should be a blueprint for a lot of other leaders in and outside the world of sports." ESPN's Mike Golic: "This was dominating the headlines, so Adam Silver saw it as not just something in the Knick household -- it was bad in the Knicks household, but kind of seeping out into all of the NBA" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 2/14). NBA TV's Rick Fox said Silver is "proving to be the commissioner every league should want to have at the helm." He moved "rapidly to put the right parties in the room to work towards the healing" ("NBA GameTime," NBA TV, 2/13). TNT’s Kenny Smith said, “I'm glad the meeting happened. I think with Oakley, even though he was wrong in the incident, he did deserve better treatment and to have that meeting, so I’m happy for him” (“NBA Tip-Off,” TNT, 2/13).
TRYING TO SAVE FACE WITH SPRE? Former Knicks player Latrell Sprewell attended Sunday's Spurs-Knicks game and sat beside Dolan, saying that he "received a call from the Knicks on Saturday, during which he was offered an invitation." Dolan "indefinitely banned Oakley from the Garden on Friday." In N.Y., Daniel Popper writes the order of events "only adds to speculation that Dolan resolving his dispute with Sprewell was simply a response to the Oakley debacle -- though Sprewell acknowledged he'd been discussing a return the Garden for some time." Dolan traded Sprewell to the T'Wolves in '03, a move that "sparked a severe falling out." Sprewell "didn't return to the Garden until this past Sunday" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/14). ESPN’s Rachel Nichols said of Sprewell's appearance, "How do you feel good knowing you were being used as a prop? And why does Dolan think all of this makes him look better? It doesn’t. It just makes him look pathetic, which is what this whole situation continues to be.” ESPN’s Stephen Jackson called Dolan a "clown" for inviting Sprewell and Johnson to Sunday's game. Jackson: "It shows how much class he has” ("The Jump," ESPN, 2/13). CBS Sports Network's Adam Schein said, “This is Dolan’s way of saying, ‘See, I have great relationships with my former players.’ Please spare me. This is pathetic, horrible and another reminder of what was and what is, what always will be with Jim Dolan running this team into the ground” (“Time to Schein,” CBSSN, 2/13). The N.Y. Daily News’ Pat Leonard: "Paranoia and insecurity are always king at the Garden with Dolan, and as low as he can go, he can always go lower. Even though Sprewell was surprising to me, he can always go lower than the guy he’s up against” (“Daily News Live,” SNY, 2/13).
HIS WAY OF SAYING SORRY: ESPN's Marcellus Wiley said Dolan's invitation to Sprewell is his way of "apologizing." Wiley asked, "What is an apology? An acknowledgment of wrong. So what do you do in a public forum like this? You acknowledge you're wrong by bringing in former Knicks to insulate yourself from all the criticism and saying, ‘This was an isolated incident with Charles Oakley. I'm loving my former players and beloved by my former players.’ It couldn't get any worse than what happened with the Oakley situation, but this is a step in the right direction” (“SportsNation,” ESPN, 2/13).
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: TNT’s Charles Barkley last night called the Dolan-Oakley spat the "silliest, most BS thing I've seen" during his 30-plus year career in the NBA. Barkley: "This was a waste of time and energy, and it's a bad look for the Knicks, for Charles Oakley and for the NBA. I can't believe we're wasting all of our time on this crap. ... How bad is (the) NBA that we spend all of our time talking about stuff that’s unimportant? We can't even just talk about basketball anymore?” ("NBA Tip-Off," TNT, 2/13).
