Franchise Notes
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Writers Already Beginning To Criticize Knicks
For Management, Coaching Decisions |
In N.Y., Mitch Lawrence wrote Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh was "expected to restore respectability and bring back a sense of decorum and professionalism to the NBA's joke franchise." However, Walsh has invited "more lunacy than ever," and has generated "enough negative press coverage to last a season," by keeping Knicks G Stephon Marbury on the team. Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni "curse[d] out the fans and royally diss[ed] Marbury by failing to tell him he's been demoted to 12th man." Walsh "saw that he's got a coach with a bad case of loose lips and he unwittingly allowed the clowns and elephants to hang around in" MSG (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/2). In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote it is "comforting to know that right out of the gate the new braintrust is capable of producing the kind of soap opera guaranteed to keep the media interested in a losing team" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/2).
WHO'S IN CHARGE? In S.F., Janny Hu wrote by declining the option on G Marcus Williams' contract, the Warriors have "exposed another rift in their front office." League sources said that the call to decline Williams' option "was not made" by Warriors Exec VP/Basketball Operations Chris Mullin, and it is "unlikely that the Warriors will recoup anything from their investment in Williams, which cost them a protected first-round pick." Williams' agent, Bill Duffy, "characterized Friday's non-move by the Warriors as 'disheartening.'" Duffy: "I don't know who's making the decisions there, but I don't think this is coming from Chris Mullin" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/1).
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Kelly (r) Putting Together Group
To Buy Bills From Wilson |
BUFFALO JIM: With reports that Bills Owner Ralph Wilson may be looking to sell the team, SI's Peter King reported that Pro Football HOFer Jim Kelly is "putting a group together and is going to try to buy the Bills." King, on Kelly, "He said his long-term goal -- ‘My life’s goal right now is to keep this team in Western New York forever and make sure that it never goes to L.A. or some other outpost’” (“Football Night In America,” NBC, 11/2).
NOTES: In N.Y., Douglas Feiden reported a review of Bankruptcy Court records shows how Lehman Brothers "racked up thousands of unpaid bills, stiffing hundreds of businesses." Records filed in September show Lehman owed $360,000 to the NFL Giants, $177,021 to the Red Sox and $88,560 to the White Sox. The White Sox said that the money was "plunked down for multiple season tickets," while the Giants and Red Sox "wouldn't discuss the matter" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/2)....An MLB source indicated that the Blue Jays are "trying to find a permanent person" to be the team's CEO & President and are "interviewing two fairly well-known baseball people with experience in other markets." Paul Beeston was named the club's interim CEO last month (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/2).
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