Menu
Franchises

What They're Saying: Jackson Appears Ready To Go, But A Long Road Remains

Phil Jackson yesterday "sounded very committed" to his new role as Knicks President, and observers "could tell he's not taking this job half-heartedly," according to Chris Broussard of ESPN. Jackson "understands that here in New York, you can't come into this thing half-stepping." Broussard: "You need to come in full force, and he said he's going to love it in New York" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/18). ESPN's Freddie Coleman said despite the fact Jackson "said all the right things" during yesterday's press conference, it is still going to be a "long, hard road to make the Knicks a contender." ESPN's Jemele Hill: "This is going to be quite a learning experience for him" ("Numbers Never Lie," ESPN2, 3/18). ESPN’s Marc Stein said Knicks fans "have to hope this is the guy that is finally going to get Jim Dolan to back off and let the basketball people make the basketball decisions." Jackson has been associated with the Lakers since taking over as the team's coach in '99, but he could not "get this job with the Lakers." Stein: "I think that is what he really wanted. The Knicks were that only team on the Lakers' level. He wants to prove to people that he can build a team” (“NBA Tonight,” ESPN2, 3/19). TNT's Kenny Smith said the key to Jackson's success with the Knicks will be his "accessibility." He needs to be accessible to the players and allow coaches "to pick his brain." Smith: "That's going to be valuable, and if Phil Jackson elects not to be as accessible, I don’t know if it helps. I think it more hinders than anything else" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/18).

RAY OF LIGHT IN A DARK SEASON: FS1's Peter Schrager said there are "high expectations for the Knicks" with Jackson on board. There also are "lots of questions about what Phil Jackson will bring to this franchise." Schrager noted "only time will tell" how Dolan's pledge to cede control to Jackson will actually play out. But in the meantime, there is "some optimism" around the Knicks ("Fox Sports Live," FS1, 3/18). SNY’s Adam Schein said he remains a "skeptic" as to whether Jackson can succeed, yesterday was an "energizing day for the Knicks and for the Knicks fans." Schein: "Phil Jackson, in my opinion, won the press conference” ("Loud Mouths," SNY, 3/18). FS1’s Katie Nolan said, “At least fans see that they have moved someone in. They hear Phil Jackson’s name and that brings hope to an organization that had no hope. That’s probably why they are selling a Phil Jackson jersey at the NBA store" (“Crowd Goes Wild,” FS1, 3/18). The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan said the Knicks hiring Jackson is "simply a desperation move to mollify the masses because everything else has failed." But he added, "It's a very important day to give temporary hope to their fans that Phil will figure out a way to do what hasn't been done there in 41 years" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 3/18).

CREATING A CULTURE: Jackson yesterday was asked several times about the status of coach Mike Woodson and whether he would prefer if the triangle offense is run, but NBA TV's Ron Thompson said what is "far more important is the culture that he builds and creates with that organization." Thompson: "If you have that in place, the offense will be successful if you have a coach that is conducive to winning and hiring the right people to run the organization." He added, "That's where I think Phil’s value is, because of the way he thinks. What offense they run I think that's secondary. You've got to start to build a championship culture, and that's more importantly why they brought Phil Jackson there" ("NBA Gametime," NBA TV, 3/18). ESPN's J.A. Adande said, "You haven't heard him talk about his management philosophy, and that's what's going to be his greatest responsibility now, implementing a management style, a leadership from the front office" ("Outside The Lines," ESPN, 3/18). But the N.Y. Daily News' Bruce Murray said, "There's an assumption that he will turn things around. Let's operate under the fact that it may not happen. We've never seen him in this role" ("Daily News Live," SNY, 3/18).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/03/19/Franchises/Knicks-reax.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/03/19/Franchises/Knicks-reax.aspx

CLOSE