Menu
Franchises

Knicks Criticized By NBA Media Roundtable Participants For Being Oppressive, Paranoid

SI.com’s Richard Deitsch recently conducted a roundtable discussion with NBA media members, and several participants had critical comments about the Knicks. Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck named the Knicks the “toughest team to deal with.” He said, “They restrict access more than any other team, monitor every interview, prohibit team officials from speaking to reporters, and generally do everything possible to make our jobs as difficult as possible. It's company policy.” Beck: “The Garden just has the most oppressive and authoritarian culture in the league. It loosened up a bit during the Donnie Walsh era, but the Knicks slid right back into their old ways after Walsh resigned.” The Washington Post’s Michael Lee said of the Knicks, “They create an unnecessary wall between the media and their players that creates a combative environment. I've had relationships with players before they joined the Knicks and they get guarded once they don the blue and orange. But once they're gone, it's back to normal.” The N.Y. Daily News’ Frank Isola noted when TNT announcer Marv Albert recently said that no one at MSG is happy, he was “not exaggerating.” Isola: “It can be a joyless place run by humorless individuals. The Knicks try to make life miserable for the media in every way possible. The culture they've created in the locker room is one of fear, paranoia, and distrust. It's not the (only) reason why the Knicks have been a joke of a franchise for nearly 15 years but it is a reason.” He added, “The Knicks are committed to keeping the media from the players for fear that the two sides will form a professional working relationship. ... But the organization creates a hostile environment and will only deal with those in the media who are willing to trade in their objectivity for access” (SI.com, 5/25).

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/2014/05/28/Franchises/Knicks.aspx

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

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/05/28/Franchises/Knicks.aspx

CLOSE