Rose has not been deterred by James Dolan's contributions to his political opponentGETTY IMAGES
U.S. Rep. MAX ROSE (D-N.Y.), the target of recent political giving by Knicks Owner JAMES DOLAN, has "come to share a certain bond" with former NBAer CHARLES OAKLEY -- they have both "faced the wrath" of Dolan, according to Mike Vorkunov of THE ATHLETIC. Dolan last month donated $50,000 through MSG Sports to a political action committee devoted to electing N.Y. House Republicans, namely to help GOP Congressional candidate NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS beat the incumbent Rose, whom Dolan has accused of "politicizing the Knicks." Rose responded, "I’m not going to let Jim Dolan bully me. I’ve got swamp creatures in D.C. coming after me. I’m not worried about this guy. Come at me, bro. Come at me. But you’re going to lose. Which is, by the way, something that he’s very much accustomed to." Rose added, "He’s a loser. He’s got to shut up and sell the team.” Dolan has suggested that the donation was a "sign that he would increase his political giving in the future." Former presidential candidate ANDREW YANG said that he "feels that even if Dolan did intend to use his political spending as a way to silence critics, it may not work." Instead, Yang believes that it "will only embolden Rose’s supporters and help him gain new ones." Yang said, “I would love to get into a public battle with James Dolan" (THEATHLETIC.com, 10/6).
