Former Knick Charles Oakley arrested after fighting, getting tossed out of Madison Square Garden

On Wednesday night, Charles Oakley showed everyone the same bruising style that he displayed for decades on the basketball court while the New York Knicks met the Los Angeles Clippers — only this time the retired NBA star did it in street clothes and in the stands at Madison Square Garden.

The former New York Knick forward, known for his physical type of play that made him an all-star and helped the Knicks reach the NBA Finals in 1994, adding another bizarre chapter to what has already been an ugly Knicks season after getting physically removed from his MSG seats and arrested — reportedly on the orders of Knicks owner James Dolan.

Soooooo Charles Oakley just got into a fight at he Knicks game. pic.twitter.com/klZBD89VI7

— Ian Schafer (@ischafer) February 9, 2017

Moments after being arrested and released from Midtown South police station at around midnight, Oakley said that the Garden security asked him to leave because Dolan, who was seated just a few feet away, did not want him there.

“I was there for four minutes,” Oakley said late Wednesday night. “I didn’t say anything to him. I swear on my mother. They came over and wanted to know why I was sitting there. I bought the ticket. I said why do you guys keep staring at me. Then they asked me to leave. And I said I’m not leaving”

Sources at the Garden and NYPD dispute Oakley’s account of the altercation, saying the scuffle was provoked by the former Knick yelling at his longtime nemesis Dolan.

Oakley was asked by several members of Garden security to leave, and then was seen shoving the phalanx of security guards and appeared to take a swipe at one. He even handed his watch to someone seated next to him before being escorted out. 

The white-haired Oakley was charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault by the NYPD, including criminal trespass. A source said that Oakley declined legal representation because he was only hit with a desk appearance ticket. He was released from the Midtown South precinct at around midnight by police and snuck out the back door and into a black SUV, avoiding the waiting press outside.

Still a fan favorite, Oakley has a contentious history with Dolan and has been excluded from invitations and tributes reserved for former players. Oakley claims the owner doesn't like his outspoken criticism of the team and that the team’s slogan — “Once a Knick, Always a Knick” — hasn’t applied to the former All-Star under Dolan's reign.

The Knicks probably could have used old Oak out on the floor. They lost again, 119-115.

'Fire John Idzik' creators start 'Knicks4Sale' site

The fed up Jets fans who brought you FireJohnIdzik.com have set their sights on a new scourge: Knicks owner James Dolan.

Four New Jersey residents, including Jason Koeppel and his brother Jared, have launched Knicks4Sale.com, which says, "Hey Dolan: Sell the Knicks ... buy the Nets!" on the top of the front page. It was inspired by the nasty email Dolan wrote in response to a letter from a longtime fan and calls for donations to put up a billboard right outside Madison Square Garden.

The campaign begins.... #DolanOut #savetheknicks
— knicks4sale (@knicks4sale) February 10, 2015

Jason told ESPNNewYork's Mike Mazzeo about the letter that made them create the site:

"It was the 'Idzik news conference moment.' That's what we called it — when we decided that management and ownership had gone too far and it was time for the fans to do something. This email that he had the nerve to send to one of his fans was the moment. We talked last night — the four of us — and just said, you know what, we've had enough and we've gotta do something."

Their goal is to raise $20,000 in the remaining 59 days left in the campaign. They've already raised over $200 as of Tuesday morning.

Can't wait to see the tiny banners droning around The Garden.

J.R. Smith posts farewell message to Knicks (PHOTO)

J.R. Smith was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, after four mostly tumultuous seasons with the franchise he calls his hometown team — the New York Knicks.

Smith, who was a standout high school player in New Jersey, loved playing for the team he fondly remembers growing up in Central Jersey — making this trade just a bit harder for him.

On Tuesday, Smith said farewell to the Knicks and his New York fans with an Instagram post:

I want to thank Mr. Dolan and the Knicks organization for giving me the opportunity to play for such a… http://t.co/y9xNUyeraI
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) January 6, 2015

"I want to thank Mr. Dolan and the Knicks organization for giving me the opportunity to play for such a storied franchise over the past few seasons. I want to thank my teammates for their support and guidance. Most importantly, I want thank the fans of New York who are some of the most passionate basketball fans in the world. Playing in my hometown has been incredibly special and I will be forever grateful for having had the chance to wear a Knicks uniform.

"Though I look forward to starting a new chapter in Cleveland to join some of the best talent in the game in the quest for an NBA Championship, this great experience in New York will always stay with me. 

"Thank you again, fans. Your support means the world."

Going from a floundering franchise to a playoff contender might help ease the pain.

Smith's first trip back to Madison Square Garden with Cavaliers will be on Feb. 22.

James Dolan: Phil Jackson 'taught me basketball in two hours' (VIDEO)

James Dolan just revealed something that New York Knicks fans have suspected all along — the team owner didn't understand the game of basketball.

At least until spending a couple of hours with Phil Jackson— the new Knicks president.

The Knicks owner confessed in a pair of candid live television interviews during the second quarter of Wednesday night's Pacers-Knicks game that Jackson initially won him over during an impromptu basketball lesson at a mutual friend's house in December.

"He taught me basketball in two hours," Dolan told MSG's Al Trautwig.

When asked what he learned during that time with the zen master, Dolan added, "That I don't know basketball." 

The normally camera-shy Dolan later spoke to ESPN's Lisa Salters from his seat and also recalled that initial meeting.

"The way he explained the game to me, I'd never actually had anybody teach me it that way," he said. "He clearly has a level of intelligence and skill in the game that I hadn't seen before, and obviously his reputation preceded him."

Dolan also told Salters the season has been "a huge surprise, a disappointment for everybody," but added of a possible playoff berth, "We're certainly playing well enough to do so, but we've got to get some breaks along the way."

Asked about Carmelo Anthony, Dolan said, "The most important thing to him is to win a championship, so our job with him to convince him to stay is to convince him that he has a great shot of doing that. Bringing on Phil certainly helps."

Here's the ESPN interview:

Pete Carroll tweets premature jubilation over Phil Jackson's return to NBA

On Tuesday, Pete Carroll seemed to be the first person to break the story about Phil Jackson's return to the NBA. One problem. The Seattle coach's excited tweet was just a little premature.

Unless Carroll was sitting in on the talks between Knicks owner James Dolan and 11-time NBA Championship coach, that's all it was — talk.

Although The New York Post reported Jackson gave the Knicks a verbal commitment on Saturday, the team still will not comment on Jackson's status.

Congrats to Phil Jackson on his new role with the Knicks! It's good to have him back in the NBA!
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) March 11, 2014

But, to Carroll's credit, it looks like a done deal.

Teenager arrested for posting threatening tweets to Knicks owner James Dolan: Report

One disturbed fan from Staten Island just might be taking the New York Knicks disastrous season a little too personally— or maybe the recent hike in his cable bill.

Johnny Giamella — a 19-year-old son of a New York City cop — threatened the life of James Dolan, the owner of Madison Square Garden, the Knicks, the Rangers and cable TV giant Cablevision in several posts to his Twitter account, reported  the New York Daily News.

“James Dolan, it’s officially time to die,” Giamella allegedly tweeted. That was followed by the tweet, “Death to James Dolan,” police said.

Giamella also posted  pictures of himself holding a gun to the camera and a sharp metal object to his neck.

And in a bizarre photo, a naked Giamella is seen holding a gun over his penis, according to a criminal complaint.

Reached at the family’s home, Giamella’s mother declined to comment.

Dolan’s security chief noticed the alarming postings and reported them to police, the complaint says.

Giamella was charged harassment.

Mike Woodson on hot seat; Jeff Van Gundy on back burner: Report

Mike Woodson's tenure with the New York Knicks may all boil down to Thursday's game against the Brooklyn Nets — if you believe the rumors coming coming out of Madison Square Garden.

While Woodson will coach the Knicks on Thursday, it is unclear how much longer owner James Dolan will allow his team's nine-game losing streak to go on. Dolan is obsessed with the cross-borough Brooklyn franchise and a bad loss against his rival could trigger changes — whether via trade or a coaching move, reports the N.Y. Post.

The Post reports that if Dolan eventually makes a move, ex-Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy would not be ruled out as a future candidate — though such a hire seems more sensible in the offseason if Dolan goes with an interim coach.

The Knicks are a mess, with Woodson even acknowledging after Sunday’s loss to the Pelicans his team is playing scared late in tight games. Carmelo Anthony said the team is fighting confidence and “mentality’’ issues, and fixing that often falls on the coach. Anthony has hinted at a fracturing locker room, and there have been an inordinate number of blowups on the bench.

Dolan might have already set the table for Woodson's release.

The owner sat down with The Post’s Mike Vaccaro on Nov. 19 before the Knicks played in Detroit and voiced his support for Woodson, but the Knicks have lost seven straight games since.

“I have a lot of confidence in Woodson, and one thing I can say about Mike is he has the respect of all the players,’’ said Dolan in that interview. “They all respect him. And he treats them fairly and relatively equally, and that’s part of where the respect emanates from. And those are hard things to get from a coach. When a coach loses a team, that’s when a coach is kind of done.’’

Van Gundy likely would be interested in the Knicks position. In late June, Van Gundy admitted he regrets quitting on Dolan — remarks that appeared to sit well with Dolan and may have served as a peace offering.

On ESPN Radio, Van Gundy called it “a stupid decision’’ to quit.

“It’s something I regret to this day,’’ the popular Van Gundy said. “I live with it every day and I regret it. And I let my emotions come into it. And I was just emotionally spent. I made a bad decision and I quit….I had a great job with the Knicks.’’

Van Gundy last coached the Rockets in 2006-07.

Expect a bare-knuckles battle inside Brooklyn's Barclays Center Thursday night. And maybe a little bloodshed after the game.

Young fan and Palace usher in EPIC dance-off during Pistons-Knicks game (VIDEO)

The New York Knicks played the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills last week and, as it has been most of the season with the Knicks, the real story is about the dance.

New York may have benched the Knicks City Dancers, but James Dolan might want to rescind his "Footloose" edict and take a cue from these dancing Detroiters.

This young fan with mad moves got into an impromptu dance-off with a Palace usher and it was captured on the arena "Dance-Cam" in all its glory. Even if you aren't big on these fan participation camera shots, you'll love this showdown between the gleeful kid and The Rock lookalike.

The Pistons waltzed to an 92-86 victory.

James Dolan doesn't want Knicks City Dancers to dance: Report

James Dolan is unhappy about the New York Knicks poor start, and is apparently taking it out on the Knicks City Dancers.

The Knicks owner was “ready to erupt” during Sunday’s lopsided loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to the New York Daily News. After his team lapsed into a 23 point second quarter deficit, he reportedly went stomping across the new Madison Square Garden Chase Bridge looking for his new general manager Steve Mills.

After finding Mills in a suite, Dolan laid down the law for the game-day entertainment, by ordering the team’s dancers to stop dancing.

Dolan reportedly told Mills to reduce the dancers' role to mainly tossing T-shirts into the crowd.

“Why? No one seems to know, except the standard answer is usually ‘that’s Dolan,’” the Daily News’ Frank Isola wrote about the owner's Footloose edict.

Dolan reportedly told coaches and executives before this season that he expects nothing short of an NBA title in 2013-14. New York is off to a 1-2 start and apparently Dolan's new hands-on approach to reach that goal begins by becoming Reverend Shaw Moore? According the News, the 13 season-old troupe performed only one routine on Sunday.

“There’s no need to panic,” Carmelo Anthony said on Monday. “It’s three games into the season. We’re still trying to figure a lot of things out.”

Try figuring out Dolan first.

Knicks, Rangers owner solicits donations from staff for NYC mayoral candidate: Report

New York City mayoral candidate Joe Lhota may be an underdog in the polls (some pollsters are already making the Rocky comparisons), but it's not for a lack of financial support from his former employer at Madison Square Garden.

Sources told the N.Y. Post that MSG/Cablevision head honcho Jim Dolan sent e-mails to his top staffers, asking them to donate $2,500 each to support their former colleague Lhota’s campaign. The Republican candidate was once an executive vice president of Cablevision for five years and, in 2010, he was appointed chief administrative officer at Madison Square Garden.

Though Dolan — no stranger to long-shots himself — sent the e-mail to employees back in March, some were still chuckling about the political solicitation, particularly as Lhota trails about 40 points behind Democratic opponent Bill de Blasio in the polls.

Another source minimized Dolan’s request, telling the Post: “I assume some people did donate, but it was a small thing.”

But remember, Dolan is the same owner who fired an MSG security guard who refused Dolan entry to a VIP suite last year when she didn't recognize her boss. So there has to be some trepidation within the ranks.

However, reports say employees of Cablevision, including those solicited by Dolan, have raised a healthy $94,000 for Lhota’s campaign.

Dumping money into a losing cause sounds about right for ol' Jimmy. 

A rep for MSG declined to comment.

Patrick Ewing 'disappointed' he's still not a head coach yet

Patrick Ewing could only watch as Jason Kidd gained a head coaching position only nine days removed from retiring from the NBA while Ewing, another former NBA great— and after a decade of bouncing around the league in various coaching and broadcast positions after calling it a career— was the bridesmaid once again.

Ewing was named this week as an associate coach with the Charlotte Bobcats to assist new head coach, Steve Clifford — despite his close relationship with team owner Michael Jordan.  Ewing said he still "disappointed" he has never become a head coach but claims he holds no grudges.

“I’m disappointed,’’ Ewing said on WFAN’s “Boomer & Carton” show of not getting a head-coaching opportunity yet. “Naturally everybody who does this thing, the goal is to be a head coach. I felt I’ve paid my dues, worked hard, studied hard with the goal of trying to become a head coach.

“I’m disappointed it hasn’t happened yet. All I can do is keep on working and keep on hoping someone one day will have faith in me like the way they have faith in Jason that they can get the job done. In terms of Jason, I’m very happy for him. They believe he can get it done and [I]wish him luck.’’

Ewing has even patched up any differences that may have existed with the Knicks organization which may have been leftover from him demanding a trade after the 1999-2000 season.  He has worked a few Knicks postseason games for the Madison Square Garden network, sat next to owner James Dolan at a couple of games and indicated that  he will be back with his former team in some capacity.

“My relationship with the Knicks is fine,’’ Ewing said. “Mr. Dolan has been very good to me. He gave me a great opportunity to do some TV. I cherish the opportunity maybe one day in near future, I’ll be back in the organization. I have no problem with the Knicks. I have no problem with the Dolans and it’s fair to say they have no problems with myself.’’

Ewing wasn't so keen on being tossed a bone and coaching in the D-League.

“I wasn’t offended,’’ Ewing said. “I didn’t want to be a coach in the developmental league. I wanted to be a coach in the NBA. The opportunity wasn’t in my best interest."

For real though I'm mad J Kidd got a head coaching job a year after retiring n my pops been coaching 10 years n barely gets a look
— Patrick Ewing Jr (@pewingjr6) June 13, 2013

As far as his son [Patrick Jr.] tweeting he was “real mad’’ at Kidd’s hire while his father has received just two head-coaching interviews, Ewing said, “I told him he needs to get rid of his Twitter account. All he’s going to do is end up in trouble. I appreciate it. I love him to death, but I don’t need him to fight my battles.’’

Knicks owner James Dolan fires MSG guard for not recognizing him

Madison Square Garden head honcho James Dolan was so offended with a security guard who didn't recognize him outside the exclusive Delta 360 Club inside the arena that he fired her right on the spot, sources told The New York Post

The hotheaded owner of the Knicks cooled his heels overnight— and he rehired the underling the very next day, said the sources.

Dolan, 57, was walking into the private club —open only to season-ticket holders an VIP guests —  during Sunday’s Knick game against the Boston Celtics when security guard Fiordaliza Hernandez asked him for his ID — which he never wears, sources said.

Instead of laughing it off, Dolan snapped, “Do you know who I am?”

The startled security guard admitted she didn’t.

Then Dolan demanded, “How long have you worked here?”

Three years, the guard said.

“I’m your boss! I pay your salary!” Dolan shot back.

Apparently the rules apply for everybody but the rock-star wannabe Cablevision boss but the steadfast Hernandez stood her ground and wouldn't let the ID-less Dolan in, said the sources.

Dolan became so irate he morphed into Donald Trump and yelled, "Give me your ID! You're fired!"

The shaken guard was sent home immediately while Dolan ranted, "I have to get new security in this building! I have idiots working here!" said the witnesses.

After Dolan reconsidered the firing, Hernandez was back on the job at a different post at the Rangers- Winnipeg Jets game.

It's funny because Dolan's blow-up comes on the heels of three season ticket holders waltzing by security into the Knicks locker room without any repercussions, according to The Post.

Hernandez was unavailable for comment while MSG spokesperson Kim Kerns said, "As a company policy, we do not comment on employee matters."

But a source told The Post, "Nobody was fired."

Too bad Hernandez wasn't around when Isaiah Thomas was sniffing around the Garden a few years ago. And where are those eavesdropping devices when you really need them?

Carmelo unaware he was 'miked up' but laughs it off

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony said he was unaware that he was miked up during two games last weekend, on the special orders of owner James Dolan, and claims he doesn't care.

Anthony laughed off the notion that the team had planted two audio technicians with disk-shaped recording devices on both ends of the court to tape his on-court chats with other players.

Dolan reportedly did it to protect his star player from another Kevin Garnett type "he said-she said" incident which led to a one-game suspension for Anthony.

"I don't care about microphones," Anthony told the New York Post after he and his wife, La La, arrived at the team hotel in London for Thursday night's game against the Pistons.  "I wasn't aware of it.  I found out on the plane [trip]."

Anthony wasn't overly concerned about the on-court bugging, but doesn't understand why the team resorted to such tactics.

"I don't think the mikes are going to stop what's goes on out on the court," he said.  "But it was funny when I heard it.  No, I wasn't upset.  Not at all."

The gadgets were secretly used during last Friday's game against the Bulls and Sunday's game against the Hornets after Garnett reportedly got under Anthony's skin by saying his wife "tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios."  Anthony was suspended one game after he waited outside for Garnett and the two men had to be separated.

The third Mike on the court — Knicks head coach Mike Woodson — said he hasn't quizzed Dolan on what his boss was up to.

"That's not my concern," said Woodson.  "It really isn't.  When I step on the floor I'm not thinking about camera guys.  All I'm focused on is the guys running up and down the court. If the cameras are there, they're there.  I don't know anything about it."

The Knicks have declined to comment on their little Spygate and the NBA has said the team did nothing wrong.

Jeremy Lin says going to Houston was 'God's plan'

Jeremy Lin is miles away from the Linsanity that swept New York last season and says he holds no hard feelings towards the Knicks for not matching his $25.1 million offer sheet last July.

In fact, Lin thinks his controversial exit from New York had come from a higher power than the Knicks owner James Dolan, indicating it was "God's plan" for him to go to Houston.

"The biggest thing is I enjoyed playing for the fans," the new Rockets' point guard said after Thursday's practice. "I had a lot of peace about it when it happened.  I know God has a perfect plan. And he's shown that in my life."

The struggling Lin (10.0 ppg, 6.3 assists) will be seeing some of his former Knicks teammates for the first time this season tonight at the Toyota Center since he became an overnight  cultural phenomenon that had both divided and propelled the team in 25 starts last spring.

Hurtful comments by Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith about Lin's contract and play, a season-ending knee injury and the success of the Knicks (8-2) this season have made Lin's departure and the frenzy of Linsanity a long forgotten footnote in New York.

"It didn't shake out the way everybody thought it would, but I'm still very at peace with how everything happened," added Lin.  "I'm in a great situation right now."

After his breakout year and fat new contract, Lin is still adjusting to a new system in Houston.

The Rockets (5-7) — who benched Lin Wednesday night after averaging only seven points in his last five games — hopes he can light a fire under the Rockets like he did with the Knicks last season despite the criticisms.

"I'm fine with whatever anybody says," said Lin. "It's all fair game."

Mikhail Prokhorov gets his own comic-book

Mikhail Prokhorov has shown the world the extent of his super-human talents.  From turning the fall of the U.S.S.R. into capitalist gold and moving a whole basketball franchise from New Jersey to Brooklyn in a single bound, the obscenely wealthy playboy  is worthy of some kind of Tony Stark-type notoriety.

Now, you can add comic-book star to the Brooklyn Nets owner's list of accomplishments because the publisher of Bluewater Productions has released a comic-book about the life and times of the Russian tycoon.

"Orbit: Mikhail Prokhorov" will tell the saga of Prokhorov's rise from a metal-mining entrepreneur to one of the world's wealthiest people in the world — covering all the details of his life including sports team owner, ascending force in Russian politics and, hopefully for fanboys, exploits from his parties with top fashion models.

Kids may scared off by the cover of the Prokhorov comic which makes it looks more like a homework assignment rather than a short escape from reality.

Darren Davis, the publisher of the $3.99 Prokhorov comic said he got the idea for the comic-book when he saw Prokhorov on "60 Minutes" a couple of years ago.

Prokhorov is the latest in a long line of celebrities, politicians and businessmen the independent production studio has profiled in comic-book form.  Hillary Clinton, 50 Cent, Steve Jobs and Justin Bieber are just a few of the famous names that have been featured.

"I just think his life story is a comic book," said Davis.  "He is sort of like the Russian Bruce Wayne."

If the Barclays Center is his Batcave, then Jay-Z must be Robin.

Superpowers or not, Prokhorov, who saw into the future and predicted an NBA title for his Nets in five years, will first have to do battle with his arch-rival Little Man (James Dolan) and his army of minions — the Knicks.

Nets owner Prokhorov calls Knicks owner Dolan 'that little man'

The Brooklyn Nets might have lost out on the Dwight Howard sweepstakes but another big man is making noise on the team— and it ain't Brook Lopez.

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov already moved the team across the the Hudson and East Rivers into the the city that the New York Knicks once called their own.  Now the Russian billionaire has gone out of his way to take a shot at Knicks owner James Dolan by referring to his shorter counterpart as "that little man" in a New York Magazine article.

The 6-foot-8 Nets owner reportedly stands a full 14 inches over the diminutive 5-foot-6 Dolan.

"Prokhorov told me back in November that he plans on attending a quarter of the regular-season games and 'all the playoff ones,'" the article's writer, Will Leitch, wrote.  "He also made sure I heard him call Dolan 'that little man.'"

What Prokhorov doesn't lack in height, he seems to lose in tact.  He has already warned the Knicks that once the Nets are ensconced inside their new $1 billion Barclays Center, Knicks fans would be coming over to Brooklyn in droves and at his introductory press conference, he predicted the Nets would have an NBA championship in five years.  That was three years and a 58-172 record ago.

In 2010, he had a huge billboard— featuring Prokhorov and minority-owner Jay-Z— painted with a bird's-eye view of Madison Square Garden.  Over the pair were the words, "The Blueprint for Greatness."

Jay-Z has been the most visible Nets owner— doing everything from designing the team's logo and uniforms to choosing the music which will be played during games— but it is Prokhorov who is pulling the Knicks' tail.

The teams open their seasons on Nov. 1 when they will meet at the Barclays Center.  Let another New York rivalry begin.

Isiah Thomas dines with Knicks coach Woodson

New York Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson was spotted having dinner with Isiah Thomas Tuesday night just hours after Glen Grunwald got promoted as the permanent executive VP/GM sources told The New York Post.

Woodson, Grunwald and Thomas were seen dining at Serafina, a popular Westchester County Italian restaurant.

Before anyone gets the idea there was more than a pot of Puttanesca being stirred up, realize the three men played together on the University of Indiana basketball team and have been friends since then.

Thomas was recently fired as head coach at Florida International and is job hunting.  He has lobbied hard with Knicks owner James Dolan to get reinstated in the organization in some capacity.

Maybe that smell was just the garlic simmering.

According to the Post, Woodson and Thomas were there with their wives and could be seen enjoying the meal and some wine.  Thomas has a home in nearby Purchase and has been residing there since getting the heave-ho in Florida.

While Woodson and Thomas go back a long time, there was speculation that Thomas might have some insight into the Miami Heat because he worked in Miami for three years at FIU— as ridiculous as that logic sounds.

"I'm not commenting on that," Woodson said of the dinner. "I'm entitled to eat with whomever I want to eat with."

The Post reported Dolan keeps a friendship with Thomas but is not inclined to hire him back in an official  capacity.  Thomas, Grunwald and Woodson met for dinner in late January before a Heat game with other Knicks staffers— but before old Thomas was canned.

After that dinner, Woodson told The Post, "You're talking about 30 years of friendships there.  Isiah had an off day from his team.  We had to go get dinner.  It was nice."

What the fans are talking about are 40 years without a championship here.

FIU fires Isiah Thomas; Knicks fans on alert

Florida International has fired men's basketball coach Isiah Thomas, after the Hall of Fame  player went 26-65 in three seasons.

Thomas took over at FIU in a surprising move,  one that gave the former New York Knicks coach and president a chance to restore his reputation after his disastrous turn in New York.

New York fans are now wondering if Thomas— Knicks owner James Dolan's favorite accessory— could make a return engagement and continue the series of blunders he left behind in Madison Square Garden.

Under Thomas, FIU never won more than 11 games in a season— after signing an unusual five-year deal which paid nothing in base salary in his first season and agreeing to give nearly half of any gross revenues from ticket sales, commissions collected on food and beverage concessions and sponsorships to the former NBA star.

Mark Jackson On Long List To Replace Walsh As Knicks GM

Mark Jackson, the former NBA point guard and current analyst for ESPN and ABC, is having his name bandied about once again for the position of general manager of an NBA franchise.  This time, New York's favorite son, Jackson was on the list of GM candidates to assume control of the New York Knicks for departing team President and GM Donnie Walsh.  According to reports, Walsh submitted Jackson's name to owner James Dolan a month and a half ago.

Since 2007, Jackson's name pops up every time there is an opening in an NBA front office or head coaching position and he has still yet to take one of the jobs.  The New York-bred Jackson would be a lot more welcome at Madison Square Garden than Knicks boomerang Isiah Thomas.  Thomas' shadow is always lurking behind Dolan.

Jackson's name has already been tossed around this year for GM positions with the Minnesota Timberwolves and he is considered a finalist for the Golden State Warriors head-coaching job.

The former Knicks guard had been mentioned as a candidate for the Memphis Grizzlies GM post in 2007 and the Atlanta Hawks last season and has yet to leave the broadcast booth.

The question that is louder than an NCAA women's softball game is why is Jackson in such high demand?

There is no question about Jackson's NBA pedigree.  He was the 18th pick coming out of St. John's and was Rookie-of-the-Year with the Knicks in 1987.  In his 17-year career, Jackson acquired the third highest career assists total and was known as a tremendous leader on the floor.  He even led the sickly Los Angeles Clippers to the playoffs...twice! 

The 46 year-old Jackson has the court savvy and intellect only an all-time NBA player could gather and has become one of the finest analysts on television--in any sport.  The problem, naysayers always bring up, is Jackson's lack any front office or coaching experience whatsoever.

Knicks Introduce 'Melo; Dolan: Isiah Participation "Fiction in some one's mind"

At 5:22 p.m. tonight, Carmelo Anthony was introduced to fans as a New York Knick for the first time.  The former-Denver Nugget stood alongside another former-Nugget, and new Knicks point guard, Chauncey Billups at a press conference at Madison Square Garden.

Anthony and Billups wore Knick warm up sweats and were introduced by Knicks owner James Dolan, who reiterated his statement that he, Knicks' head coach Mike D'Antoni and Knicks' president Donnie Walsh all worked in unison to land the 26 year-old superstar.

Dolan repeated what he said earlier that Isiah Thomas--who is in his second season as coach of Florida International University's men's basketball team-- had nothing to do with the Knicks getting Carmelo Anthony.  "It is untrue and fiction in some one's mind," stressed Dolan.

Last week Dolan, miffed by reports of Thomas' involvement in the dealing, said,"I'm assuming Isiah is getting ready for the NCAA Tournament.  That's what I'm assuming."

The low-key press conference was slowed by a group photo-op with Anthony, Billups, Dolan, D'Antoni and Walsh before it was crashed by Knicks' star player Amar'e Stoudemire.

The Knicks own version of the Big 3 stood together in public as New York Knicks for the first time as Stoudemire smiled for photos alongside Anthony and Billups.

It's Legends Night at the Garden tonight, but most eyes will be on the new #7 as Anthony makes his debut.  Tickets are going for up to five times face value.

Anthony said he was happy to be back home. "New York needed a moment like this," he said.  "New York basketball is back."

The former Red Hook schoolboy continued by saying, "At the end of the day I'm going in the right direction."  It's a dream come true and I'm ready to rock."

"This was about sitting down with my family and deciding New York was the place to bring my talent," he said.

Dolan said Walsh did a good job of making the trade with the Nuggets and made it sound like his job as president was secure.  "We wanted to wait until the trade deadline before talking about his [Walsh] contract which ends in JUNE!"  Emphasis on June was Dolan's.

Tonight, the new Knicks' Big 3 heads onto the Garden floor for the first time as teammates in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

There have been too few big moments at Madison Square Garden in recent years.  First, it was Stoudemire, now comes 'Melo.

For once, it's one big happy family at the corner of 33rd and Seventh Avenue.