Knicks Owner Tells Fan “Start Rooting for the Nets Because The Knicks Don’t Want You”

The NY Knicks have been disappointing their fans all season and now, thanks to owner James Dolan, the team might have lost one more fan. Dolan received an email from 73-year-old Irving Bierman, who is a self proclaimed Knicks fan since 1952. In the email, Bierman expressed his concerns about the team’s current state under Dolan’s management and asked that he sell the team for the sake of the fans:

“At one stage I thought that you did a wonderful thing when you acquired EVERYTHING from you dad. However, since then it has been ALL DOWN HILL. Your working with Isaiah Thomas & everything else regarding the Knicks. Brnging on Phil Jackson was a positive beginning, but lowballing Steve Kerr was a DISGRACE to the knicks. The bottom line is that you merely continued to interfere with the franchise.

As a knicks fan for in excess of 60 years, I am utterly embarased by your dealings with the Knicks. Sell them so their fans can at least look forward to growing them in a positive direction Obviously, money IS NOT THE ONLY THING. You have done a lot of utterly STUPID business things with the franchise. Please NO MORE.

Respectfully, Irving Bierman”

Considering that Dolan came in as the owner in 1999 and the Knicks have only won one playoff series in the past 14 years, I’d say Mr. Bierman has a good basis for his argument. Well, Dolan obviously did not feel the same way and took a lot of offense to what Bierman wrote. In his response, Dolan, who is known for having a bad temper, lashed out at the fan, calling him an alcoholic and telling him to “start rooting for the Nets because the Knicks don’t want you”. 

“Why would anybody write such a hateful letter. I am just guessing but ill bet your life is a mess and you are a hateful mess. What have you done that anyone would consider positive or nice. I am betting nothing. In fact ill bet you are negative force in everyone who comes in contact with you. You most likely have made your family miserable. Alcoholic maybe. I just celebrated my 21 year anniversary of sobriety. You should try it. Maybe it will help you become a person that folks would like to have around. In the mean while start rooting for the Nets because the Knicks dont want you.

Respectfully James Dolan”

A little harsh, don’t you think? Over the past year, we’ve seen the likes of former L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling and former Atlanta Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson lose their jobs over inappropriate and reckless comments. While what Dolan said was nowhere near as offensive as what Donald Sterling or Bruce Levenson said, that is still no way to talk to a fan. Luckily, Mr. Bierman is true and loyal to his beloved Knicks and it’s going to take a little more than James Dolan trying to send him off to Barclays Center to keep him from rooting for his team. 

Source: Deadspin