Jim Dolan’s ‘Real Sports’ Embarrassment Is Proof He’ll Never Change

By Steve Conoscenti | Oct 21, 2015

Mar 18, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan in attendance at a press conference to introduce New York Knicks new president of basketball of operations Phil Jackson (not pictured) at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports /

One step forward, two steps back.

That seems to be the running theme for James Dolan.

Hire Phil Jackson, one of the most respected basketball minds in the history of the sport, to run your franchise while you take a back seat: one step forward. Require that he keep the medical staff because you just can’t seem to relinquish full control, which leads to media mayhem: two steps back.

Let Phil Jackson do his job without really having a public presence whatsoever, at least giving off the illusion you’ve come to terms with the fact you have to let go: one step forward. Hire Isiah Thomas, the man who made your franchise a laughing stock and cost you millions in a sexual harassment lawsuit: two steps back.

Isiah Thomas, in his new role as team president of the New York Liberty, wheels and deals, the Liberty thrive in 2015, making it to the Eastern Conference Finals after three straight sub-.500 years: one step forward. Dolan and Isiah appear on HBO’s Real Sports: two, maybe three or four steps back.

It just seems like James Dolan will never get it. I think we all knew that to be the case, but last night solidified that thought. This was Dolan’s chance to revel a bit. Or maybe just, you know, stay quiet and enjoy it all. His Knicks had a solid offseason, his Liberty had a run to the Conference Finals, his buddy Isiah Thomas was even drawing praise.

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That’s just now how he rolls.

Dolan thinks with his pockets. During his Real Sports interview, he more or less admits the Liberty are a money pit. He even says at one point he wanted to “hand the keys” back to the WNBA and say I’m not doing this anymore. By all accounts, the Liberty as a franchise came off as a burden, a second thought… an embarrassment.

The true embarrassment lies with Dolan though. If he felt the need to say anything, he should have used this as an opportunity to boost the stock of the Liberty. Congratulate a group of women that put WNBA basketball somewhat on the map in New York City of all places. Instill confidence, send positive vibes, convince the public that this is a product worth their time and money.

Instead, we saw 20 minutes of bloopers, follies and slip-ups. We saw Dolan and Isiah cracking smiles and laughing while talking about a sexual harassment case. They both deny any wrongdoing, as Dolan grins while claiming Anucha Browne Sanders made up most of what she said. Nevermind the fact a jury disagreed.

We saw Dolan struggle to explain his relationship with a man that most people would cut ties with. His answer? “Isiah’s a guy who doesn’t believe in his limitations, and I’m a guy who doesn’t believe in his limitations.”

Oh you don’t believe in your limitations Jim? We hadn’t noticed!

When asked by Gumble why he turned to Isiah Thomas, Dolan said he didn’t think he could find anyone better for the job.

“Isiah’s a guy who doesn’t believe in his limitations, and I’m a guy who doesn’t believe in his limitations.”

Excuse me? You couldn’t find someone better than the man who runs everything he touches into the ground? You couldn’t find someone to run a team of women than a guy who cost you $11 million because he harassed a woman in the workplace you created? That’s not as much dumb as it is flat out alarming.

Even more alarming, but not really all that surprising was Dolan’s reasoning of getting the Liberty some attention. Oh, they got it. For all the wrong reasons. Not to mention, we’re not that far removed from their Eastern Conference Finals appearance and it was barely mentioned in a story surrounding the Liberty.

Dolan craves attention. He cares about his image almost as much as he does his bank account. For a man that cares so much about his image, he does a lot to ruin it.

How does he not see reality? Why does he ignore reality? When will he get a dose of it?

If the past dictates the future: never.

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