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James Dolan Seems to Think the Knicks Have Fans to Spare

James Dolan. Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

You don’t need to know a ton about sports to know that the Knicks are having an awful season — just glance at the New York Times, which has been running a series called “Not the Knicks” just to give beat reporter Scott Cacciola some relief from “such woeful basketball.” With the team now at 10–41, fans are getting increasingly frustrated. And, unsurprisingly, some are complaining directly to prickly owner James Dolan, who recently took the time to respond to an email from a self-described “Knicks fan for in excess of 60 years.” He wasn’t very nice.

Deadspin published an exchange between the fan — the unnamed father of filmmaker Aaron Bierman — and Dolan on Sunday. Here’s what Bierman’s dad wrote:

Subject: I have been a knicks fan since 1952

At one stage I thought that you did a wonderful thing when you acquired EVERYTHING from your dad. However, since then it has been ALL DOWN HILL. Your working with Isaiah Thomas & everything else regarding the Knicks. Bringing 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 embarrassed 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,

[Aaron Bierman’s dad]

And here’s Dolan’s response:

Mr Bierman

You are a sad person. 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

And if the letter writer isn’t into the Nets idea, Cacciola just recommended the Harlem Globetrotters as an uplifting alternative to Dolan’s operation.

Dolan Thinks Knicks Have Fans to Spare