Most clear-thinking Knicks fans agree: Don Chaney was dissed, then dismissed.
Although Isiah Thomas doesn’t see it that way, his boss, Cablevision CEO James Dolan, showed some remorse about how the Chaney affair played out over the past few days.
Dolan told reporters yesterday at Lenny Wilkens’ introductory press conference that he tried unsuccessfully to reach out to Chaney, although he disputed reports the former Knicks coach was escorted out of Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.
“I’m concerned if he feels disrespected, because I would never want to disrespect Don,” Dolan said. “No one up here would.
“But I do believe this organization did the best job that it could and tried to be as respectful as it could.”
In his last hours as coach, Chaney spoke of “horrible” working conditions and being “disrespected.”
Dolan quickly pointed out, “Isiah has my full support in all the changes that he’s made.” Yet some wonder whether Dolan’s sensibilities have been offended.
“At the same time, there are good people who are hurt by these very public changes,” Dolan said. “I’ve made no secret of my affection for Don Chaney.
“He’s a good man. He worked extremely hard for this organization. And he worked with a great deal of pride.
“These things are never easy.”
Most basketball observers felt Thomas’ appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman” on Tuesday night was an ill-timed disgrace. Letterman joked about Chaney’s job status as Thomas laughed and acted passively. Thomas fired Chaney following Wednesday’s shootaround.
Thomas would have been better served from a PR standpoint had he: A) postponed the Letterman appearance until Chaney’s status was resolved; or B) told Letterman the Chaney issue was forbidden, the way Hollywood starlets dictate talk show terms all the time.
Nets coach Byron Scott stepped up in defense of Chaney yesterday on WFAN.
“Obviously as a coach, you would hope they would treat him with the type of dignity and respect that he deserved,” Scott said. “From what I hear, that’s not what happened.
“And it’s a shame.”
