You know me: I’m too professional, polite and reverential of the coaching profession to speculate about interim Mike Woodson’s successor while he still retains the Knicks’ (favorite coach) title … at least as long as he’s undefeated.
Pressed by unfeeling editors, I had no choice but to voice an educated estimation whether Phil Jackson can be tempted to return to his NBA roots as the Knicks’ coach.
Off the record — because I don’t want Jackson to see my name attached to any of this, knowing once he sees I’m still writing, he will feel compelled to end his career the way it began, with me covering him — the possibility of him accepting the job probably is as fanciful-squared as I plan to lead you to believe.
Will Action Jackson politic for the position? Not on Jim Buss’ life.
Nevertheless, should interim owner James Dolan let it be known he would clear the decks and give Jackson full control, in writing, not the unauthentic autonomy verbally gifted to Donnie Walsh, I think he might (the operative word) entertain the notion.
Keep in mind, Jackson, after leaving the Bulls following the 1997-98 championship season, turned down Red Holzman’s appeal to coach the Knicks. And I think we are all aware Jackson would do anything within reason for his beloved mentor, post-playing career counselor and forever friend.
The awkwardly effective Jackson, who led the NBA in personal fouls (330) in 1975, was under Holzman’s two-titled influence for nine seasons. At the time of Red’s appeal, he was team president Dave Checketts’ treasured consultant.
Problem was, the Knicks weren’t especially special, and the clearly seduced Jackson already was in the process of sidling up to sirens Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire don’t exactly remind me of those two, or, for that matter, arouse recollections of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
Hence, relocation from Phony-opolis to New York is stringently risk-reward. The guy already has as many rings (11 as a coach) as Red Auerbach, Red Holzman and Red Klotz. Hell, even disgraced former (for 10 minutes) Notre Dame coach George O’Leary couldn’t embellish that resume.
Suppose Jackson came to Broadway and the Knicks won the Tony for the first time since he was there in very short pants (’73). Granted, it would be the tinsel on his tombstone, but is it really worth the peril of tarnishing his tiara?
It would be like the Pope logging onto Career Builder and looking for an occupation upgrade.
If Jackson and his isosceles triangle hit town and failed to deliver the goods, he would be just like the countless others who succeeded Holzman, including Red himself.
Phil’s no fool; the mastermind only acts like one in commercials. He had the rarified roster in Albany (Patroons), Chicago and Los Angeles Here, all that’s rolled off the assembly line is a mismatched mélange that occasionally gets out of its own way.
Meanwhile, what has Jackson done in the NBA lately? Last I looked, his Lakers got swept by the Mavericks in the 2010-11 Western Conference semifinals. Buying books for your players only takes you so far.
Personally, I’ve had my Phil of Jackson. Eleven titles may qualify him as a Zen Master in the Land of Botoxic Waste, but that kind of pap is target practice in New York.
This isn’t the Head & Shoulders, pot-smoking, motorcycle-riding, midnight cowboy, hippie from the late ’60s and ’70s.
The modernized Jackson is suntanned-toed, sunset-ogling, Marina del Rey-residin’, cradle-rocking, medically-refurbished (in need of another knee replacement) hush puppy soft.
On the Flip Wilson side, instead of wondering whether Jackson would condescend to coach the Knicks, the more relevant question is, what makes anyone think Dolan & his Dolts remotely would consider ceding control? … As if the Knicks are legally, morally and spiritually obligated to romance Big Chief Triangle?
Even without inclusive authority, Jackson’s power trip is insufferable. He once shooed Lakers president Jerry West — the person responsible for his lavish appointment, who still believes Phil would be an ideal fit for the Knicks — from the locker room when he walked in during a team meeting.
If that didn’t take implausibility to its outer limit, Jackson tried again when he walked out in a haughty huff on Cesar Millan in the middle of a TV episode. The Dog Whisperer was in the home of Phil’s girlfriend, Jeanie Buss, in an attempt to train her dog (technically), but more important, the two humans in the room, one uncoachable.
Back to the present. Far be it from me to let the air out of your Jordans, but where is the sum gain for either Jackson or the Knicks?
No matter how much Dolan charges and insults customers, Madison Square Garden remains sold out. How would the presence of a deified coach guarantee any more revenue or any more rings (see Riley, Pat)?
I can tell you this with unshakable certainty: There is no way in this warped world Jackson will coach or manage the Knicks if Isiah Thomas continues to have any say or sway in personnel decisions.
Seems to me, hiring Jim Boeheim makes more sense. Nobody else has won a championship with Anthony.
* This report just in from column castigator Frank Drucker: John Calipari denies any interest in the Lehigh or Norfolk State jobs.