Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
The Knicks’ hiring of Phil Jackson is going to add a little fuel to the Knicks-Celtics rivalry.
So says Boston Celtics president Rich Gotham.
“It’ll just give us one more reason to not like the Knicks,” Gotham told HuffPost Live. “In Boston we like to have good reasons to not like the New York teams, particularly the Knicks, if you’re the Celtics.
“Phil, he’s the guy who is the challenger to Red Auerbach’s record for most titles won as a coach, so bring it on. Give us a little more fuel for the rivalry. I don’t want to say anything about the people who are there now, but having a guy like Phil around, it’s all good fun for us, because he’s one of our nemeses.”
Jackson actually has more titles than Auerbach as a head coach. Jackson has an NBA-record 11 titles as a head coach. Auerbach won nine as a coach. But Red had 16 as both a coach and executive. Jackson has 13 total rings (coach and player) and hopes to add to that title total with the Knicks. He is expected to come to an official agreement with the Knicks later this week to serve as president of basketball operations.
Who expected the typically soft-spoken Rich Gotham to drop a haymaker on the Knicks?
It takes balls to talk smack when your organization is 20+ games under .500 in a miserable season, but the hapless Knicks remain the laughingstock of the league.
I’m excited about the Phil Jackson regime in NY. He’s going to gut that roster, clash with owner Jim Dolan and leave them in 3-4 years no better off than they are now. Book it.
Red’s record of 16 championships is safe.
On Page 2, we’re learning about M.L. Carr’s crazy plan to get Michael Jordan to Boston.
Celtics general manager M.L. Carr last night said he would have traded next year’s No. 1 draft pick, plus other compensation, for the right to have a conversation with retired Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan.
“That was the one I tried for,” Carr said in a back room at the Channel 4 studio last night. “I offered {Bulls GM} Jerry Krause our No. 1 pick, and a No. 2 pick, just for the right to talk with Michael. I made the offer because I know I could have talked Michael into it. {Krause} turned me down.”
Carr’s “plan” to woo Michael Jordan in 1994 sounds crazy until you look back at the mediocre 1995 draft class. The Celtics selected Eric Williams (14th, Providence) and Junior Burrough (33, Virginia) that year. Tell me you wouldn’t give up those guys even for a 1% chance of getting Jordan.
Credit to Jay for uncovering this gem.
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – Ainge: Rondo likely to sit remaining B2Bs | C’s need Green to surprise them | Globe – Wyc optimistic about future | Herald – Pressey getting up to speed |
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