Sell the Team by Dennis Reed

Author:Dennis Reed [Reed, Dennis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Olympia Publishers
Published: 2022-01-23T06:00:00+00:00

History

The New York Knickerbockers have been in existence for over seventy years, and some consider them the second wealthiest franchise in the NBA behind the Lakers; but they are the seventh wealthiest sports entity in the world. In 1946, Max Kase, a New York sportswriter met with the owner of Madison Square Garden, Walter A. Brown, they were confronted with the problem of how to fill the seats when professional hockey was not in session. They unearthed the idea of showcasing college players in the BAA (Basketball Association of America) and franchises would be sold in major cities in United States. Ned Irish, a college basketball promoter with deep pockets, won out over Max Kase for ownership of the New York franchise. He pulled together his staff and with votes in a hat, they were to choose a name that was emblematic of the city of New York. They chose Knickerbocker, a pseudonym for New Yorkers that Washington Irving used in his book, ‘A HISTORY OF NEW YORK’, which means descendants of the original Dutch settlers. There was no mention of the American Indian and the selling of the borough of Manhattan.

Ned Irish approached Joe Lapchick, the coach of St. John’s University and told him he would make him the highest paid coach in the league. Lapchick said yes but asked if he could stay on one more year at St. John’s. Ned Irish acquiesced and hired Manhattan College coach Neil Callahan, as interim coach for one year. The Knicks finished the first year with a 33-27 record and a win in the quarter finals but lost in the semi-finals to the Philadelphia Warriors (they were swept in two games).

Joe Lapchick had promised an up-tempo coaching style and fast ball movement and he delivered—he also signed the first non-Caucasian player, Japanese American guard, Wataru Wasaka. The Knicks made nine straight playoff appearances under Joe Lapchick; six new players were signed including guard Carl Braun; Braun averaged 14.3 points per game.

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