Article brought to you by our friends at Fantasy Furnace...No, Phil Jackson did not return to coach the Knicks
nor will he do so anytime soon… He was just one of many who returned Friday night to commemorate the last championship team that the Knicks have had in four decades. What sort of reception would the most successful coach in NBA history receive from the Garden faithful?
It was almost a year ago, June 2012, that ex-Knick and 11 time NBA Championship coach Phil Jackson, scoffed at the notion of coaching the Knicks, stating, ” They have a clumsy team!” Personally, I feel that Phil was just saying that out of disappointment for the Knicks for not even offering him the post occupied by Mike D’Antoni before Mike Woodson was named the interim and later the head coach.
“There’s just too much work that has to be done with that team, they don’t fit together well. Phil Jackson stating his disinterest in the Knick's coaching job. Photo:
“There’s just too much work that has to be done with that team, they don’t fit together well.” Phil Jackson stating his disinterest in the Knick’s coaching job In June 2012.
If you remember, he also told the press that he didn’t want to travel because he wanted to spend as much time as possible on his Montana estate and New York was just too far away for his liking. The press here as well as countless bloggers, chastised the Knicks for not even extending Jackson an invitation to discuss the possibility of taking over the head coaching job.
Knick fans, after all of Jackson’s sound bites had filled the newspapers and the internet showcasing his ‘disinterest’ in the vacancy, turned sour on the Hall of Famer, especially once the season began. D’Antoni was soon shown the exit sign, and then Linsanity took over New York City and the sportsworld at large.
Fast forward to last night’s festivities at Madison Square Garden. Legends night. The commemoration of the 1972-1973 NBA Championship; the last one the Knickerbockers would win over the past 40 years. All the players from that legendary team, save for Dave DeBusschere who passed in May of 2003 at the age of 62, were there as speeches and awards filled the World’s Most Famous Arena.
The former superstars would be announced to the capacity crowd once halftime was underway and I thought to myself, “I wonder what kind of greeting PhilJ ackson will receive from the throng of Knick supporters on a night the team would be gunning for its 11th...
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