Something sour in the Big Apple
Things in New York have me scratching my head. You can watch my video commentary or read here:
Someone needs to explain this one — Isiah Thomas still has a job with the Knicks but the Yankees might ax Joe Torre.
What’s up with that?
Isiah has done nothing but destroy everything he’s been involved with since his playing days in Detroit ended.
Torre has done nothing but win four World Series title by melding groups of potential prima donnas into stellar teams.
And yet the Yankees are the ones having meetings to try to determine the fate of their on-field leader.
Torre is a beloved figure in New York, a place that chews up sports figures. When he announced several years ago that he had cancer, some of his players wept openly. These are the some of the same guys who make up the biggest payroll in baseball.
Torre somehow managed to connect with his high-priced crew. Every manager or coach says they want the problem of too much talent, but with a bunch of superstar players, you always have their super-sized egos. It takes a special leader to manage the personalities AND the play.
Torre is special. In his 12 seasons as Yankees manager, they have been to the postseason 12 times and won 10 AL East titles.
Oh, and lest we forget, the Yankees made the postseason this year even though they were 9 1/2 games back in the wild card race the first week in July. Amazing stuff by Torre.
Then, there’s the amazing stuff from Isiah, though it’s amazing for a whole different reason.
Two weeks ago, a jury found Isiah and his employer, Madison Square Garden, guilty of sexual harassment. A former team executive endured crude insults and unwanted advances from the Knicks coach. She testified that he routinely called her names that are frankly too crass to be repeated here.
Now, the jury has put Madison Square Garden on the hook for $11.6 mil.
Seems that would be enough to get most folks fired.
Not Isiah.
The Knicks are sticking with him. Maybe they’ve just gotten used to squandering money because of him. They haven’t won a playoff game since Thomas joined the franchise in 2003, but he has masterminded several free-agent busts that have cost the Knicks millions.
Maybe they want to see if he can run them into the ground the way he did the CBA and the Pacers.
Far be it from me to understand why Isiah’s job is secure and Torre’s is not. Listen, I’ve been to New York several times and seen plenty of bizarre things. Nothing, though, has been nearly as weird as this.
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Jenni. Jenni. Jenni. If they love Joe Torre in the big apple, let them fruit lovers take care of it or maybe better off, let their boss deal with it. Just like with your boss, I have no idea why he keeps you around but you must be liked over there. I’ll let him who employs you, deal with you.
Joe Torre is a big boy, they offered him a contract, he didn’t want it. 1 year true, but still would make him the highest paid Manager in the big leagues, right? When your renewal comes up, do the same… PLEASE DON’T TAKE IT!