 Phil Jackson in Albany; Charley Rosen to his left. Don’t give up.
Don’t despair. This is the lesson of Phil Jackson, who now returns to rescue the Knicks, indeed, rescue New York. I remember the night – the late night – in February of 1985, in a Mexican joint in Florida, when he lamented that he was done, finished, in the National Basketball Association. I’m a bit older than Jackson, can remember him coming along in the late Sixties, a thoroughly likable counter-culture guy from the Upper Midwest, who went with Bill Bradley to Allard Lowenstein anti-war rallies. The Knicks had virtually a whole team of cool guys. It was a great time to be around them, and not just because they eventually won two championships. However, by 1985, Jackson had convinced himself that he would never work in the N.B.A. again. His playing career was over, and he and Charles Rosen had written his book called, “Maverick: More Than a Game,” that revealed just where Jackson’s shaggy head was at – perhaps not a good idea in the N.B.A. job market. I was in spring training with the Mets in funky old St. Petersburg, and Jackson and his Woodstock buddy Rosen – once the star at Hunter College -- were coaching the Albany Patroons of the Continental Basketball Association, a league of bizarre travel connections to places as distant as Puerto Rico and Oshkosh, Wis. We went out for pizza after a game, along with Herbie Brown, who had coached the Israel Sabras, Detroit Pistons and Tucson Gunners, and they were telling horror stories about overnight drives and changes-in-Atlanta. Phil Jackson was morose. It was late at night, and he was morose. He was done. Cooked. His modest revelations into life style and politics had revealed himself to be a liberal, perhaps a troublemaker by Reagan-era standards. The N.B.A. was flush, with Erving and Kareem going out, Bird and Magic and Jordan in their prime. In Jackson’s fevered mind, there was no room for a perceived hippie. My role was to order the food and the beer and scribble down travel tales while his colleagues tried to talk Jackson off the conversational ledge. Have another nacho, Phil. Change planes in Atlanta a few more times. See what happens. It’s just a box of rain. I don’t believe anybody said that, but you never know. Next time I saw Jackson was in the Garden. He was an assistant coach with the Bulls, wearing a suit and a surprised look. The thing I remember most about his Jordan years was that he loved annoying Pat Riley and all the other Knick coaches and suits, but he moderated his antagonism out of respect to Red Holzman, his coaching godfather who was always at the games. Now Jackson has won 11 championships, not bad for a perceived anarchist. He has enough stature to force James L. Dolan to downgrade the absolute weakest link of the New York Knicks franchise, that is to say, James L. Dolan himself. The hippie as corporate savior. I wonder if Phil remembers that night in the Mexican joint. * * * My travel column from 1985: http://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/21/sports/sports-of-the-times-on-the-road-to-oshkosh-again.html I caught up with Charley Rosen in 1997, by which time he and Phil were pursuing separate muses: http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/11/sports/novelist-and-a-coach-are-still-hanging-out.html Filip Bondy on Jackson the other day: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/bondy-yipee-hippie-garden-exec-phil-long-bohemian-roots-article-1.1723057
Ed Martin
3/19/2014 05:54:41 am
Great stories. I believe Phil forced an agreement with Jimmie that if they have an impasse it would be solved with a "Jump Ball."
George Vecsey
3/19/2014 06:22:43 am
Or a debate. Or a vote.
Sam Toperoff
3/19/2014 08:14:06 am
What can Phil Jackson do, specifically do, to bring winners to the Garden? (I'm talking about players, not the front row customers.) The only triangle offense that works these days, I think, is having three complimentary stars who will play together (the Heat, Thunder, Bulls, when healthy, Celts of recent years). Or have one hell of a coach (Spurs, Bulls). Phil, I've read, can change the culture of the Knicks. I think he can. But on Championship teams in the NBA these days it's about the Game, the Game, how its played and what sacrifices must be made to play it right. I know the President of a team can insure they play the game wrong. Can a team President get players to play it right?
George Vecsey
3/19/2014 11:07:43 am
Sam, good points. Jackson is locked in by contracts and draft picks bartered, as I understand it. The one thing he could do is have one 5-minute conversation with Anthony, and unless he sees a light go on in the attic, he could encourage Anthony to walk. He had to have that freedom or he would not have taken the job. Could he persuade Anthony of the charm of giving the ball back to somebody? I agree that they now need a new coach. You seem to know the game. Ever play? GV 3/19/2014 08:41:56 am
Time will tell!!
Brian Savin
3/19/2014 02:49:12 pm
This post and your 1985 article capture professional sport at its base level and its fascinating combination of exhilaration and sadness. It must be like seeing circus life up close. Why do they do it and why and how do they keep going? The closest I came to your wonderfully descriptive experience was in the 1990's when the Harlem Wizards put on a game at my kid's middle school one evening. At halftime I used the john in the locker room and there they were. The players were being chewed out by the coach who didn't think they were performing up to par. He seemed mean. The players didn't seem to be paying much attention; not confronting, not reacting. I was disturbed to have intruded and heard that. At least you saw the coaches being distracted by each other and by your presence. The players get paid, but how motivated are they? How do they, coaches or players, rise from that level? Some do, Jackson did, but it is hard for me to understand how it can happen in that seemingly overwhelming, depressing environment. Maybe the Zen Master crafted his art out of the necessity of survival. God bless him. And, may this prodigal save his old team.
George Vecsey
3/19/2014 02:58:20 pm
Brian, thanks. That 1985 story had quotes from a few Albany players, one who'd been up, one who was from the lower level of college basketball. They had hopes, still....and some players did go from CBA to NBA. Jackson's concerns were more political, personal...."They" can keep a coach out. Why not? A journalist sees a lot of people at various stages of their careers. One of the reasons I admire athletes, in general, is that many of them learn not to give up -- whether it helps or not. I respect the meritocracy of sport, for all its abuses. I know that Jordan and Bird earned their place, that Starks and Mason fought their way up from below. Then I look at Congress -- I will not mention names -- and say, "How in the world...." GV
Sam Toperoff
3/19/2014 08:08:16 pm
That's why you're THE George Vecsey. Of course...Jackson will be able quickly to tell if Anthony is a player in his grand strategy or not. If not, they let him go. A key element in his accepting the job...smart George, smart. And likely Dolan has agreed to accept his judgment., hmmm.
George Vecsey
3/20/2014 02:00:59 am
Readers: I was joking when I asked Sam if he ever played basketball. He was a starter for Hofstra before becoming a teacher and writer.
Brian Savin
3/20/2014 02:02:33 pm
College athletics in the not-too-olden days was the pinnacle. All of the participants went on; some to law or medical school, the armed services, grad school or other professions, or businesses....and a very few to professional sports. Today it is, too often, regarded as the opportunity, the means to an end, the only apparently possible way to make a living. In that context, the CBA was, in that sport, a last hope. It was the American dream encapsulated in desperation. (Pardon me) I wouldn't have had the balls for it. Not because I wouldn't believe in myself, but because of Ecclesiastes: "time and circumstance happeneth to them all." I'd be scared the prophet's truth trumped all my efforts in that weird minor league environment.
Ed Martin
3/21/2014 05:59:08 am
One reason I admired Coach Lou Carnesecca,, beyond the court, was learning that he helped players find jobs after school, including jobs in basketball. He knew coaches in Italy, Spain, and across Europe and stayed in touch with his players as long as they wanted. 3/21/2014 11:43:42 am
As was pointed out, most college players of old went on to successful careers whether they went pro or not.
George Vecsey
3/22/2014 01:15:54 am
I don't know if I would romanticize the old days. We remember the success stories -- Gerry Ford, Paul Robeson, Jackie Robinson, Mario Cuomo, just off the top of my head -- but most colleges ran athletes through the admissions department or what passed for it.
Brian Savin
3/23/2014 12:49:25 pm
George, it's one thing to have the student participants conspire with riffraff to throw games; it is quite another to have college administrators acting as the riffraff in a not very different context.
George Vecsey
3/24/2014 01:11:24 am
Brian, I agree. I have never been able to hide my scorn for college presidents with scandalous football and basketball "programs."
Ed Martin
3/22/2014 05:15:06 am
The soccer team I "played" in at Muhlenberg lost all it's games my first year, save one we tied, 3-3 against Ursinus. I was out that game with a sprained ankle. That led to rumors I was "dumping" games. 3/22/2014 08:18:26 am
Ed
Andrew Tansey
4/1/2014 05:44:19 am
This piece and the comments resonate on many levels. I have not been much of a basketball fan since the Knicks last won the title, but that team was very cool. Dollar Bill was an inspiration to a decent student of average height who couldn’t jump, and his book, “Life on the Run,” had some interesting insights about a very intelligent relationship with Jackson. Comments are closed.
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