We are so pleased that you are now an employee of the reigning NBA champions, under the wise and munificent ownership of owner James Dolan.
asserted
you → reign → Dolan
Congratulations, you have been hired a few days after our ring ceremony on opening night.
asserted
you → hire → night
Let’s show you around.
asserted
’s → let → you
Oh, you heard about that ring ceremony, did you?
asserted
you → hear → ceremony
Ring ceremonies are moments to be treasured in the afterglow of a championship, especially when the organization hadn’t won a title since 1973.
asserted
organization → treasure → 1973
It’s a moment to really emphasize the character of your team, its front office and ownership, and to bask in your own reflected glory.
asserted
It → ’ → glory
It’s a great day.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
Where did you see news about the ring ceremony?
asserted
you → see → ceremony
A piece by Joe Vardon, who has covered the league for many years?
asserted
who → cover → years
Let’s take a look at that.
asserted
’s → let → that
Oh, yes, he reported that we sidelined NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
asserted
we → report → Silver
Usually the commissioner plays a key role on ring night: addressing the crowd, congratulating the team, maybe even handing out rings and shaking hands.
asserted
commissioner → play → hands
He’s the commissioner after all!
asserted
He → ’ → ?
But in New York, where our benevolent owner James Dolan has had his disagreements with the commish, I see Mr. Vardon reported that Silver was seated at the other end of the court, and that even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was closer to the action.
asserted
Goodell → have → action
What disagreements has Mr. Dolan had with the commissioner?
asserted
Dolan → have → commissioner
Like the time Mr. Dolan tried to sue the Toronto Raptors for hiring our Knicks video co-ordinator, whom we believed took proprietary information with him to Toronto.
asserted
we → try → Toronto
We had complained to the commissioner, who blew us off, so we attempted to bypass his authority within the league.
asserted
we → complain → league
Mr. Dolan even resigned from the NBA’s media and advisory finance committees, said he would boycott board of governors meetings, and wrote a letter to the NBA front office and the other 29 owners that read: “Given all that has occurred lately, I have come to the conclusion that the NBA neither needs nor wants my opinion.”
asserted
NBA → resign → opinion
And then once we won a championship, we sure showed the commissioner, didn’t we?
asserted
we → win → commissioner
I think that as a new employee of the Knicks, you can appreciate that spite is an underrated part of championship mettle.
asserted
spite → think → mettle
Let’s continue the tour.
asserted
’s → let → tour
You kept reading?
asserted
You → keep → ?
Yes, Mr. Vardon reported that not only were several employees not given rings, but some got emails from the Knicks with a graphic of two NBA championship rings, which the email said would be given to the employee at no cost.
asserted
email → report → cost
Yes, we know he reported there were two possible designs: Championship Gold and Garden Classic.
asserted
he → know → ?
And yes, we know Mr. Vardon reported that when employees clicked on the link, it turned out to be a company anti-phishing exercise, and that the employees who did click were assigned to a mandatory cybersecurity class.
asserted
who → know → class
We have described this to some media as an “error,” and to some as an “unfortunate mistake.”
asserted
We → describe → mistake
Problem solved, we say.
asserted
we → solve → ?
But really, what reputable organization would not trick its own employees into such a thing?
asserted
organization → trick → thing
You appear to be uncomfortable with this.
asserted
You → appear → this
How do I know?
asserted
I → know → ?
Well, we have implemented a sophisticated facial recognition system here at Madison Square Garden, and at Radio City Music Hall and the Sphere in Las Vegas as well, which we have used for various purposes.
asserted
we → implement → purposes
According to the mainstream media, we use it to deny access to critics and enemies of Mr. Dolan: lawyers at 90 different law firms who were involved in litigation with him or his companies, maybe transgender individuals, people who chant “Dolan sucks,” Knicks legend Charles Oakley.
uncertain
Dolan → accord → him
We have been accused of tailing Mr. Oakley outside MSG as well.
asserted
We → accuse → MSG
But Mr. Dolan says the system is to guard against terrorism, and once someone chants “Dolan sucks” who knows what they could do?
uncertain
they → say → what
Yes, I can tell you’re uncomfortable.
asserted
you → tell → ?
Next you’ll mention that the Knicks were the only team not to make a statement about Black Lives Matter after George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police in 2020.
asserted
Knicks → mention → 2020
Or how Mr. Dolan once emailed a critical season-ticket holder and accused the man of perhaps being an alcoholic?
asserted
Dolan → email → man
Or how he invited Donald Trump to the one Finals game the Knicks lost?
asserted
Knicks → invite → game
Maybe you’ll start calling MSG a capitalist North Korean in its paranoid grasping for control, protecting our lonely, cruel and insecure hermit god-king?
asserted
you → start → king
Maybe this won’t work out, but who knows, maybe this is the start of a beautiful friendship!
asserted
this → work → friendship
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
