Stephen A. Smith tearing up Knicks culture

The calendar year is the only thing that changes reliably during the NBA season.

As far as media is concerned, controversy and dysfunction always lurk in every locker room and front office.

Off-court scandals and media feuds are just around the corner. Rip jobs are pervasive. And stay alert for the league’s next social media tsunami. Even Draymond Green’s punch-out video couldn’t wait for the season to start.

Neither could Stephen A. Smith. On Wednesday, opening night for many teams, the SAS didn’t enter his NBA New Year in a benevolent mood that could give his “favorite” team, the Knicks, any rest.

Smith wasn’t celebrating the new season with rework from Garden boss James (Jimmy on guitar) Dolan or Knicks’ Leon Rose.

To inject more symbolism into the scene, SAS had Knicks superfan and comedian Tracy Morgan sit across from him on the set of “First Take.” After giving an optimistic introduction to Knicks’ monologue, Smith said he still has frustration “coming from the top.” In SAS’ opinion, the owner, Mr. Dolan, “must go.” Smith narrowed down Dolan’s problem, saying the owner had created a “culture” based on “always finding someone else to follow.”

James Dolan and his Knicks haven’t gotten a pass from Stephen A. Smith when the new season started. (Adam Hunger/AP)

Smith doesn’t see this as Dolan engaging in collaboration, does he?

According to SAS, the Knicks’ “culture” has a trickle-down effect. He said it trickled down to Rose. When Rose speaks into the microphone, she usually speaks to the MSG Network voice. Smith also claimed that Rose delegated at least one round of negotiations (a possible trade of Donovan Mitchell to the Jazz, who was eventually sent to Cleveland) to another Knicks executive.

“…You are [Rose] I negotiated with another person over the phone [Jazz CEO] Danny Ainge and you are ex-agents,” Smith said. “And the reason you got that job is because you have experience negotiating. When something like that happens, it means something other than pure basketball was in the way. That’s the Knicks.”

A few hours later, on “NBA Countdown,” Smith said a member of the Knicks’ “organization” called his “family” and asked if he could tread the team lightly. ?) Covered my mouth and suggested I might pinch my mouth.

Forget it will happen anytime soon. NBA circuses need performers at their best to keep their on-court machines and TV ratings high. The perception is that cats like SAS, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal are more influential than athletes. That they can create drama when dealing with stars like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. There is none.

It’s business as usual for the NBA.

I’ve never been a fan of the three-man booth, but TBS’s Yankees-Astros configuration works well.

Brian Anderson (play-by-play) and analysts Ron Darling and Jeff Francour have worked together before. They know their role and create a chemical balance. No one is trying to steal the show with their last words.

Most importantly, Anderson plays the set-up man, giving his partner the best chance to shine under the brightest spotlight.

At least they are trying.

In a recent attempt to settle a two-year cable television controversy that has kept the Madison Square Garden network (Knicks, Rangers, Devils, and Islanders) out of the Comcast system in New Jersey and Connecticut, the MSGN lawsuit has We contacted the cable giants and were able to reach an agreement.

“MSG Networks has attempted to restore the show to Comcast multiple times since last year’s hiatus, including most recently last month, and each time has been denied by Comcast,” MSGN officials said in a statement. “We are ready to negotiate a new contract soon.”

The dispute affects approximately 565,000 Comcast Xfinity subscribers. The deal is about money and how much Comcast is willing to pay to carry MSGN. Fans who can’t access Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, and Devils on MSG can look for alternative providers in your area (see keepmsg.com for details).

It is impossible to predict what will solve this problem. That said, if one of you feels the pressure, the impasse can break for whatever reason. It might help if Knicks gets off to a fast start or stars emerge.In 2012, MSG and later his Time Warner Cable were embroiled in a shipping dispute. Jeremy Lin also came with us. Knicks was rolling with Linsanity. The Knickerbockers rating rose by 65% ​​on him, ending his 48-day TWC blackout for MSG.

There are plenty of reasons why the Valley of the Stupid Gasbags and various other Big Blue aficionados are obsessed with first-year coach Brian Daboll, but when it comes to depositing all the credit in his basket, what do they do? Have you forgotten

player? During the offseason and in the middle of his summer camp, the Boss Football scribe described a Giants team made up mostly of Question his mark and his NFL cuss. Well, look at me now

Daboll and his coaching crew led the media-anointed Scrubinos to Winning Well. And they drank a lot. Still, if things go wrong with the Giants, you can expect the players to be held accountable for the collapse.

Tony Romo’s comedy style inspired CBS’s Jim Nantz. At least Nantz’s rare pops are funny. Like the Bills-Chiefs in the first half, Kansas City he was 7-3. Nantz: “Is this Sunday afternoon or Thursday night?” Romo: “Hahaha, Jim.” Somewhere, Al Michaels and Jeff Bezos weren’t laughing. … They are both veterans of the Yankees’ playoff scene. That’s why it looks relaxed and upbeat, even when…. Bob (roberto wraps) Costas throws his funk into the fifth inning of Game 5 of TBS Guardians vs. Yankees. After Nestor Cortés made a hesitant pitch, Costas paused and said: Rock this! … Today, there is no studio he analyst as thoughtful and funny as TBS’s Pedro Martinez. … If you like clown shows, don’t miss the Fox Sports NLCS Studio Soiree. David (Big Papi) Ortiz took the show in a very twisted direction. …on his ESPN-98.7 show, Michael Kay did the professional job of antagonizing Aaron Boone in an interview Thursday. Boone is paid for appearing on the show. Is Ajita worth a payday?… Last Sunday, NBC’s Mike Tirico played his 200th NFL game (Eagles-Cowboys). Quietly and with little hype, Tirico has become one of the biggest play-by-play voices in the business.

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what Robert Saleh said: “He [Elijah Moore] no thanks. I am a competitive young man. he wants to contribute. I have no problem with Elijah. ”

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