If there is one person in the media that hits the New York Knicks as hard as Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith, it is undoubtedly the outspoken Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. You could probably make the case that there is no one more unfiltered when it comes to discussing anything the Knicks are doing – he even makes fun of other Knicks writers like Marc Berman of the New York Post, quite frequently at that.
So when it was shockingly reported on Monday that guard J.R. Smith would be sidelined for 3-4 months after having surgery, Isola went off about the situation:
The Knicks are saying J.R. could be out four months. How do you sign a guy to a four-year deal 10 days before major knee surgery?
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) July 16, 2013
According to Knicks “J.R. Smith’s injuries were chronic and gradually worsened.” So why the heck did you give him a 4-yr contract? Holy crap
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) July 16, 2013
And don’t believe this bull spin by some in the media that the Knicks new about this. Incredible.
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) July 16, 2013
Here’s all you need to know: They waited until after leaving the arena here in Vegas to announce this. They don’t want questions asked. Joke
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) July 16, 2013
No wonder they were so desperate to sign Metta World Peace.
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) July 16, 2013
I’m not saying Knicks should not have signed J.R. But if they knew he was damaged they didn’t have to give him four years. They had leverage
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) July 16, 2013
Or as Berman of the Post says, “championships aren’t won in training camp.” Does BOTP know Knicks haven’t won a title in the last 40 Junes?
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) July 16, 2013
Word got to J.R. Smith that he was being talked about, and here is how he responded to it:
Who cares! Ne never has anything to say good bout me so what! RT @RealThomasD: @FisolaNYDN going in on you why he hating? @TheRealJRSmith — JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) July 16, 2013
Smith then retweeted this message from a fan. Ouch:
@TheRealJRSmith @RealThomasD @FisolaNYDN nobody reads his columns anyway — David Ryan (@RealDavidRyan) July 16, 2013
And finally, here is his response to an upset fan of his decision to get surgery so late:
Yea well it aint ya knee or career so finish stockingpaper RT @mikesagenyc: @TheRealJRSmith im mad cuz ya ass didnt get surgery 2 months ago — JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) July 16, 2013
Never a dull moment when you’re dealing with a Smith or an Isola tweet.
Tweet of the Day: Chase Budinger
Isola is an asshole. He and his newspaper have beef with Dolan so he uses his platform to start trouble. He’s a terrible journalist who writes for a terrible newspaper. Ever read the Daily News?
Yeah, I didn’t think so.
You obviously don’t know the true story behind the relation between Dolan and Frank Isola.
It was Dolan who started, because Frank Isola wouldn’t bow down to the saying everything is Good with the Knicks, as Berman and others do. It is well confirmed by journalists that Isola is banned from certain privileges of being a Knicks reporter.
Isola has documented that the Knicks organization is corrupt, including lying about injuries. Isola won’t go along. The Knicks, at Dolan’s request, have tried to use Isola as an example of what would happen to others if criticize the Knicks. Isola could have switched to covering the Nets, but chose to continue, with thick skin.
And BTW, Dolan owns Newsday, which in itself is a conflict of interest.
It’s interesting that you recognize that Dolan owns Newsday, but fail to see an alterior motive on the part of the Daily News – a flailing publication that competes in the same market in Newsday.
Daniel, do you work for the Knicks? Alterior? That’s “ulterior.”
The News is not flailing–it’s doing just great, with the seventh highest daily circulation for any daily newspaper in the country, and their sports section is arguably the best in NYC. Like other craptastic tabloids like the Post and Newsday, the sports section is quite good and studded with top columnists, and the basic news reporting is low-quality. It doesn’t just compete with the Post and Newsday, it out-performs both of those papers.
Jim Dolan continues to drag the Knicks into irrelevancy despite their history, and he treats the fans and objective media with complete scorn. Unlike Hahn, Szczerbiak, Lupica, Kay, Boomer & Carton, Iannazzone, and even the Knicks homers on ESPN, Isola doesn’t ignore Dolan’s obvious lies, inconsistencies, and blunders. Hell, Dolan’s purchase drove swarms of veteran sportswriters to leave Newsday (Wallace Matthews, Johnette Howard, Sean Powell, etc.).
Must be a Nets fan.
Thanks for the spell-check.
Isola has a good point. After the season, everyone is supposed to have a physical (I assume free agents too?). If Knicks knew of JR’s knee condition, they would have benefited by revealing to the public, thus lowering JR’s price tag on the open market. Knicks should have recommended immediate surgery. They shouldn’t have had to offer JR more than a 2 year deal.
Therefore, I have to believe that Knicks didn’t know he needed surgery. JR is guilty of tricking the Knicks and waiting until after he re-signed.
It looks like pressure from Nets has once again forced Knicks into overpaying during the off season, as they did when they got Melo.
There is a reason why no “room” team bid for Artest – He’s got too much downside to risk messing up team chemistry. MWP’s threat to go to China could not have been a factor, because everyone knew he wasn’t going to forfeit the 7.7 million that Lakers were obligated to pay as long as he continued in the NBA.
well, this is a team just traded FOR bargnani. Its not as if its a well run organization.