Owner of New York Knicks Tells Fan Off - Sound Familiar? (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

The New York Knicks are a rather pathetic basketball team this year and but for a few decent seasons lately have been bad for a long time.

This past month one fan wrote a letter to the owner James Dolan complaining about the quality of the product the Knicks are putting out on the floor. Dolan responded with a vituperative email that, of course, never addressed the issues and insulted the fan, telling him he must have an alcohol problem a so forth. He suggested that the fan become a fan of the Nets, the other team in NY.

Deadspin has published the correspondence between the two, http://deadspin.com/dolan-start-rooting-for-the-nets-because-the-knicks-d-1684489469

Sound like anybody we know on this Forum? :wink2:

 

[theBaron]

The New York Knicks are a rather pathetic basketball team this year and but for a few decent seasons lately have been bad for a long time.

This past month one fan wrote a letter to the owner James Dolan complaining about the quality of the product the Knicks are putting out on the floor. Dolan responded with a vituperative email that, of course, never addressed the issues and insulted the fan, telling him he must have an alcohol problem a so forth. He suggested that the fan become a fan of the Nets, the other team in NY.

Deadspin has published the correspondence between the two, http://deadspin.com/dolan-start-rooting-for-the-nets-because-the-knicks-d-1684489469

Sound like anybody we know on this Forum? :wink2:

Actually, I was going to ask if Dolan is a Comcast employee ^&grin

Prost!
Brad

 

[jazzeum]

You're not that far off. His father founded Cablevision and gave him the Knicks and Rangers to run.

 

[Combat]

If he doesn't like the team he should start his own. That was my favorite advice from an owner near and dear to our collecting hearts. LOL

 

[Jack]

It is always a complex issue because the team has two personalities - an organisation with both a call on the loyalty and love of fans who feel some ownership of the final product despite not having a financial stake beyond membership costs and one faced with the demands of a business run for profit where sporting results are the final judge of the quality of the product. I have worked at schools where some unbelievable student behaviour was tolerated on the grounds of care and concern while at the same time staff were made redundant close to Christmas on financial grounds that were justifiable but to the individuals involved appeared somewhat cold. I have seen the two personalities at work in the same room in the course of the same meeting.

I think the TS link is a pretty long bow to draw, though of course humorously intended, given that the person who emailed was a fan of this team rather than one from across town who enjoyed criticising a team he would never support. It raises the issue of a 'loyal collector' and what that means. Does that mean you buy a product you do not like out of loyalty? Sports fans follow their team even when it is losing but does a TS manufacturer really have a fan base that buys products out of loyalty rather than desire? Anyway ... back to work for me!

 

[Warrior]

I loved some of the comments made, this one is a gem; "You mean Dolan has been sober this whole time?".............

 

[Phantom Warrior]

It is always a complex issue because the team has two personalities - an organisation with both a call on the loyalty and love of fans who feel some ownership of the final product despite not having a financial stake beyond membership costs and one faced with the demands of a business run for profit where sporting results are the final judge of the quality of the product. I have worked at schools where some unbelievable student behaviour was tolerated on the grounds of care and concern while at the same time staff were made redundant close to Christmas on financial grounds that were justifiable but to the individuals involved appeared somewhat cold. I have seen the two personalities at work in the same room in the course of the same meeting.

I think the TS link is a pretty long bow to draw, though of course humorously intended, given that the person who emailed was a fan of this team rather than one from across town who enjoyed criticising a team he would never support. It raises the issue of a 'loyal collector' and what that means. Does that mean you buy a product you do not like out of loyalty? Sports fans follow their team even when it is losing but does a TS manufacturer really have a fan base that buys products out of loyalty rather than desire? Anyway ... back to work for me!

Criticism of any kind is not to be tolerated. Only blind loyalty is acceptable. Meaning don't criticize the person in charge for continued poor performane or he will personally attack you. Sporting teams are one instance where blind loyalty is common. Collecting toy soldiers is another.

Terry

 

[Jack]

Criticism of any kind is not to be tolerated. Only blind loyalty is acceptable. Meaning don't criticize the person in charge for continued poor performane or he will personally attack you. Sporting teams are one instance where blind loyalty is common. Collecting toy soldiers is another.

Terry

I think this post is like an onion. It has many layers!

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I think this post is like an onion. It has many layers!

And you don't want to peel backk the layers lest it bring you to tears {sm4}

Tears

 

[jazzeum]

A couple of years ago, at a global department meeting, I had to take a seminar hosted by a management expert by the name of Marshall Goldsmith, who advices corporations and senior management on leadership and development. You can find many of Marshall's talks on Youtube.

Despite initially rolling my eyes, I found it pretty helpful, not only at work but in my personal life as well. At the meeting he gave out a copy of one of his books and one of the chapters identified 20 common faults that seem to afflict Mr. Dolan and like minded heads of companies :wink2:

Three of them seem applicable in Mr. Dolan's situation and here, Winning too much, Making destructive comments and Failing to express gratitude.

Winning too much. As identified by Marshall, there's a fine line between being competitive and over competitive, between winning when it counts and when no one's counting. In other words, you have to win every argument.

Making destructive comments. This is pretty self evident and Marshall says that before speaking, we should ask ourselves the following:

• Will this comment help our customers.
  
• Will this comment help our company.
  
• Will this comment help the person I'm talking to.
  
• Will this comment help the person I'm talking about.
  

If the answer is no, don't say it.

Failing to express gratitude. When people receive a suggestion, unwanted advice or a compliment, they may dispute the comment, question it, criticize or amplify it. They'll do anything but the right thing: say "thank you." We are all probably guilty of this one, not just company heads. Mr. Dolan (and some others) should have just said thank you for your comments and moved on.

 

[theBaron]

Not for nothing did the scribe write in Proverbs, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Prost!
Brad