Phil Jackson had the best spring break ever in Woodstock
Over last weekend, the New York Knicks were mathematically eliminated from the NBA playoffs. Over the same weekend, the NCAA tournament limited its last teams to four, leaving any remaining scouting rather reasonable and very accessible – every corner bar in the country will be showcasing the last three NCAA basketball games of the season.
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Perhaps this is why Phil Jackson, the highest-paid personnel chief in the NBA, decided to go troppo recently, as he sees fit:
(You would not be surprised to learn that the description for the Woodstock Inn on the Millstream includes a reference to “Karen’s homemade granola.” Short of clips of an impromptu acoustic performance from Hot Tuna, this tweet and the Inn’s site are as good and appropriate as it gets.)
Prior to 2014 Phil Jackson hasn’t lived in the New York metropolitan area since 1978. There was no M&M Store in Times Square back then. The Band had just broken up. It was a long time ago, and it’s understandable that after two years back in the city he might need some time to get away. The guy used to live in Woodstock prior to joining the Chicago Bulls, he keeps homes in Malibu and Montana, and Manhattan might not be his thing.
As fetching a picture as this is, though, the documented respite probably won’t sit well with Knick fans that haven’t seen the team produce a quality win since a surprising takedown of the Detroit Pistons on March 5 (subsequent victories against the hapless Phoenix Suns and Bulls shouldn’t count). Jackson once famously live-tweeted his viewership of the NCAA tournament prior to his turn as Knicks president; but he also did as much while sitting alongside buddy Kurt Rambis. Knick fans aren’t big fans of Kurt Rambis right now.
You can scout from anywhere these days. Clips from all manner of players are not only shipped via disc from their representatives (to unpaid interns, writers, or team presidents), but also teams looking to spread the word. That’s just on the international or minor league scale, not counting the nationally-broadcast college tournament funded by all manner of chicken wing joints and domestic car dealerships. Phil Jackson, as it is with just about any other team president, could build a winner from a bed and breakfast in Bearsville.
It just, after the “sure, whatever” signings of Carmelo Anthony, Arron Afflalo and Robin Lopez (to say nothing of hiring his confidantes as head coaches) doesn’t look good. Just like this Knick train, sadly.
You’ve got to credit Phil for one thing, at least. If this is a long con bent on stealing money from James Dolan, we’ll happily embrace that serpent.
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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KDonhoops
