Despite the fact that the Knicks are owned by James Dolan and the Warriors aren't, it was still a surprise to many when Steve Kerr elected to coach Golden State instead of New York. The Knicks were believed to have the inside track on securing Kerr's services, but the Warriors were able to swoop in and hire him right out from under Phil Jackson's nose.
Now, details are starting to emerge that explain Kerr's reasoning. Marv Albert, who was the voice of the Knicks up until James Dolan fired him in 2004, apparently didn't give his former employer a glowing recommendation:
"Well, I told him it never ends well there. Just look at recent history. It's because of one man (Dolan)," Albert told Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News. "There is no happiness there. I say this with all kinds of friends I have there and (the ones) at the MSG Network. Everybody hates being there. For coaches it's very difficult. Steve couldn't accept anyone (from MSG's PR staff) following him around with a tape recorder. Like Phil [Jackson], Steve is a guy who wants to say what he wants to say," Albert continued. "He's very opinionated, which doesn't always work when you are at the Garden."
Albert's opinion wasn't the reason Kerr chose Golden State over New York - Kerr has close ties to Golden State's ownership group, is close with team president Rick Welts, and his daughter plays volleyball for nearbly Cal - but it certainly didn't help Phil Jackson's case. James Dolan and the Knicks are were burned by their own past failures, and Jackson will need to move quickly to prevent any further fallout from the situation.
