Knicks Owner James Dolan Rips Longtime Fan in an Email Exchange

New York Knicks owner and Cablevision CEO James Dolan does not respond well to criticism.

According to Deadspin, longtime Knicks' fan, Irving Bierman sent Dolan an email criticizing him on how he has handled the Knicks. The email read:

Subject: I have been a knicks fan since 1952

At one stage I thought that you did a wonderful thing when you acquired EVERYTHING from your dad. However, since then it has been ALL DOWN HILL. Your working with Isaiah Thomas & everything else regarding the Knicks. Bringing on Phil Jackson was a positive beginning, but lowballing Steve Kerr was a DISGRACE to the knicks. The bottom line is that you merely continued to interfere with the franchise.

As a knicks fan for in excess of 60 years, I am utterly embarrassed by your dealings with the Knicks. Sell them so their fans can at least look forward to growing them in a positive direction Obviously, money IS NOT THE ONLY THING. You have done a lot of utterly STUPID business things with the franchise. Please NO MORE.

Respectfully,

[Aaron Bierman's dad]

Much to Bierman's surprise, Dolan responded and he was not too happy about the things Bierman had to say. Dolan's email read:

Mr Bierman 

You are a sad person. Why would anybody write such a hateful letter. I am.just guessing but ill bet your life is a mess and you are a hateful mess. What have you done that anyone would consider positive or nice. I am betting nothing. In fact ill bet you are negative force in everyone who comes in contact with you. You most likely have made your family miserable. Alcoholic maybe. I just celebrated my 21 year anniversary of sobriety. You should try it. Maybe it will help you become a person that folks would like to have around. In the mean while start rooting.for the Nets because the Knicks dont want you.

Respectfully

James Dolan

Bierman's son, Aaron, provided copies of the email exchange.

Since the publication of Dolan's nasty reply, the Bierman, 73, commented via ESPN.com stating, "I just felt enough is enough is enough."

He added on WFAN's "Boomer & Carton" show, "Look, I was just giving my feelings. I mean. I'm not a violent person. I'm not looking to - my biggest question is why? Why do you make these dumb, irrelevant decisions that tear down a franchise? To me, it was a joke. Everything he said to me was a joke. It had nothing to do with (what I wrote) in my original email."

The Knicks are currently 10-41.