Madison Square Garden vs. New York Daily News is the New York Media War You've Been Waiting For

Today, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News wrote a story suggesting that maybe the Knicks held off on announcing the injury until after playoff tickets went on sale. Believe it or not, the Dolans were not happy. This afternoon the Dolans two companies, Madison Square Garden and Cablevision answered those charges.

Via The Knicks Blog:

Cablevision Systems Corporation statement: “Today’s story in the New York Daily News is just another in a long list of articles and cover stories designed to provoke Cablevision and The Madison Square Garden Company.  Mr. Zuckerman has engaged in a campaign of intimidation and extortion to effect a merger between Newsday and the Daily News.  He has made repeated overtures to Mr. Dolan and his executives to combine the operations with joint ownership and shared printing and editorial expense.  This proposal was rejected multiple times.  In fact, at a Four Seasons lunch meeting on March 6, Mr. Zuckerman once again made his proposal, this time adding that “the bad press would end if we became joint owners” (a direct quote).  Shortly thereafter, the Daily News ran a full front page with Mr. Dolan’s picture as a centerpiece for a skull and crossbones graphic that included the word “Toxic” in bold print.  Today’s back page story is just another in a series of these defamatory extortions.”

The Madison Square Garden Company statement: “Today’s Daily News story is completely inaccurate, and serves only as another example of fabricated reporting by Mr. Zuckerman’s newspaper.   The suggestion that the timing of Jeremy Lin’s injury report is in any way connected to a longstanding Knicks playoff ticket deadline is a malicious attack on The Madison Square Garden Company.   Jeremy Lin decided on Saturday to have surgery now in hopes that he would be able to return in time for, or at least during, the playoffs.  The Knicks have sold out 61 games in a row, including last season’s playoffs, and as standard practice we provided season ticket holders a first opportunity benefit to reserve playoff tickets before going on sale to the general public.”

Cablevision President and CEO and The Madison Square Garden Company Executive Chairman Jim Dolan said, “I understand that there will always be those who are critical of anyone who owns a controlling interest in three New York sports franchises.  But, Mr. Zuckerman’s attempts to parlay this into a favorable arrangement for himself could not be more misguided.”

The companies are actively pursuing their remedial options.

And boom goes the dynamite. One of New York’s premiere dailies and one of New York’s premiere bumbling franchises. “Extortion.” “Intimidation.” “Merger.” “Remedial options.” This story has it all.

Isola responded on Twitter by pointing out the positives of the Daily News’ coverage of the Knicks has been over the years. And this:

@FIsolaNYDN: I may be wrong but it wasn’t the Daily News who told the MSG intern, “so, you gonna get in the truck.”

The next step will obviously be the artwork on the front and back cover of the Daily News. The Pun Machine 3000 is going to be working overtime tonight. The Knicks have the night off, but return to MSG to host the Pacers tomorrow night.