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[h1]IT'S A GARDEN OF ... 'SPIES' & GOONS[/h1][h2]BROWN TELLS OF SNOOPS, SNUBS AND KNICK HELL[/h2][h3]By MARC BERMAN[/h3]
[img]http://www.nypost.com/seven/01232008/photos/knicks.jpg[/img]
UNDER SURVEILLANCE:Larry Brown had to watch his back during his disastrous one-year run as Knick coach - as he says there were "spies" throughout the Garden watching him closely.
January 23, 2008 -- Former Knick coach Larry Brown finally struck back at the franchise, complaining about "spies throughout the arena" watchinghis movements and the cold shoulder he received in his final doomed weeks.
Brown had been on a gag order after a settlement was reached on his contract that netted him an additional $18.5 million. He raked in $28 million total forone season in which he guided the original Team Titanic to a 23-59 record in 2005-2006.
Sources said Commissioner David Stern told Brown he could not speak about the KnicksNew York Knicks
after the settlement.
But in February's issue of Philadelphia Magazine, Brown, now a Sixers executive, said, "Imagine when you get to work, they don't talk to you.They had security people standing close to me in press conferences, and spies throughout the arena."
Brown got in trouble with owner James Dolan not just for the horrendous record but for violating media policies that forbid talking to reporters without apublic-relations official present.
The policy also forbids criticizing players to the media without telling the player to his face - something Brown did regularly.
After it was reported Brown would be fired, he conducted a handful of roadside interviews with beat writers staking him out by the practice facility. TheKnicks would not allow Brown to talk to the press during the 40-day period in which Dolan let Brown twist in the wind.
The cold shoulder Brown referred to came during the 40-day waiting period that followed Peter Vecsey's report that Dolan was mulling firing him. ThoughBrown was conducting pre-draft workouts for the club, Brown and team president Isiah Thomas never talked.
It came to a head when Brown and Thomas sat at opposite sides of the arena during the 2006 pre-draft camp in Orlando, never looking at each other.
The Knicks declined comment yesterday, but a source said Brown was also not returning hellos from staffers.
The Hall of Fame coach has since returned to Philadelphia, serving as an executive vice president with the 76ers.
Brown said he had no interest in replacing current coach Maurice Cheeks because he "could never stab Mo in the back like that."
"I still want to coach," Brown said. "I don't want to coach here. I don't want it to end the way it did in New York. I don't wishthat on anybody."
[img]http://www.nypost.com/seven/01232008/photos/knicks.jpg[/img]
UNDER SURVEILLANCE:Larry Brown had to watch his back during his disastrous one-year run as Knick coach - as he says there were "spies" throughout the Garden watching him closely.
January 23, 2008 -- Former Knick coach Larry Brown finally struck back at the franchise, complaining about "spies throughout the arena" watchinghis movements and the cold shoulder he received in his final doomed weeks.
Brown had been on a gag order after a settlement was reached on his contract that netted him an additional $18.5 million. He raked in $28 million total forone season in which he guided the original Team Titanic to a 23-59 record in 2005-2006.
Sources said Commissioner David Stern told Brown he could not speak about the KnicksNew York Knicks
But in February's issue of Philadelphia Magazine, Brown, now a Sixers executive, said, "Imagine when you get to work, they don't talk to you.They had security people standing close to me in press conferences, and spies throughout the arena."
Brown got in trouble with owner James Dolan not just for the horrendous record but for violating media policies that forbid talking to reporters without apublic-relations official present.
The policy also forbids criticizing players to the media without telling the player to his face - something Brown did regularly.
After it was reported Brown would be fired, he conducted a handful of roadside interviews with beat writers staking him out by the practice facility. TheKnicks would not allow Brown to talk to the press during the 40-day period in which Dolan let Brown twist in the wind.
The cold shoulder Brown referred to came during the 40-day waiting period that followed Peter Vecsey's report that Dolan was mulling firing him. ThoughBrown was conducting pre-draft workouts for the club, Brown and team president Isiah Thomas never talked.
It came to a head when Brown and Thomas sat at opposite sides of the arena during the 2006 pre-draft camp in Orlando, never looking at each other.
The Knicks declined comment yesterday, but a source said Brown was also not returning hellos from staffers.
The Hall of Fame coach has since returned to Philadelphia, serving as an executive vice president with the 76ers.
Brown said he had no interest in replacing current coach Maurice Cheeks because he "could never stab Mo in the back like that."
"I still want to coach," Brown said. "I don't want to coach here. I don't want it to end the way it did in New York. I don't wishthat on anybody."
