Dolan Cultivated Garden of Heathens

James Dolan is only in charge at Madison Square Garden, the New York Times’ Selena Roberts says, because his dad wanted to keep him out of trouble. The court decision against Isiah Thomas, which exposed the Garden’s seamy underbelly, proves that didn’t work very well, she says, describing a Dolan reign of terror that hurt the careers of many employees.

Jim has been prone to fire staffers for trifles like bringing him flat soda, and presided over a frat-boy atmosphere filled with misogynistic lingo. NBA officials think David Stern may ask father Charles Dolan to take the keys from Jim. This is about more than basketball, Roberts says, but professional decorum, family legacy, and treating people fairly. (More New York Knicks stories.)