Courtesy the New York Daily News

(October 25, 2010) The appropriate response to all the niceties exchanged between Madison Square Garden Network suits and Gus Johnson, in the wake of the Excitable One's exile from the Knicks' radio booth, is simple.

Count to three. Then take your index finger and stick it down your throat. Please. Johnson kissing MSG tuchis and getting the same response in return can't hide the fact the Gulag Network has been greasing the skids for Johnson's departure - economically speaking - since 2008.

Johnson screamed "rise and fire" and MSG suits shot him down.

If Johnson doesn't realize this he is only fooling himself. See, it's understandable why he's recycling the same quotes ("I'm really thankful and appreciative to have had the opportunity to work at the Garden") on his MSG Autopsy Media Tour.

Johnson would be foolish to burn a bridge. Especially when the possibility exists his pal, Isiah Thomas, may be headed back to the Garden. If Zeke returns, there's a good chance Johnson won't be far behind.

Still, Johnson was shafted here, or so say people close to him. "They (MSG Network execs) were cheap, real cheap," one Johnson confidant said. "It didn't make any sense. When it comes to paying people, the Garden has turned into the old SportsChannel. There's a lot of negativity there. A lot of aggravation."

Wow, now there's a shocking revelation. When James (Guitar Jimmy) Dolan fired Marv Albert he was well on his way to gutting MSGN and turning it into SportsChannel. In case anyone forgot, the old SportsChannel was owned by Cablevision, get it?

While Johnson's national star was on the rise, as he became (next to Jim Nantz) the most recognizable play-by-play voice on CBS' NCAA hoops coverage, MSG put the squeeze on him, treating Johnson like some ham-and-egger.

Back in late August 2008, MSG played hardball with Johnson over a new contract, which he finally signed a month later. Then last season, MSG stripped Johnson of his TV duties. Johnson was backing up Mike Breen when he split to call ESPN/ABC NBA telecasts.

This time around, NBA TV sources said, MSG suits wanted to restore the TV portion of Johnson's schedule but not pay him what he was earning when he last did Knicks TV. This would only makes sense in the nonsensical world of the Gulag.

That appears to be the final slap in the face, the last insult. Johnson's unique style was never fully embraced or appreciated by MSGN suits. Nor was the stature he achieved. If Gulag execs value what Johnson brings to the mike they would have paid him.

Instead, they nickeled and dimed him.

MSG brainiacs are not aware there are advantages having two nationally known voices - Breen and Johnson. Two guys with different styles who have a wide, diverse appeal. In a broadcast world where perception is everything, that would have been good for the Garden's image.

Then again, image means nothing to Dolan.

So, Johnson is just another schlemiel, one who actually took pride in waving Knicks pom-poms and remained positive through all the down years while providing cover for his bobo Isiah.

In the end, all it got Johnson was a courtesy flush - right down MSG's toilet.

blog comments powered by Disqus