MSG teams’ silence wrong approach
Madison Square Garden is touted as the “World’s Most Famous Arena,” and when the Knicks or the Rangers are playing, it’s easy to see why.
There’s an energy about that building – historical significance bolstered by that unique New York spirit.
It’s often the loudest place in the city. But today, it’s uncomfortably quiet.
It’s been that way for months thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, yet it feels different right now.
While one team after another across all professional sports leagues in the United States is taking a stand against racism and voicing its support for the black community, the Madison Square Garden Company, which owns the Knicks and the Rangers, remains silent.
In an email from executive chairman and CEO Jim Dolan to all MSG employees, which was leaked and first reported by ESPN on Monday night, we got some hints as to why MSG has elected not to comment on the George Floyd killing or the social unrest that has blazed through the country like wildfire.
Dolan began by stating, “I realize the importance of this issue,” adding, “We at Madison Square Garden stand by our values of a respectful and peaceful workplace.”
For its part, MSG has a record of inclusive hiring practices. To begin the 2019-20 season, the Knicks’ hierarchy consisted of all African Americans – head coach David Fizdale, president Steve Mills, general manager Scott Perry, assistant GM Gerald Madkins and vice president of player development Craig Robinson.
That’s important to point out, but Dolan went on to explain the decision to remain publicly silent, writing, “As companies in the business of sports and entertainment, however, we are not any more qualified than anyone else to offer our opinion on social matters.”
Many fans are expressing their disappointment
with this stance, with reports of dissatisfaction among Knicks players as well.
On the flip side, some fans have asked questions along the lines of, “What difference is a statement from a basketball or hockey team going to make?”
Unfortunately, they’re missing the point.
In a vacuum, sure, you could argue that a racist isn’t going to read a statement from the Rangers and suddenly have a change of heart. But that’s not what the purpose of such a statement would be.
It’s about unity for the cause – a universal message that everyone should be treated with decency and respect, and that injustice won’t be tolerated.
So far, both the NBA and the NHL have been outspoken, as have the vast majority of the teams in both leagues. The Knicks and the Rangers are among the few that have remained on the sidelines; their silence preventing an opportunity for a unified display of support.
Condemning racism shouldn’t be viewed as political. Quite frankly, it should be viewed as the bare minimum.
I understand that going beyond that is viewed as risky. Any statement MSG were to put out would be picked apart and criticized in one way or another, especially now that they’ve dragged their feet.
It’s impossible to dissect such a complicated issue in one tweet and even harder for everyone who reads it to fully comprehend the intentions of the sender. I’ve learned that firsthand – but that’s not an excuse to shy away from having difficult conversations.
I also understand that MSG has close relationships with the New York Police and Fire Departments and has worked hard to honor them over the years, particularly in the aftermath of 9/11. They deserve credit for that – as they do for their tremendous work with the Garden of Dreams Foundation – but that shouldn’t disqualify them from addressing the issues at hand.
It’s possible to praise the work of good cops while denouncing police brutality and calling for systemic changes. These aren’t mutually exclusive ideas.
In fact, the Knicks and the Rangers could take it a step further and offer to help improve the relationship between citizens and police in the community. They have the platform and the resources to make a difference.
Both teams dipped their toe in the water with all-black Instagram posts for #BlackoutTuesday, but still nothing in writing – and nothing of substance. A request for comment from MSG remains unanswered.
Meanwhile, Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller took matters into his own hands Monday night, tweeting a powerful statement in support of the movement while providing insight into the struggles of being a black man in a mostly white sport.
Having the courage to share those personal experiences forces others to walk in Miller’s shoes and deepen their understanding of what the black community is going through.
It’s something we need more of, not less. And while a canned statement from either organization wouldn’t have nearly the same effect, at least it would signal a shift from indifferent bystander to actively being part of the solution.