As we all know, the Charles Oakley feud with James Dolan continues on, with the two most recently seeing their mediation canceled due to Dolan testing positive for coronavirus. But the feud itself still remains top of mind for some former players, including Chris Childs.
Childs played five seasons with the Knicks, including the tail end of Oakley's career with New York. So, while talking on CBS Sports Radio with Damon Amendolara, Childs was asked how he felt about the whole situation. In his answer, he made sure to voice his frustrations with not just Dolan, but Latrell Sprewell too.
"To this day, we talk a lot and how they treated him when they threw him out the arena affected the way how I think about management," Childs said. "I enjoyed Steve Mills, talked with him on occasion. But the way that Dolan has treated the fans, ex-players, and having a photo op after having Oakley thrown out and have Sprewell at the game sitting by him and [Larry Johnson] at the game. That was just so disrespectful to not only Oak, but to me as well."
It was the next day after Oakley was taken out by Madison Square Garden security that Sprewell was seen with Dolan courtside, and many pictures were taken of them being friendly with one another. That wasn't something Childs liked at all, and he admits he wouldn't have been able to control himself if he was in Sprewell's position.
"Very much so. Oak and I talked about it," he said. "I'm not sure how I would've behaved if I was there. I spoke that I probably would've been arrested as well because that's my teammate, but it's also my friend. But to see none of the guys that played for the Knicks -- Patrick [Ewing] -- I don't think he spoke on Oak's behalf. Or Sprewell showing up when he's been away from the team for so many years."
Overall, Childs doesn't think Dolan is the man to bring the Knicks back to their playoff days. When Amendolara brought up the fact that it's been 21 years under Dolan's management, he couldn't believe it.
"That hurts. 21 years...wow," Childs said. "...So until that changes, I don't think that anything positive is going to happen."
