A war is brewing in New York and the opposing sides are the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks. Separated by a bridge, the two teams are building a (possibly) healthy rivalry for the upcoming 2013 season. The Knicks have always had a firm grasp on the city's basketball landscape, but the Nets are a team on the rise and looking to take over. After several players have exchanged choice words with one another, commissioner David Stern has called a meeting for peace.
The New York Post is reports that owners James Dolan and Mikhail Prokhorov were called in to sign a peace treaty to avoid a "full-blown feud" from breaking out in New York. League sources report the meeting was very cordial and pleasant. No one was being punished; it was just a precautionary measure before the season begins.
Tension between the two began to rise before the first tipoff at the Barclays Center. When the Nets officially announced the move from New Jersey to Brooklyn, minority owner Jay Z had a billboard saying "Blueprint for Greatness" erected next to Madison Square Garden. Dolan was reportedly furious about this act and called the NBA offices to complain. There was also that incident where Prokhorov called Dolan a "little man" in a New York Magazine profile.
After Brooklyn signed Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in the offseason, the Nets appeared to look like the better team. Pierce then went on a New York radio station professing his hate for the Knicks and desire for Brooklyn to officially run New York next year. Raymond Felton then felt the need to fire back saying that at the end of the day, the Knicks will always be the true New York team. Shots fired.
"We're not worried about the Brooklyn Nets," Felton said. "We're worried about the New York Knicks.
Even fans are getting in on the action. Long-time Knicks fan Spike Lee was too fond of Pierce's comments. Already not a fan of Garnett, the director told the future Hall of Fame player that he better calm down.
"Other teams are making a lot of noise with their big, major announcements with every move, like the Nets," Lee told ESPNNewYork.com. "The Knicks have been very quiet assembling their team, which I love. I love the fact that people are picking the Knicks fifth or lower in the East. It's great; let people think that. Paul Pierce is talking crazy."
A meeting with Stern is not likely going to calm this down. The Jets and Giants divide the city. The Yankees and Mets divide the city. Now, the Nets and Knicks divide the city. Fans seem to love the excitement and will make sure the rivalry stays hot no matter what the commissioner says.
