Reports: Knicks Owner Forced Mike Woodson to Fire His Agent


Despite denials, it’s widely believed that Mike Woodson and the Knicks are in preliminary talks regarding a contract extension for the head coach. And according to both the NY Post and NY Daily News, the Knicks pressured Woodson into getting rid of his agent: “Mike Woodson’s relationship with Larry Brown didn’t prevent the Knicks from hiring him last summer, but in order to keep the job long term the coach has, at the urging of Madison Square Garden management, distanced himself from the Hall of Famer. Woodson’s contract negotiations with the Knicks began last week when the interim head coach decided to fire his agent, Joe Glass, who also represents Brown, the Daily News has learned. For five years and up until last Friday, Woodson had been represented by Glass, who negotiated Brown’s five-year, $50 million contract with the Knicks in the summer of 2005. Brown spent one tumultuous season as Knicks coach before Garden chairman James Dolan fired him with cause. The ugly divorce ended with a settlement in October of 2006, in which Brown received an $18.5 million payout. The bitterness from that break-up apparently still exists since, according to a source, Woodson was advised that it would be in his interests to change agents. A person close to Woodson denies that the Garden influenced his decision, saying only that Woodson felt changing representation would assure of him of signing a long-term deal with the club. Glass, 87, is in declining health and was unavailable for comment. His son, Keith, spoke on behalf of the Glass family when he said: ‘Hey, Mike deserves the job. I’m trying to take the high road and I won’t be asking anyone at the Garden for directions.'”