Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 2, 1991 TAG: 9103020093
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Checketts and Richard Evans, president and chief executive officer of Madison Square Garden, said Bianchi's position would be terminated and that a vice president of player personnel would be chosen, probably after the season.
Checketts and Evans said John MacLeod would remain as coach the rest of the season.
The Knicks, after beating San Antonio on Thursday for their fourth straight victory, are 26-31 and in third place in the Atlantic Division, 16 games behind first-place Boston. Until defeating Washington in overtime Tuesday, the Knicks had the league's worst home record, 11-17.
All-Star center Patrick Ewing has voiced his displeasure with the club's performance, guard Mark Jackson was suspended for two games, attendance is down, and Stu Jackson, who began the season as coach, was replaced after 15 games by MacLeod.
Evans said the decision to dismiss Bianchi was made about a month ago, and had nothing to do with recent developments.
"We don't make decisions on what's happened over the last four games or the last 10 games," he said. "This is a change for the long run. The performance of the team, until recently, is the most important factor. We don't make decisions on a single instance."
Under Bianchi's tenure, the Knicks were 161-142, but had declined markedly the past two seasons after finishing 52-30 in 1988-89 under coach Rich Pitino.
Bianchi also was criticized for his trades and his lack of them. He gave up a No. 1 pick for oft-injured Kiki Vandeweghe and traded 24-year-old Rod Strickland to San Antonio for 34-year-old Maurice Cheeks.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB