We've been privy to some fairly outrageous sports figures in this market when it comes to quotes. Dennis Green springs to mind. So does Randy Moss. But when it comes to pure delusion, we have had to settle for admiring the master from a distance. Because Isiah Thomas ... phew, he really knows how to get it done.
To recap a stunningly unbelievable interview with ESPN.com:
*Thomas, who was fired by the Knicks as coach and president in 2008 after pretty much running them into the ground on and off the court, believes that he will return someday to the Knicks and lead them to a championship. Though he's coaching at Florida International right now, Thomas says he hopes "every single day of the week" that he is the successor to current team president Donnie Walsh.
DONNIE, YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR ELEMENT. DUDE, WE NEED TO SIGN THREE STIFFS TO MAX CONTRACTS.
*This quote: "When I look at my GM/executive record, if I'm evaluated on that, then whoever's after Donnie, if you're not talking about some of the top people in the game, I'll put my draft evaluation record up against anyone's."
We've read it five times, and our head has exploded three different ways. Is he saying he's one of the best? Is he saying he's one of the best if you take the best out of the equation? Can he be serious?
*And this: Thomas was trying to survive until he could recruit LeBron James, the longest of long-term strategies doomed from the start. "That's a problem with being a visionary," Thomas said. "You're way too far out, and by the time it catches up, people will hack you to death."
The sexual harassment trial amounted to the final, fatal hack. "I think if you take away that trial," Thomas said, "I'm still there, we make the playoffs a couple of times ... and I don't know if Miami has LeBron or Wade. We may have had LeBron and Wade."
