National Basketball Association

NBA won't punish Dolan for email to Knicks fan

Published Feb. 9, 2015 5:42 p.m. ET

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NEW YORK (AP) The NBA will not punish Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan for his email to a Knicks fan in which he speculates that the man may be an alcoholic.

Spokesman Mike Bass says Monday that Dolan would not be fined. Commissioner Adam Silver defended Dolan in an interview with the New York Post, calling him a ''consummate New Yorker'' who ''got an unkind email and responded with an unkind email.''

Dolan's email was written Jan. 23 and appeared Sunday on Deadspin.com. He responded to the longtime fan who had criticized him by writing that the man was a ''hateful mess'' and an ''alcoholic maybe.'' He added that the man should ''start rooting for the Nets because the Knicks (don't) want you.''