Peter Vecsey

HOOP DU JOUR

How many of you would be startled to discover Isiah Thomas has been creepin’ round Billy Hunter’s back door to get his job?

How many would be stunned to learn Florida International University’s current head coach is angling in due course to replace the executive director of the Players Association should its membership feel flogged (compromised following so many compromises) by David Stern upon the completion of a new collective bargaining agreement or if negotiations again break down and additional salary (games) get forfeited?

How many would be surprised to find out Thomas, a former president of the union during his playing days, is coiled to commandeer the slightest insinuation of instability and insurgence?

JEFF ZELEVANSKY

Ishia Thomas

Let’s see a show of hand.

According to a pretty piped-in informant, skulking and stalking are exactly what Thomas has been doing as Hunter tries not to lose further frontage to one clearly identified Nor’easter after another:

Namely, commissioner Stern stage-managed by 29 owners; players poised to push for immediate decertification if a deal can’t be struck during this extensive bargaining session; weighty agents counseling clients that leadership is limp; and growing frustration among even Hunter’s staunchest supporters.

It’s impossible to conceal such stress and strain.

“Hunter and [current president] Derek Fisher have the same looks on their faces as Johnny Fontaine did when Michael Corleone ‘asked’ him to sign a contract to appear five times a year at the casino,” observed column contributor Michael Catarevas.

Twice before in the last year or so, I left call-back messages for my old tag-team partner, to no avail. Usually I stop short after being stiffed once. It’s now three times and I’m actually starting to enjoy it. Except I can’t say for sure if my source has the goods on Thomas, and that ain’t right. A given, however, is he’s positively capable of coveting Hunter’s sphere of influence (or, for that matter, Joe Paterno’s fumbled oblong one) and swanky $3 million annual salary.

Should an opening occur any time soon, the union’s search committee might want to check out how successful Thomas was the last time he and Stern haggled.

In the spring of 2000, Thomas was the Hawks’ first choice to become head coach. But before he could gain approval from the commissioner, he was told to detach himself as majority owner of the Continental Basketball League (a conflict of interest was cited). Despite already having built a home in Atlanta, Thomas vehemently refused. That prompted the Hawks to retract their offer. Ownership did not want a long, ugly court fight with the league.

LOL…. If he’s in charge,  then the players are really screwed.