Founder and President of the New York Knickerbockers of the National Basketball Association. Born in Lake George, NY, His father died when he was 10 years old and his mother, a practical nurse, opened an office in Brooklyn, NY and sent for him.
While attending Erasmus Hall High School, Mr. Irish worked in the school cafeteria dispensing sodas, coached the school's swimming team and covered high-school sports for several local newspapers. By the time he was graduated from high school in 1924, Mr. Irish estimated that he had earned as much as $100 a week.
Mr. Irish worked his way through the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School, serving as a campus correspondent for six New York and four Philadelphia newspapers. He was graduated from college in 1928 and joined the New York World-Telegram sports staff. In 1930, to augment his income, he applied for a public-relations position with the New York Giants football team.
As a reporter for the World Telegram, he covered a basketball game at Manhattan College and discovered the growing popularity of college basketball. He began booking games into Madison Square Garden the following year, and eventually set his sights on pro ball. In 1946, Irish helped form the Basketball Association of America, the precursor to the modern NBA.
Irish served as executive vice president of the Knicks from 1946 to 1974. HIs tenure included nine straight winning seasons beginning with the team's origin in 1946, and the hiring of Red Holzman, who would prove to be the winningest coach in Knicks history. The founder of the Knicks was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1964.
While attending Erasmus Hall High School, Mr. Irish worked in the school cafeteria dispensing sodas, coached the school's swimming team and covered high-school sports for several local newspapers. By the time he was graduated from high school in 1924, Mr. Irish estimated that he had earned as much as $100 a week.
Mr. Irish worked his way through the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School, serving as a campus correspondent for six New York and four Philadelphia newspapers. He was graduated from college in 1928 and joined the New York World-Telegram sports staff. In 1930, to augment his income, he applied for a public-relations position with the New York Giants football team.
As a reporter for the World Telegram, he covered a basketball game at Manhattan College and discovered the growing popularity of college basketball. He began booking games into Madison Square Garden the following year, and eventually set his sights on pro ball. In 1946, Irish helped form the Basketball Association of America, the precursor to the modern NBA.
Irish served as executive vice president of the Knicks from 1946 to 1974. HIs tenure included nine straight winning seasons beginning with the team's origin in 1946, and the hiring of Red Holzman, who would prove to be the winningest coach in Knicks history. The founder of the Knicks was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1964.
Founder and President of the New York Knickerbockers of the National Basketball Association. Born in Lake George, NY, His father died when he was 10 years old and his mother, a practical nurse, opened an office in Brooklyn, NY and sent for him.
While attending Erasmus Hall High School, Mr. Irish worked in the school cafeteria dispensing sodas, coached the school's swimming team and covered high-school sports for several local newspapers. By the time he was graduated from high school in 1924, Mr. Irish estimated that he had earned as much as $100 a week.
Mr. Irish worked his way through the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School, serving as a campus correspondent for six New York and four Philadelphia newspapers. He was graduated from college in 1928 and joined the New York World-Telegram sports staff. In 1930, to augment his income, he applied for a public-relations position with the New York Giants football team.
As a reporter for the World Telegram, he covered a basketball game at Manhattan College and discovered the growing popularity of college basketball. He began booking games into Madison Square Garden the following year, and eventually set his sights on pro ball. In 1946, Irish helped form the Basketball Association of America, the precursor to the modern NBA.
Irish served as executive vice president of the Knicks from 1946 to 1974. HIs tenure included nine straight winning seasons beginning with the team's origin in 1946, and the hiring of Red Holzman, who would prove to be the winningest coach in Knicks history. The founder of the Knicks was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1964.
While attending Erasmus Hall High School, Mr. Irish worked in the school cafeteria dispensing sodas, coached the school's swimming team and covered high-school sports for several local newspapers. By the time he was graduated from high school in 1924, Mr. Irish estimated that he had earned as much as $100 a week.
Mr. Irish worked his way through the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School, serving as a campus correspondent for six New York and four Philadelphia newspapers. He was graduated from college in 1928 and joined the New York World-Telegram sports staff. In 1930, to augment his income, he applied for a public-relations position with the New York Giants football team.
As a reporter for the World Telegram, he covered a basketball game at Manhattan College and discovered the growing popularity of college basketball. He began booking games into Madison Square Garden the following year, and eventually set his sights on pro ball. In 1946, Irish helped form the Basketball Association of America, the precursor to the modern NBA.
Irish served as executive vice president of the Knicks from 1946 to 1974. HIs tenure included nine straight winning seasons beginning with the team's origin in 1946, and the hiring of Red Holzman, who would prove to be the winningest coach in Knicks history. The founder of the Knicks was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1964.
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