According to sources, a Cablevision attorney sent an e-mail to cafepress.com, which manufactures, distributes and handles the shirt sales for SellTheKnicks.com, an anti-James Dolan site. The site has been selling derogatory T-shirts with his likeness, including one with Dolan pictured in a dunce cap, Marc Berman has learned.

"I don't know how you claim something like that," said one of the founders of SellTheKnicks.com. "His face is one thing. The name Dolan is incredibly generic. It's a common name."

"It's kind of spineless," he said. "At least we have [Dolan's] attention. If he wasn't scared of what we possibly could do, he'd let it roll over. It's encouraging, but it's also disappointing he's being so petty and can't take a joke."