98.7 FM ESPN New York/Yes Network’s Michael Kay reported on Friday afternoon that former New York Knicks star Charles Oakley is banned for life from Madison Square Garden, following Wednesday night’s altercation with MSG security that resulted in Oakley’s arrest:
Soon after Kay announced this news on his radio show, Knicks owner James Dolan came on the show as a guest and said that Oakley’s ban from MSG is not permanent: “Hopefully it won’t be forever.”
And Dolan did this while reading prepared notes out of a binder:
https://twitter.com/iamjoonlee/status/830171107579805698
Dolan also said that nothing would make him happier than having Oakley honored at MSG, but Oakley would need to address his behaviors for this to happen:
Um, okay. Consider us skeptical that nothing would make Dolan happier than Oakley being honored at MSG, but interesting comments nonetheless.
It was reported earlier on Friday that MSG security chief Frank Benedetto had been fired, and Dolan confirmed the news:
To close out the (long) interview, Kay asked Dolan if the Oakley situation was embarrassing for the organization:
“Well, I certainly think that Charles should be embarrassed.
Should we be embarrassed? I mean, I think we’re sad. I wouldn’t say embarrassed. This is an abusive situation.The staff, the workers at Madison Square Garden, me, etc were abused here.
If you’re being abused, don’t be embarrassed. Just refuse to be abused.”
Knicks fans have been siding with Oakley in this feud, and that’s certainly not going to change after Dolan’s handling of the matter today.