Charles Oakley On Knicks Owner James Dolan After Arrest At Madison Square Garden
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Charles Oakley became the center of attention midway through the first quarter of the New York Knicks’ home game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, when the former Knick was arrested following an altercation with security.
Ex-Knick Charles Oakley Arrested At MSG
Oakley, who played 10 years with the Knicks, was reportedly arguing with owner James Dolan before the situation escalated. The 53-year-old was removed from his front row seat, handcuffed and at one point knocked to the ground by Madison Square Garden security after Oakley became physically aggressive when responding to security’s efforts to calm him down.
Play briefly stopped as everyone in the arena observed the scuffle unfold. Fans reportedly began chanting “Free Oakley,” as the former NBA star continued to angrily argue and even at one point said, “F— that, let me go,” as he was being dragged out into the tunnel at MSG while Knicks president Phil Jackson attempted to calm him down. “I didn’t do nothing,” Oakley also yelled.
Knicks PR issued a statement on Oakley: “Charles Oakley came to the game tonight and behaved in a highly inappropriate and completely abusive manner. He has been ejected and is currently being arrested by the New York City Police Department. He was a great Knick and we hope he gets some help soon.”
Following the altercation, Oakley was charged and arrested with three counts of misdemeanor third-degree assault and one count of misdemeanor criminal trespass, according to The New York Times. He was released with an appearance ticket. He has a court date scheduled for March, according to ESPN.
Oakley later said Thursday that he has attempted to repair his broken relationship with Dolan several times, but the Knicks owner has shunned him on every occasion.
“He don’t want to meet with me,” Oakley told The Undefeated’s Mike Wise. “Man won’t even shake my hand.”
Oakley has criticized the Knicks over the years, specifically slamming Dolan’s leadership as owner at times. . But Oakley told The Undefeated he was really hurt when Dolan refused to shake his hand when Oakley approached him at the 2014 All-Star Game in New Orleans.
Since then, their already-strained relationship has only worsened, Oakley said.
“Whenever I go to the Garden now, security has been told to inform him immediately,” Oakley said. “Last year against Charlotte I went to a game and a bunch of security people came up to me right away and told me not to walk around, stay where I am. He just doesn’t want me in the building.”
Oakley played with the Knicks from 1988 to 1998.
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 05: Former professional basketball player Charles Oakley attends the 2012 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award presentation at Espace on December 5, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Article by Pablo Mena
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