If you’re an NBA fan then you know that Jack Nicholson is as much associated with the Los Angeles Lakers as Spike Lee is associated with the New York Knicks. Likewise, if you’re an NBA fan then you know that New York Knick fans, some of the best fans in the sport, abhor James Dolan. Dolan is the executive chairman and CEO of The Madison Square Garden Company and executive chairman of MSG Networks. As the chairman of these companies, Dolan oversees all operations within the company and also supervises day-to-day operations of its professional sports teams, including the Knicks, New York Rangers, and New York Liberty, as well as their regional sports cable networks, which include MSG Network and MSG Plus. When it comes to New York City’s pro sports (America’s largest city) Dolan is a powerful player and he has no problem leveraging his power in a dictatorial manner.
Notice the post from Barstool below which states, “First, Charles Oakley and now Spike Lee. One by one every single Knicks fan will be banned from MSG” In reality, Dolan has banned many Knicks fans from ever returning to Madison Square Garden simply because they disagree with how the team is operated.
On 3/2, Spike Lee was stopped after having his ticket scanned at Madison Square Garden’s employee entrance, which he says he’s been using for 28 years. The guards demanded Lee leave the arena and reenter through a regular entrance. The incident was caught on video.
First, Charles Oakley and now Spike Lee. One by one every single Knicks fan will be banned from MSG (Via @BroTalkLivePod) pic.twitter.com/DgQGqN2fb7
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 3, 2020
"I'm being harassed by James Dolan and I don't know why."
—Spike Lee pic.twitter.com/ca28qHYN63
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 3, 2020
Spike Lee's response when finding out he spends roughly $300K a year on Knicks tickets and has given them almost $10M over 30 years:
"I look stupid now." pic.twitter.com/hmuMJttA4u
— ESPN (@espn) March 3, 2020
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"Not this year … I'm done."
You won't see Spike Lee at another Knicks game this season, according to him. pic.twitter.com/jdcNLBeopC
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 3, 2020
The video below shows Oakley being kicked out of MSG in February 2017. Oakley played for the Knicks for 10 season. The team made the playoff each season Oakley played for the Knicks at a time when the NBA (and the Eastern Conference in particular) was dominated by the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls.
Catch the clip below from NY news outlet PIX11 discussing a Knicks fan being banned from MSG.