Charles Oakley Has Been Banned From The Team Stadium He Used To Play For By The Owner James Dolan

Charles Oakley Has Been Banned From The Team
Stadium He Used To Play For By The Owner James Dolan 

BHR Hollywood Reports.........James Dolan banned Charles Oakley from Madison Square Garden  Friday, though said he was open to reconciling with the former Knicks forward.

In an interview with ESPN Radio's Michael Kay, Dolan also confirmed a report that he had fired the Garden's security chief (Frank Benedetto)  two nights after Oakley was forcefully removed from his seat and arrested at a Knicks game. Dolan said the firing of the security head stemmed from more than just the handling of the incident.

James Dolan

The Knicks said Oakley was "abusive" Wednesday even before reaching his seats in the first quarter, and on Friday distributed a witness report featuring more than a dozen witnesses who described his behavior and their interactions with him.

The team also shared with The AP a 1-minute security video of moments leading up to the altercation, containing brief clips of Oakley in his seat, talking to a hostess and being confronted by Garden officials.

Dolan said Oakley used racial and sexual overtones and that games must remain safe for fans, so he was enforcing the ban.

"We are going to put the ban in place and hopefully it won't be forever," Dolan said.

Charles Oakley Playing For The Kinks 

He praised Oakley as a great Knick and said he hoped that the power forward would be able to join his former teammates to be honored on the court someday.

But he said Oakley first must address what he characterized as anger and perhaps alcohol issues, adding that the team would help if asked.


The Knicks contend the trouble with Oakley on Wednesday started even before he reached his seat, and Dolan said in the interview that Garden officials never should have let him get there.

Charles Oakley 

"It's very clear to us, right, that Charles Oakley came to the Garden with an agenda, right, with a mission in mind, and from the moment he stepped into the Garden, and I mean the moment he walked through the first set of doors, he began with this behavior, abusive behavior, disrespectful behavior," Dolan said.

Still, the Knicks have been criticized by current and former NBA players, as well as some of their own fans, for the treatment of Oakley during the game that was televised nationally on ESPN.

 Fans chanted his name during a New York Rangers hockey game on Thursday, and earlier in Friday's game there were chants of "We want Oakley!" and "Free Charles Oakley!"

But while he understands why fans are so supportive of Oakley, because of the way he played and how much more the Knicks won, he feels he can't allow anyone in the building who can ruin the experience for others.

BREAKING:

"Charles Oakley will never be allowed to enter MSG again, even if he purchases a ticket."

-According to @RealMichaelKay

— The Michael Kay Show (@TMKSESPN) February 10, 2017

"Charles has a problem, people need to understand that. He has a problem with anger. He may have a problem with alcohol."

-James Dolan

— The Michael Kay Show (@TMKSESPN) February 10, 2017

"That can't be something he intended to have happen. Maybe he doesn't remember it. I think he's somewhat in denial."

-James Dolan on Oakley

— The Michael Kay Show (@TMKSESPN) February 10, 2017