New York Knicks: James Dolan’s most embarrassing PR moments

James Dolan embarrassing moments: The Charles Oakley dispute

While public opinion has quickly shifted against Charles Oakley, when the rugged forward was still the Apple of Knicks fans nostalgic eyes, James Dolan had him forcefully removed from Madison Square Garden in the middle of a nationally televised game, and later called him an alcoholic.

The Knicks have a history of turning away from franchise legends who don’t play to Dolan’s rhythm. Until the recent pandemic, it was considered blasphemous to include any promotion of Jeremy Lin in the halls of Madison Square Garden. The owner felt betrayed when Lin signed a poison-pill offer sheet with the Houston Rockets following the season that brought Linsanity to New York.

Oakley represented another example of a player who was popular among the fans and treated as an outcast by Mr. Dolan. The fact he later accused Patrick Ewing’s favorite teammate of being an alcoholic, without any evidence, made the matter even worse.

Charges brought against Oakley from the incident were later dropped. The NBA star tried to sue the Knicks for assault, battery, and defamation, but his lawsuit is now on the verge of collapse in appeals court.

It would be better for everyone if the whole mess disappeared. Instead it’s a public relations nightmare that keeps finding its way back into the headlines.