Spike Lee Supports NY Knicks Legend Patrick Ewing In Madison Square Garden Dustup

Film director and New York Knicks superfan Spike Lee has blasted Madison Sq. Back garden security for hassling Patrick Ewing, the Georgetown basketball coach who was associated in an incident previously this 7 days.

Ewing, a Knicks legend whose jersey hangs in the rafters of the world’s most popular arena, claimed he was “accosted” by safety on Thursday while he organized to coach Georgetown in the Massive East Event.

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Lee underwent related difficulties with MSG safety before, and vented on ESPN’s Initially Just take that hassling Ewing at the Back garden was inexcusable. Lee’s incident happened when he was questioned to use another entrance to the arena instead of the employee’s entrance that he claimed he had employed for 28 several years.

“I’m not blaming this on [James] Dolan,” Lee claimed referring to the Knicks proprietor and Madison Sq. Yard Sports activities and Madison Square Garden Leisure and government chairman of MSG Networks. “There has to be something just improper at Madison Sq. Backyard garden. Can any of you imagine Derek Jeter becoming stopped entering Yankee Stadium? Magic Johnson staying stopped coming into the Staples Heart? Michael Jordan – the G.O.A.T. – staying stopped getting into the United Heart? WTF!”

Lee added: “The indignity, the disrespect, even if I’m a younger child born following Patrick was with the Knicks’ glory several years, he’s 7-foot-2!” Lee claimed. “And you explain to me there is no just one in the vicinity as Patrick is heading by means of the metal detector to say, ‘Yo, you, which is Patrick. Let him by.’ How does that transpire? I never have an understanding of it. Which is not heading to take place at Yankee Stadium. There has to be some popular feeling.”

An MSG Entertainment spokesman responded.

“Jim and Patrick have a extensive-standing romance they spoke this afternoon and reaffirmed that. We all know, regard and value what he means to The Backyard and New York. Fantastic luck to him and his Hoyas in the Major East semi-finals.”

Ewing is not the very first Knicks star to have a slipping out with the team. Ewing’s former teammate, Charles Oakley, was forcibly eliminated from MSG in 2017 and arrested.