Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan has fired his top security chief following Wednesday’s altercation between former New York Knicks star Charles Oakley and arena security personnel during a game at the famed Manhattan arena.
Frank Benedetto, the senior vice president for security at the Madison Square Garden Company, was fired on Friday morning, a source told DNAinfo New York.
Oakley was arrested during the first quarter of Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers after a clash in the stands with arena security personnel near Dolan, who owns the Knicks.
The 53-year-old shoved security guards before they pulled him away from his seat behind the baseline. Fans chanted “Oakley! Oakley!” in support of the beloved power forward, who played for the Knicks from 1988-98 and helped them reach the 1994 NBA finals, but has had a poor relationship with the team because of his criticism of Dolan.
The NYPD said Oakley was arrested on three counts of assault, all third degree. Police gave him a summons for a desk appearance at a later date.
“Charles Oakley came to the game tonight and behaved in a highly inappropriate and completely abusive manner,” the Knicks said in a statement issued the night of the game. “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.”
Have watched this video of Charles Oakley going after James Dolan 10x & dont know who looks more stunned, John McEnroe or Kristaps Porzingis pic.twitter.com/Zp40XtNfaI
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 9, 2017
Oakley said during an ESPN Radio interview on Thursday that he had been in his seat for just a few minutes when he was surrounded by security, denying that they approached him after he shouted at Dolan.
“Now I’m four rows from this guy, so I’m going to walk in this place and just start hollering, ‘James Dolan! James Dolan!’ I mean, that’s embarrassing, man. I did not do none of that,” Oakley said. “I didn’t know the man was sitting in front of me at first until they walked over there.”
Oakley said he has been told that Dolan must be informed by security whenever he is in the arena, and that MSG staff follow him when he leaves his seat to go the bathroom.
But the Knicks said he was causing trouble Wednesday even before security reached his seat.
“There are dozens of security staff, employees and NYPD that witnessed Oakley’s abusive behavior,” the team said in a statement. “It started when he entered the building and continued until he was arrested and left the building. Every single statement we have received is consistent in describing his actions. Everything he said since the incident is pure fiction.”
The 6ft 8in Oakley was a rugged enforcer openly appreciated by teammates, from Michael Jordan in Chicago to Patrick Ewing in New York, and he remains respected by current players. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade posted pictures of Oakley on their Instagram pages, and Clippers coach Doc Rivers said it was difficult watching his former Knicks teammate being dragged away and handcuffed during the first quarter of Wednesday’s game.
“Listen, he was my teammate and he was a great teammate,” Rivers said. “I don’t know what happened. Obviously they had to do what they had to do. They were in the right. Security has to do what they have to do. But at the end of the day it’s still your teammate. So that was tough.”
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