After the New York Knicks rescinded their decision to permanently ban Charles Oakley from Madison Square Garden, Oakley wants the team to apologize, but not to him. From ESPN:
“It’s not about being at the Garden,” Oakley told ESPN’s Jeff Goodman. “It’s about the fans. I want them to apologize to the fans. I told the commissioner I want them to apologize to the fans.”
Oakley said he is “in pain now. I’m hurt.”
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“I have never asked for nothing,” Oakley added. “I love the fans in New York. They’ve been supportive. One of the things I told the commissioner, I want to have a press conference and I want him to apologize to me and the fans. They’ve had my back and they’ve felt the pain. I really appreciate the people all around who’ve had my back.”
Oakley, despite being able to, has no desire to return to the Garden at the moment:
“Right now, no,” he said. “I told [New York Knicks owner James Dolan] yesterday.”
Last Wednesday, Oakley was forcibly escorted from Madison Square Garden and then arrested. After the incident, the Knicks’ PR team released a statement insinuating that Oakley needed “help.” Dolan then announced that Oakley would be banned for life from the Garden, and also hinted that he had a drinking problem.
After Oakley and Dolan spoke with Adam Silver and Michael Jordan, the two parties came to an understanding, and Dolan removed the ban after apologizing.
