Can the New York Knicks survive without Spike Lee?? Doubt It
New York, NY~ ” I Be Spiked Out, I can trip a referee” the famous line spoken by Jay Z in his iconic song “Empire State of Mind” featuring Alicia Keys personifies Spike Lee. Well, a disagreement between the New York Knicks brass and their most famous fan has sent the State of Mind of the Empire State in a frenzy. Late Monday night, a video emerged on social media of Spike Lee in some sort of conflict with Madison Square Garden officials. The commotion began as Spike Lee entered the Garden before the start of the Houston Rockets vs. Knicks game began. It appears that MSG officials wanted Spike Lee to exit the venue and walk around to the VIP entrance opposed to the employee entrance Spike had entered.
Spike Lee appeared on ESPN’s First Take on Tuesday and provided his recollection of the events from Monday. He stated that he has been using the same employee entrance on 33rd street for every home game for over 20 years. Lee says he was approached by MSG officials as he stepped out of the elevator at the employee entrance. Spike was asked to leave and use the other entrance in which Spike Lee told them he was not going to do in being he was not told he couldn’t use the entrance previously. In response, Lee says he put his arms behind his back and told the officials, “Arrest me like my brother Charles Oakley.” That is no way to treat a life long fan of the game.
As a matter of fact, since 2015, the New York Knicks organization has had a troubled reputation when it comes to fans and the growing displeasure over the direction of the team. The New York Knicks have posted the worst record in the NBA in the past 20 years. One season ticket holder emailed team owner, James Dolan, to express his dissatisfaction and was told by Dolan, “start rooting for the Nets because the New York Knicks don’t want you.” So with all of the outcry from fans regarding the storied franchise lack luster record, you would think that the last thing they need is a public relations nightmare! However, with the organizations most recognizable fan, (Spike Lee) spending upwards of $330 thousand dollars a year on season tickets upset and vowing to boycott the teams remaining home games, a pr nightmare is exactly what we have. Spike Lee feels and believes he’s being “harassed by James Dolan“, and doesn’t understand why. At halftime of Monday nights game, Spike Lee asked Dolan why he wasn’t notified about the new entrance rules, and according to Lee, the Knicks owner replied, “Now you know.” Wow!
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