Knicks owner James Dolan got a round of bad press for banning a fan from Madison Square Garden after said fan yelled “sell the team” to Dolan as he was walking off the court after another loss. Dolan came off looking like a thin-skinned bully and even a state senator got in on the act questioning the tax breaks Madison Square Garden receives.
Dolan decided to get some good press by going on “The Michael Kay Show” on 1050 ESPN New York on Tuesday and... you can decide for yourself if what he said is actually good press.
"We are not selling the team."
— The Michael Kay Show (@TMKSESPN) March 12, 2019
-@nyknicks owner James Dolan with @RealMichaelKay, @DonLagreca & @Rosenbergradio.
Listen on @ESPNNY98_7FM or https://t.co/TQjEqqUd1g.
Dolan questioned the sources of the Ringers’ Bill Simmons — who reported Dolan is listening to offers — saying he must have gotten it from teams trying to undercut the Knicks in free agency.
James Dolan on @BillSimmons saying he's considering selling Knicks:
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) March 12, 2019
"There are teams that do not want us to get free agents. Some in particular. He’s very close friends with the GM of one team. What they’re doing is they’re trying to destabilize because they know we’re favored." pic.twitter.com/GbaThmnwx3
Dolan said multiple times he expects the team will do very well in free agency this summer.
As for the fan Dolan kicked out of the arena, he said he planned to bring him back and schmooze him but said evidence showed a pre-meditated confrontation — Dolan said he was “ambushed” — with the intent of making a video to sell to TMZ (which broke the story). Dolan said after that the guy was banned for life.
Knicks & Rangers owner James Dolan explains why he banned a fan for life from Madison Square Garden. pic.twitter.com/RmSE0TnO9k
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) March 12, 2019
Dolan also talked about banning the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy from recent press events, saying he was one of the members of the media actively rooting for the team to fail. Dolan goes on to show flashes of his narcissism in the interview, confusing fans (or media members) not liking him with wanting the team to fail. He seems unable to separate the concepts.