A judge sided with Madison Square Garden in its lengthy legal battle with Charles Oakley on Friday, saying that the former New York Knicks All-Star had not proven he was assaulted when he was removed from a game he attended in 2017. Oakley was handcuffed and arrested after an altercation with security while sitting near owner James Dolan during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The decision marks a significant blow to Oakley's claims of assault and battery, which he brought against MSG in 2017. Oakley initially brought a number of claims against MSG that were dismissed in February 2020, but his assault-and-battery claim remained after appeal.
Charles Oakley has been vocal about his dispute with James Dolan, claiming that he has been bullied around the city and that Dolan has made false statements about their interactions. In a YouTube interview last year, Oakley stated, "I was supposed to be on the Roommate podcast. I get a call the day before. They said, we have to cancel you. And then three weeks later, guess who was on there? Dolan. Dolan. I was shooting a commercial right across from the Garden and Cafe 31 and something else. We shot for one day, the next day somebody said, somebody said we had to shut it down. We had permission and everything."
Oakley has also expressed his frustration with the current state of the NBA, stating in a YouTube interview that he thinks the game has changed too much. He said, "Well, I don't think they need to get physical now. I think that they need to get rid of that replay and this and that. If they going to have all that, they might just get two officials. I mean, keep one on each half of the court."
The outcome of the court case is likely to have significant implications for Oakley, who has been a vocal critic of James Dolan and the Knicks. Oakley has stated that he has no plans to return to the Garden to watch the finals, despite his comments last week that he had enjoyed watching the play and leadership of the Knicks star Jalen Brunson.
In related news, Oakley was spotted at a Knicks game in San Antonio last week, but it is unclear whether he will attend the upcoming games at the Garden. Oakley has stated that he hopes the team has success, especially for the city of New York, but it remains to be seen whether he will be in attendance to support them.
The court case has been ongoing for several years, with both sides presenting their arguments in court. Oakley's claims of assault and battery have been at the center of the dispute, with MSG arguing that he had not proven his case. The judge's decision is likely to have significant implications for the future of the dispute between Oakley and MSG.
Rachel Nichols reported that Adam Silver says both he and Michael Jordan tied their best to broker peace between Charles Oakley and James Dolan, but neither was successful. Oakley has been at Knicks road games during this playoff run but has not been at The Garden.
Source: Yahoo Sports