Outside of playing with his band on local television, James Dolan doesn't grant many media appearances. That's why Friday's radio interview with the Madison Square Garden chairman generated so much interest in the wake of the Charles Oakley fiasco.
In explaining that the former Knicks forward's ban from MSG may not be a lifetime one, Dolan made some pointed comments about the 53-year-old, who was not only a fan favorite in New York, but in other NBA cities he played in like Toronto and Chicago.
"He has a problem," Dolan told "The Michael Kay Show" on ESPN New York 98.7 FM. "People need to sort of understand that. He has a problem with anger, he's physically and verbally angry. He may have a problem with alcohol, I don't know, but those behaviors of being physically and verbally abusive. Those are personality problems."
Related: MSG fans chant 'Free Oakley' at Rangers game
Oakley clearly appeared livid during his forcible removal from Wednesday's Clippers-Knicks contest, the genesis of which depends on who is asked. While one fan in attendance told the New York Daily News' Frank Isola that Oakley "looked wasted," it's generally a serious allegation to make that somebody has an alcohol problem.
It wouldn't be the first time Dolan made an arbitrary judgment on the subject, either. In a 2015 response letter to a disillusioned 73-year-old Knicks fan, the billionaire wrote that "you have most likely have made your family miserable. Alcoholic maybe."
Oakley was known as a fiery player in his day, and still is in his dealings with former rivals like Charles Barkley. Yet Dolan added that Oakley crossed the line with verbal abuse of MSG staff.
"Security guards, service people were abused," Dolan said. "In a really horrible, angry, nasty way with racial and sexual overtones. Stuff you never want to hear."
Dolan said Oakley never should have made it to his seat and confirmed Garden security director Frank Benedetto had been fired in the wake of the incident.
