Throughout the last few decades, the New York Knicks have proven themselves to be a less than stellar organization. They are constantly losing and their owner, James Dolan, consistently messes up in the most public ways possible. In fact, Dolan has ruptured the relationship between the franchise and some of its most storied players. He's even damaged the team's relationship with superfan Spike Lee who recently appeared on First Take to talk about the team's latest blunder.

Amid the Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality, Dolan refused to release a statement. Eventually, public pressure intensified and Dolan caved. Despite this, the statement was pretty weak and it was clear that Dolan just simply didn't care all that much. As Lee explained on ESPN, Dolan has made it extremely difficult to support the Knicks, especially since he has been with the team since their championship years in the 70s.

The NBA has constantly faced backlash over racial discrimination, whether it be microaggressions in the use of terms like 'owner' or more blatantly, Donald Sterling's racist outburst. That's not to say that there hasn't been a change made but there's still a long way to go, especially for the white-collar businessmen behind these teams.

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Many sports organizations have stepped forward to denounce racism and police brutality with the exception of the New York Knicks. That is, until today. Jim Dolan did not immediately issue a statement with players from the Knicks reportedly disappointed in the move. Dolan apparently had plans to make the team look apolitical.

"As companies in the business of sports and entertainment... we are not any more qualified than anyone else to offer our opinion on social matters. What's important is how we operate. Our companies are committed to upholding our values which include creating a respectful workplace for all, and that will never change," an internal memo rads.

Things changed this morning when the Knicks shared a statement nearly two weeks after the protest that barely scratched the surface on the issue. "Every one of us has a role to play in creating a more just and equal society, where there is no racism, bigotry, violence or hate. We stand with all who act for positive change," the message reads. 

It didn't take long for fans to quickly pounce on them. Desus Nice tweeted, "DEFUND THE KNICKS" in response to the statement while others pointed out that they tried sidestepping "Black Lives Matter." 

Throughout the years, Spike Lee has proven himself to be one of the biggest New York Knicks fans ever. He has spent over $10 million in courtside season tickets and has been a fixture at the team’s games. Recently, Lee got into a bit of an altercation as he tried to enter Madison Square Garden through an employee entrance. Lee alleges he’s been allowed to use that entrance forever but in the particular instance that’s been reported this past week, the Knicks refused his attempts at entry. 

Since the ordeal, Lee and the Knicks have been going back and forth. Owner James Dolan is adamant that he talked it out with Lee while the director is saying his relationship with the team has been damaged. This past weekend, Lee took to Instagram where he opened up about the incident and how he’s 100 percent in the right.

Per Lee:

“Good Morning Orange And Blue Skies. On Monday,March 2,In Da Year Of Our Lawd ,2020 This Ticket Was Scanned As I Went Through The Employee Entrance On West 33rd Street. I Had Used This Entrance For Over Da Last 30 Years,” Spike wrote. “The Previous Time Was Last Wednesday Afternoon When I Introduced The Hit Broadway Play TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD For A Free Performance To 18,000 New York City Public School Kids. On My Dear Mother’s Grave -Ms. Jacquelyn Shelton Lee, No One From The Garden Had Ever Told Me I Could Not Use The Employee Entrance Until Garden Security Told Me To Get Off The Elevator Once I Had Entered After This Ticket Was Scanned.”

Spike Lee’s fractured relationship with the Knicks is yet another reason why this franchise has been struggling. When you can’t even keep your biggest fan happy, you know you’ve done something wrong.

New York Knicks fans have had to deal with a lot of pain over the last few decades. they haven't won a championship since the early 1970s and are consistently seen as a laughing stock. Owner James Dolan is a huge reason for this. He is notorious for being the worst owner in the NBA and hasn't done anything good for his franchise for a very long time. This season has been particularly bad and Dolan is well-aware. Despite this awareness, he still finds it necessary to silence the voices of those who oppose him.

A great example of this occurred last night as his team lost to the Utah Jazz. Near the end of the game, a group of fans at Madison Square Garden began to chant "sell the team." Eventually, the fans were spotted by security and escorted out of the arena. Later that night, the fans posted about the incident in hilarious fashion. 

The New York Knicks are officially beefing with Spike Lee over a childish dispute about which entrance he is supposed to use when entering Madison Square Garden. Prior to Monday night's victory over the Houston Rockets, Lee was spotted arguing with MSG security guards and yelling, "You wanna arrest me like Charles Oakley?!"

The Knicks attempted to downplay the incident as a simple miscommunication, but Spike went on ESPN's First Take this morning and ripped team owner James Dolan for "harassing him." Mere moments after the segment aired, the Knicks PR account released a statement, labelling Spike's claims as "laughable."

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The Knicks' statement reads:

"The idea that Spike Lee is a victim because we have repeatedly asked him to not use our employee entrance and instead use a dedicated VIP entrance - which is used by every other celebrity who enters The Garden - is laughable. It's disappointing that Spike would create this false controversy to perpetuate drama. He is welcome to come to The Garden anytime the VIP or general entrance; just not through our employee entrance, which is what he and Jim agreed to last night when they shook hands."

In addition to those comments about the "false controversy," the Knicks also provided photos of said handshake, and the employee entrance, to really hammer their point home. 

Spike, who spends roughly $300,000 annually for his courtside seats, has already said he's done attending Knicks games this season but he may extend his self-imposed ban into next season and beyond at this rate.

New York Knicks super fan Spike Lee will not be attending any more Knicks games this year, not just because they suck, but because of the way he was treated on Monday night. In case you missed it, Lee was prevented from using a particular entrance prior to the start of last night's game at Madison Square Garden and he could be heard yelling at security guards, "You wanna arrest me like Charles Oakley?!"

The Knicks quickly issued a statement downplaying the incident, which prompted Lee's appearance on ESPN's First Take on Tuesday morning, where he described how he is being harassed by team owner James Dolan. As a result of the whole ordeal, Spike says he's done with the Knicks this season.

New York Knicks legend Charles Oakley has lost his civil suit against Knicks owner James Dolan and the Madison Square Garden Company. According to SNY's Ian Begley, Judge Richard J. Sullivan ruled on Wednesday that "Oakley has failed to allege a plausible legal claim that can meet federal legal standards."

Oakley, one of the most beloved players in Knicks history, had filed a civil suit back in 2017 after he was ejected from MSG and arrested following an altercation with security guards in the arena.

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According to the New York Daily News, Judge Sullivan stated that Dolan had every right, legally, to have Oakley removed from the arena. He also mentioned how the case “has had the feel of a public relations campaign, with the parties seemingly more interested in the court of public opinion.”

“Oakley grossly misunderstands the law concerning a landlord’s right to remove a trespasser from its property,” Sullivan wrote. “The law is clear that the MSG defendants had the right to expel Oakley from the Garden and that his refusal to leave justified their use of reasonable force to remove him.”

Madison Square Garden issued the following statement in response to today's ruling, “We thank the court for its ruling. This was an incident that no one was happy about. Maybe now there can be peace between us.” Judging from the statement made by Oakley’s attorney, Doug Wigdor, it doesn't look like his client is interested in making amends. 

“Charles is not one to give up. While we are disappointed with the ruling, it’s just the beginning of the fourth quarter and we are confident that we can turn this around with an appeal that we plan to file in the coming days,” Wigdor said, according to the NYDN.

New York Knicks fans have been calling for team owner James Dolan to sell the team for years, decades even, to no avail. Despite the fact that the Knicks continue to be the laughing stock of the NBA, Dolan hasn't shown the slightest inclination that he intends to sell the team. But that hasn't stopped fans from loudly voicing their displeasure as another season wastes away.

In the closing seconds of Wednesday night's ugly blowout loss, fans who hadn't already exited Madison Square Garden fill the arena with a roaring "SELL THE TEAM" chant. As seen in the instagram screenshot embedded below, former Knick JR Smith was quick to give fans the "thumbs up" for their efforts.