Oakley still wants apology from Knicks, upset Silver hasn't been in touch
Charles Oakley sounds perturbed that he has yet to receive a public apology for his forcible removal from Madison Square Garden and subsequent arrest last month.
"They're the ones that said things about me," Oakley said Thursday at a Long Island autograph signing, according to Newsday's Jim Baumbach. MSG chairman James Dolan inferred after the incident that Oakley had an alcohol problem and made crass remarks.
Oakley also didn't sound pleased with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, either.
"Why call a meeting if you’re not going to stay engaged with what’s going on?" Oakley said. "Hey, I'm going on with my life. I'm going to do what I have to do from here on in."
The former New York Knicks fan favorite was referring to a much-publicized meeting between himself, Silver, and Dolan - with Michael Jordan joining in by phone - which was held in order to try to resolve his longtime issues with Dolan. Yet, Silver told Newsday he was unsure what Oakley needed from him, and said he was available to talk at any time.
"I'm available to talk or meet with Charles any time he wants," Silver said, according to Baumbach. "I didn't know he was waiting to hear from me."
Oakley is due in a New York City court on April 11 on misdemeanor charges stemming from the fracas at MSG on Feb. 8. Dolan prohibited him from the Garden after the incident, but the ban has since been rescinded.
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Both notably stubborn and eccentric, the feud between Oakley and Dolan goes back several years. However, it sounds like Oakley is still deeply unhappy over how he was treated at the arena he played in as a member of the Knicks from 1988-98.
"That's the most important thing right now, getting the assault cases off my record," Oakley said. "Whatever I can do to make that happen on April 11. Ain’t nothing has changed since then. I still have the assault cases even though somebody touched me first. I don't know why I got them. But the paper says I have to go to court."