Charles Oakley shares his side of story after arrest at Knicks game

A day after he was arrested and charged with three counts of assault for getting into an altercation with security guards in the stands of Madison Square Garden, ex-New York Knicks enforcer Charles Oakley — who was a staple of the franchise in the 1990s, as well as a fan favorite — is sharing his side of the story.

In an appearance on ESPN Radio Thursday afternoon, Oakley said that he was minding his own business at Wednesday night's game, a 119-115 Knicks loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. He said he wasn't shouting at Knicks owner James Dolan (as has been alleged) when security guards confronted him and told him that he had to leave the arena. 

"I walked in the Garden. Simple. I was there four minutes, I sit down, I'm talking to people, people talking back to me. ... Then about eight to 10 guys come up (and say), 'We have orders you have to leave.' ... That's when everything started," Oakley said.

Oakley, who has had an acrimonious relationship with Dolan for years, said he wasn't aware Dolan was sitting a few rows in front of him in the stands.

"I'm (not going to) walk into a place and just start hollering out, 'James Dolan, James Dolan.' That's embarrassing, man. I did not do none of that. I didn't know (Dolan) was sitting in front of me at first until (the security guards) walked over there."

According to Oakley, "it's a rule" for security to inform Dolan every time he's in Madison Square Garden. He also claimed there have been similar incidents in the past and that security guards have even followed him to the bathroom.

"I don't let people just walk up on me, eight or nine guys. One guy, try your luck. Eight or nine guys, I've gotta brace myself and be ready for the challenge. Let me just get myself together, I don't know what can happen, because they had no right to walk up on me," Oakley said. "Send a New York cop, tell Oakley he gotta leave, escort me out the building. There was a cop there. Every time he asked me something, I did it."

Oakley said that he obeyed orders from law enforcement officers, but he felt as though Garden security confronting him as if "they really plotted it" was unwarranted.

"When they told the law enforcement to come over here and put the handcuffs on me, everything he told me I obeyed. But them guys, like I said, all these guys walk around with walkie talkies with their chests sticking out."

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As for Oakley's feelings toward Dolan?

"I'm not gonna argue with James Dolan," Oakley said. "I have really no beef. I've been trying to sit down with this man for four or five years, find out what did I do to make him dislike me. All I did was play hard for the organization for 10 years, and the fans of New York, and gave my heart every night. He don't have to like me, but he didn't have a right to send — I mean, I bought my ticket to get in."

Shortly after the interview, the Knicks tweeted out the following statement:

"There are dozens of security staff, employees and NYPD that witnessed Oakley's abusive behavior. It started when he entered the building and continued until he was arrested and left the building. Every single statement we have received is consistent in describing his action. Everything he said since the incident is pure fiction."

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