NEW YORK – After the Cleveland Cavaliers kept fans of the New York Knicks from sitting courtside during the Eastern Conference Finals, James Dolan had an idea. Several ticketholders, including NYC rapper Fat Joe, were relocated elsewhere in Rocket Arena after the Cavaliers organization informed them they wouldn't be permitted courtside because of their fan affiliation.
Dolan, the Knicks' Governor, had schemed up some hilarious retribution for Cavaliers Governor Dan Gilbert. His Knicks, however, had other plans. It's unlikely that any Cavaliers were grateful that their season ended on the wrong end of a sweep. According to Fat Joe, however, there may have been a thin, silver lining for Gilbert.
In between Mike Brown and Jalen Brunson's post-practice availabilities, both “Joe and Jada” co-hosts found themselves in the middle of a media scrum of their own. Fat Joe and Jadakiss, NYC cultural staples, were waiting to interview Knicks players and coaches themselves. Nearby media, already on the clock, couldn't help themselves from an informal interview.
Both shared myriad thoughts on New York's playoff run thus far, with Fat Joe dropping a record-worthy bar about the Knicks' citywide unification of cultures. He even compared Dolan to Bruce Wayne, because of the media scrutiny he faces. But after, the Grammy-nominated rapper shared the Knicks' plans for some seating revenge of their own.
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“Mr. Dolan, greatest team owner in the game. Very misunderstood, you know,” Fat Joe told ClutchPoints and other outlets. “They villainize Mr. Dolan, almost like a Bruce Wayne. Like a Batman movie, like this is Gotham City….in Cleveland, I bought courtside. This is a real story, guys. They turned it away when they knew it was Fat Joe, the Knick fan. Mr. Dolan was so pissed, he said, ‘Man, we go Game 5? I'm putting the owner upper deck!' That's when I really knew. He solidified it, I said this guy? He's for us.”
The Cavaliers organization went as far as to ban season ticket holders that sold courtside spots without permission. If the Knicks hadn't swept the Eastern Conference Finals, Dolan may have had a chance to make some changes of his own.
Cleveland's fans, players, coaches, and executives likely aren't happy that they didn't get another chance to fight for their season in New York City. For their governor, though, their year might have ended at the perfect time.
NEW YORK – After the Cleveland Cavaliers kept fans of the New York Knicks from sitting courtside during the Eastern Conference Finals, James Dolan had an idea. Several ticketholders, including NYC rapper Fat Joe, were relocated elsewhere in Rocket Arena after the Cavaliers organization informed them they wouldn't be permitted courtside because of their fan affiliation.