Patrick Ewing, minutes after coaching Georgetown with an exciting win over rival Villanova in the Big East tournament, said he was upset by the security measures he has found this week at Madison Square Garden, the center of his career at the Salon of the NBA Fame.
The Hoyas ’72-71 upset against the front-row Wildcats was perhaps the most significant victory in Ewing’s technical career. However, the former New York Knicks star said that after the game he has been “stopped” and “approached” at Madison Square Garden.
“However, I want to say one thing. I thought this was my building,” Ewing said Thursday. “And I feel terrible that I’m standing, lying down, [people] asking for passes.
“Everyone in this building should know who the hell I am, and they stop me; I can’t move around this building. I was like, ‘What the hell?’ Is this Madison Square Garden? “
On Thursday afternoon it was unclear who exactly arrested Ewing, an NBA icon who joins Eli Manning and Derek Jeter on the shortlist of the most recognized athletes who have ever played on a New York City team. York.
“I thought this was my building, and I feel terrible that they stop me, approach me, and ask (people) for passes. Everyone in this building should know who the hell I am, and I’ll stop. I can’t go move around this building.I was wondering, “What the hell? Is this Madison Square Garden? ”
Georgetown coach and former Knicks star Patrick Ewing
MSG Entertainment released a statement to ESPN later that day saying, “[James Dolan] and Patrick have a long relationship; they have spoken this afternoon and reaffirmed it. We all know, respect, and appreciate what it means for The Garden and New York. Good luck to him and his Hoya in the semifinals of the Great East. “
The 7-foot player was an eleven-time All-Star who averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game during his 15 seasons with the Knicks, who reached the final. of the NBA twice (1994, 1999) during his time in New York.
The Knicks retired No. 33 from Ewing in 2003 and the player-turned-coach joked that he will remind Knicks owner and Madison Square Garden CEO James Dolan that his shirt still hangs “on the beams.” .
“I’ll have to call Mr. Dolan and say, ‘Damn, is that my number on the beams or what?’ “, He said.
Safety guidelines and protocols for major sporting events across the country, including Madison Square Garden, have changed significantly due to COVID-19.
But Ewing isn’t the first Knicks legend to feel despised on his old home court either.
In 2017, Charles Oakley was famously removed from a game and arrested after an altercation with the building’s security staff. Last year, Spike Lee – the film’s director and Knicks super fan – said he was “just” watching the games at his favorite team’s house after being told he could no longer use the entry of employees to reach the court seat.
Ewing is in his fourth season training his alma mater and the Hoyas are back in the semifinals of the Big East tournament for the first time in six years.
Dante Harris scored 18 points and made two free throws with 4.7 seconds left to end a perfect game from the Georgetown round of 16 (11-12), which will play Seton Hall on Friday night. Georgetown has not won the conference tournament since 2007.
Villanova, who has won the last three conference tournament titles, had won four games in a row and 13 of 15 against the Hoyas before Thursday.
“We played against the Cadillac, the Bentley, as you like to call them, the Great East, the class of the Great East. And once it was us. But we took a big step to be able to play,” – said Ewing.
Georgetown will need a Big East tournament title to enter the 68 field on Sunday in the NCAA tournament. Although the Hoyas started the season between 5 and 10, they have won six of their last eight games, including victories over Villanova, Xavier and Seton Hall.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.