State Senator Suggests Shifting MSG Tax Breaks After James Dolan Bans Knicks Fan

New York State senator Brad Hoylman took exception to New York Knicks owner James Dolan kicking a fan out of Madison Square Garden, tweeting that the famous arena should perhaps lose its tax breaks over the ordeal:

TMZ Sports released the video of Dolan having the exchange with the fan, who said the owner should sell the team, before the fan was removed from the arena:

In that video, a fan can be heard yelling "Sell the team!" as Dolan walks down the tunnel before Dolan motioned for him to come closer.

"You want to not come to anymore games?" Dolan asked.

"Why?" the fan asked.

"That's rude," Dolan replied.

"It's our opinion," the fan said.

"No, it's not an opinion," Dolan countered, "and you know what, enjoy watching them on TV."

According to TMZ Sports, the fan was then questioned by security and asked to leave Madison Square Garden. An MSG spokesperson told the site, "Our policy is and will continue to be that if you are disrespectful to anyone in our venues, we will ask you not to return."

The situation made Dolan appear thin-skinned, at best, and isn't exactly great PR for an organization that hasn't had a winning season since the 2012-13 campaign and last year made negative waves after former Knicks player Charles Oakley was dragged out of the arena by a number of security guards. He's since filed a civil suit against both Dolan and MSG for defamation. 

There is excitement around the 13-54 Knicks heading into the offseason, with continued buzz that the team could be major players in free agency and perhaps land a big fish like Kevin Durant. But negative press like Dolan kicking out a fan for an innocuous jab—and earning the attention of a state senator in the process—won't help their cause this summer.