Patrick Ewing, minutes after coaching Georgetown in a thrilling victory over rival Villanova in the Big East tournament, was annoyed by the security measures he encountered this week at Madison Square Garden – the center of his NBA career Hall of Fame.
Hoyas’ 72-71 upset of the top Wildcats was probably the most significant victory in Ewing’s coaching career. The former New York Knicks star said, however, after the game that he was “stopped” and “approached” at Madison Square Garden.
“Still, I want to say one thing. I thought this was my building,” Ewing said. “And I feel awful that I’m stopped, approached, [people] asking for permission.
“Everyone in this building should know who the hell I am and stop – I can’t move around this building. I was like, what the hell? Is this Madison Square garden?”
It wasn’t clear since Thursday afternoon who exactly stopped Ewing, an NBA icon who joins Eli Manning and Derek Jeter on the shortlist of the most renowned athletes to ever play for a New York team.
“I thought this was my building and I feel awful that I’m stopped, approached, [people] asking for permission. Everyone in this building should know who the hell I am and stop – I can’t move around this building. I was like, “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, stating: “[James Dolan] and Patrick have a long-term relationship; they spoke this afternoon and reaffirmed that. We all know, respect and appreciate what it means for The Garden and New York. Good luck to him and Hoyas in the Big East semifinals. “
7-footer was an 11-time All-Star who averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game during the 15 seasons with the Knicks, who reached the NBA Finals twice (1994, 1999) during his time in New York.
Knicks withdrew Ewing’s 33rd in 2003, and the coach joked that he would remind Dolan, the Knicks owner and CEO of Madison Square Garden, that his shirt still hangs “in the rafters.”
“I’m going to have to call Mr. Dolan and say, ‘Lord, is my number in deer or what?’ “, He said.
Security guidelines and protocols at major sporting events across the country, including Madison Square Garden, have changed significantly due to COVID-19.
But Ewing is also not the first Knicks legend to feel disrespected in his former home arena.
In 2017, Charles Oakley was taken out of the game and arrested after an altercation with the building’s security staff. Last year, Spike Lee – the film director and Knicks super fan – said he was “finished” watching his favorite team’s home games, after being told he could no longer use employee input to get to the venue. its on the ground.
Ewing is in his fourth season training for his alma mater, and Hoyas is returning to the semifinals of the Big East for the first time in six years.
Dante Harris scored 18 points and made two free throws in less than 4.7 seconds to end a perfect line play for Georgetown (11-12), who will play Seton Hall on Friday night. Georgetown did not win the 2007 conference tournament.
Villanova, who has won the last three conference tournament titles, has won four consecutive matches and 13 of 15 against Hoya before Thursday.
“We played against Cadillac, Bentley, whatever you want to call them, from the Great East – the class of the Great East. And it was once new. But we took a huge step to be able to beat them,” Ewing said. .
Georgetown will need a Big East tournament title to enter field 68 on Sunday for the NCAA tournament. Although Hoya started the season at 5-10, they have won six of the last eight games, including victories over Villanova, Xavier and Seton Hall.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.