Charles Oakley, the former NBA star, finds himself in a complex legal battle with Madison Square Garden and its executive chairman, James Dolan. Central to this dispute is Oakley's book, "The Last Enforcer," released in 2022. Oakley's attorney, Douglas Wigdor, played a pivotal role in rewriting key portions of the manuscript, allegedly altering the narrative surrounding Oakley's controversial arrest at Madison Square Garden on February 9, 2017.
On that fateful night, Oakley was forcibly removed from the arena by security personnel, leading to his arrest. The incident was a culmination of his strained relationship with Dolan, leading Oakley to file assault and battery claims against Dolan. Despite being dismissed twice in court, these claims remain active. Oakley's narrative of the evening has been a point of contention, particularly in the manuscript of his book.
In the original version of the manuscript, Oakley described the incident as him having "slipped." However, Wigdor revised this to state Oakley "was eventually pushed down by Dolan's guys." This edit is just one example of the significant changes made to the manuscript. Wigdor maintains that the revised version presents an accurate account of events.
"These were not minor edits at the margins." – MSG
The alterations extend to Oakley's quotes regarding his ejection from the Garden. Initially, Oakley quoted himself saying, "You have to leave because someone ordered you to leave." This was later changed to specify Dolan as the person who issued the order.
"You have to leave because Dolan ordered you to leave." – Charles Oakley
The ongoing lawsuit against Dolan and MSG accuses them of using unreasonable force against Oakley. The legal battle continues to unfold, with Oakley's allegations still pending in court. Meanwhile, MSG's executive chairman James Dolan was present during the altercation, adding another layer to the intricacies of this case.
"was eventually pushed down by Dolan's guys" – Charles Oakley
Leave a Reply