via Instagram
According to Tim Bontemps of the New York Post, a Knicks spokesperson said that Nets fan Jeffrey Gamblero was warned multiple times before being ejected from the arena, and has been banned from returning to the Garden.
A Knicks spokesperson said that Nets fan Jeffrey Gamblero was ejected tonight after MSG received multiple complaints from fans in the area.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) December 3, 2014
They also said Gamblero was warned multiple times before being ejected, and that he won't be allowed to come back to Madison Square Garden.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) December 3, 2014
Gamblero is a Nets season-ticket holder and popular figure in the arena, best-identified for his neon shirts. The Nets declined to comment to The Brooklyn Game about the event.
UPDATE: A fan named Max was sitting behind Gamblero. Here’s his first-hand account of the situation (all typos/errors are [sic]):
(Gamblero) was being his usual self, absolutely no cursing, no negative cheering, just dancing and loud cheering for the Nets. Never attacked a Knicks fan, never got out of hand.
After halftime a guard came up and told him to “cool down and just be a fan.” Obviously didn’t know who he was. He said what did I do wrong? Should I be quiet? They said no, just cool it down. He started loudly cheering FOR the Knicks doing “go New York go New York go,” etc. The guards came back and told him to stop. He said why? Is this a library?
Then the main guard on the floor gave the signal to kick him out. He would not leave. A guard then touched his leg and he said “ouch you’re hurting me I have a prosthetic leg.” He then took off the leg, which is when things escalated.
More and more guards surrounded him as he watched the game with his leg resting on his shoulder. They tried to get him to put his leg on, threatened to arrest him if he wouldn’t, but he wasn’t moving.
He started saying “why are you doing this I just love basketball so much,” he was clearly overwhelmed.
After about ten minutes, four guards grabbed him and carried him out as he screamed in pain.
I am a lifelong Nets fan but regardless, this was one of the cruelest and most upsetting things I have ever seen.
Click below for a video courtesy of Max of the incident.
