Knicks clarify ring controversy
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NEW YORK (AP):
The New York Knicks yesterday sought to clear up what they described as “misinformation” surrounding the distribution of their championship rings, insisting that employees who were always intended to receive them will do so within the next month.
Madison Square Garden (MSG) also acknowledged for a second consecutive day that using an email about the ring-selection process as part of a cybersecurity exercise was a mistake, although it maintained that reminding employees to protect company intellectual property was not.
The NBA champions were responding to ongoing criticism regarding the distribution of the rings commemorating their first title since 1973.
Players received their championship rings during Tuesday night’s season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. However, The Athletic later reported that assistant coaches had not received theirs.
MSG responded on Friday by stating that more than 275 employees were already scheduled to receive rings and jewellery valued at more than US$3.7 million.
“There is a great deal of misinformation regarding the championship rings. The plan has always been to distribute more than 275 rings and jewellery to the people in the organisation who were part of last season’s success,” an MSG spokesperson said yesterday.
“As is common with many teams, the players were always supposed to get their rings as part of the opening night ceremony and then everyone else will receive theirs in about 4-6 weeks.”
The Athletic report also said that MSG employees received an email in September that read: “Congratulations, your Employee Championship Ring is here.”
The message included graphics showing two ring styles from which employees could supposedly choose. However, staff members who clicked the link at the bottom of the email were instead directed to a mandatory cybersecurity training session.
“Regarding the phishing email, the process of securing and reminding our employees to protect our IP was not a mistake but the choice to use the ring to do so was a mistake and we apologise to our employees and the fans,” MSG said.
“Winning the championship was a great moment for all New Yorkers. Those who choose to focus on the negative are missing the joy that comes with the team’s accomplishment.”