OAK & DAGGER
Charles’ heart broken over Knick acrimony
Charles Oakley was in town this week because of another hard-nosed New York sporting legend: Thurman Munson.
On Tuesday night, Oakley attended the annual Thurman Munson Dinner at a Midtown hotel, sitting at a major donor table. The event raises money for AHRC NYC Foundation. Oakley, a 2006 Munson winner, attends most years.
At every event, Suzyn Waldman, the longtime Yankees radio broadcaster, always has a nice chat with the Oak Man. Oakley was Waldman’s favorite player when she covered the Knicks as WFAN beat reporter from 1987-1995.
Whenever they have chatted in recent times, it always comes down to Oakley turning sad when discussing being blackballed by the Knicks and his feud with owner James Dolan.
“Back then it was really different — you almost were a part of it, we traveled with t hem, commercial, not charter,’’ Waldman told The Post Thursday, t he day after Oakley got handcuffed and arrested at the Garden. “You got to know everybody well.
“Oakley was so special. He loved this town and loved this team and loved the fans so much when things started to go bad [with the organization], he never understood it. I’ve talked to him about this for years. It broke his heart. I know he’s heartbroken he’s never included.’’
The Knicks stage frequent alumni reunions but Oakley is never invited despite a 10-year career that spanned the glory years of the 1990s.
“No matter what we talk about, it seems to always go back to that,’’ Waldman said. “The other night, he didn’t understand not being part of the 70th anniversary events. He loves the fans as much as the fans love him. They’ve ripped the heart out of someone who gave his heart and soul to this team.’’
Waldman’s most poignant memories were the occasional times security wouldn’t let her into arenas on the road because of a credential snafu. Oakley seemed to always come to the rescue, making sure she got inside.
“He’d say ‘She’s with us’,’’ Waldman said. “He was a defender on and off the court.’’
Oakley’s caustic comments about the organization since he was traded in 1998 created the bad blood. Waldman believes Oakley’s rip on Isiah Thomas was the final straw with Dolan. Waldman said Oakley doesn’t have a good-enough filter.
“He’s just brutally honest,” Waldman said. “He just tells you exactly what he’s thinking.”
John Cirillo, the former Knicks PR man during the Oakley era who helps stage the Munson dinner, still sees how Oakley is revered in New York and knows why.
“On Pat Riley’s team, Patrick Ewing was the superstar and Hall of Fame player, but I think New Yorkers love the lunch-
pail attitude, work ethic every night and toughness,’’ Cirillo said. “New York is a tough city. Oakley was a tough player. And he was on the most successful, popular team after the Red Holzman teams and there’s been a long drought since.’’
Oakley said Thursday he’s still willing to let bygones to be bygones and it may be in the Knicks’ best interests. After the incident, players around the league, including LeBron James and free-agent-to-be Chris Paul, supported Oakley on social media.
Paul expressed anger at the Knicks’ statement, which ended: “We hope he gets some help soon.’’ “So unnecessary,’’ Waldman said. Knicks fan Spike Lee had lunch with Oakley on Thursday and posted on Instagram: “Last Thing Oak Said To Me Is “All I Want To Do Is Sit Down With Mr. Dolan, Man To Man And Work This Out.”
Knicks president Phil Jackson, a Bulls assistant coach when Oakley played in Chicago, could be a mediator. Jackson moved fast in joining Oakley in the Garden bowels to attempt to calm him down after his fight with security.
“Phil admired his toughness — Oak was a man’s man,” Jackson’s biographer Roland Lazenby said. “Phil thought Oak could have played on those ’70s Knicks.’’
Instead, Oakley was at Midtown Precinct South, with former Garden president David Checketts attempting to bail him out. Checketts declined comment Thursday, texting: “I’m not part of this sad story.’’
Sad indeed.