The legendary rocker and native of Indiana, John Mellencamp, apologized Thursday “on behalf of most hosiers” for the “bad sports spirit” displayed during the home victory of the Pacers against the New York Knicks in the match 4 of the final of the Eastern Conference two days earlier.
Although Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. did not call a specific Indian sports fan in the declaration He posted on x A few hours before match 5, Mellencamp seemed to have a person in mind – the popular personality ESPN Pat McAfee.
“I was embarrassed when someone, under the direction of whom I do not know, called some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team – and in turn, support our team,” wrote the singer “Hurts So Good”. “The public hooked these people. I would say that it was not Hoosier's hospitality. It could only be said that it is a poor and mediocre bad mind.”
A few hours after MellenoCamp published his statement, McAfee republished him on X and identified as the one who prompted Pacers fans to behave in this way.
“I am” someone “” McAfee wrote.
Mellencamp and McAfee were both at hand at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Tuesday while the pacers beat the Knicks 130-121 to take a 3-1 advance. Addressing the crowd during a died time in the fourth quarter, McAfee called the Fans of Celebrity Knicks Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and Timothee Chalamet – all present that evening – and encouraged Pacers fans to “send these sons of B – in New York with their ears sound!”
Hide tackled the question Later in the evening on X, saying that he assumed that McAfee “played” and that all the fans he had met at the Arena were “brilliant and incredibly cool”.
MellenoCamp, however, was not satisfied with the shenanigans.
“I was not proud to be a hosier, and I lived here all my life,” wrote the singer under the name of Johnny Cougar. “In the name of most hosiers, I would like to apologize for our bad behavior. I'm sure the Pacers had nothing to do with this Smackdown. ”
The use by Mellencamp of the “Smackdown” seems to be a barely veiled reference to McAfee, which is a color commentator and an occasional wrestler for WWE. “Friday Night Smackdown” is one of the organization's signature television broadcasts.
We do not know why MellenoCamp chose to express his dissatisfaction so long after the incident occurred. Perhaps he plans to be present Thursday evening at Madison Square Garden while his Pacers are trying to seal their first trip to the NBA final since 2000.
A person who will not be there is McAfeeDespite a friendly invitation Stiller.
