A diehard New York Knicks fan is hauling Madison Square Garden to court over his right to heckle star forward Carmelo Anthony.
Former ING Broker Anthony Rotondi says in a new Manhattan Supreme Court filing that the venue’s security had him arrested — costing him his job — for “merely engaging in the type of fan-like conduct The Garden encourages each and every night that the Knicks play.”
Rotondi said he was within his rights to yell, “Carmelo, you stink!” during the final minute after the Knicks squandered a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons last January.
The Knicks eked out a 89-85 win, but the financial broker from Brooklyn didn’t get to see the victory.
Security guards removed him from his fourth-row seats behind the basket, where he was watching the game with his supervisor and two clients.
Then, the MSG employees tossed him out and had him arrested for interfering with the Jan. 7 game.
The married 42-year-old was charged with criminal trespass and tampering with a sports contest.
As if that weren’t enough, Rotondi says, an MSG official later called his employer to complain about his “disorderly” conduct and “abusive” behavior.
Rotondi says he was falsely accused of refusing to show his ticket and leave the venue.
On Jan. 9, he lost his job over the heckling incident.
He wants The Garden to hand over the identify of his accusers so he can sue them for libel.
But a source who was standing near Rotondi had a different version of the heckling events.
The Knicks fan told The Post that Rotondi said “Carmelo you f—ing suck!” Two other fans flagged down security, who then removed Rotondi to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Barry Watkins, head of communications at MSG, told The Post,, “This is a frivolous lawsuit, and we are considering counter-suing this individual
“We do not welcome anyone into the building who behaves in an inappropriate and hostile manner and those who behave that way are subject to ejections,” Watkins said.
