Knicks game delayed when Maccabi coach won't leave
In bizarre scene, rabbi comes onto the court to ask referees to let Pini Gershon remain after being ejected
An exhibition basketball game between the New York Knicks and Maccabi Tel Aviv was delayed for about 10 minutes in the third quarter Sunday when the visiting coach refused to leave the floor after being ejected. The Knicks beat Maccabi 106:91.
In a bizarre scene, a rabbi even came onto the court to ask the referees to let Pini Gershon remain. Gershon eventually left after a discussion with the officials, his assistant coaches and NBA security personnel.
Gershon was hit with two quick technical fouls in the third quarter, the second coming on a play that went against the Knicks. New York's Al Harrington was called for an offensive foul right in front of the Maccabi bench, and Gershon quickly started screaming at replacement referee Ben Taylor, who ejected him.
When Gershon didn't seem to be listening to any of the basketball officials, Rabbi Yitchak Dovid Grossman, founder and dean of Migdal Ohr, tried to get involved by talking to the referees. But rules say anyone who is ejected must leave the court, and eventually Gershon did.
Migdal Ohr, the world's largest orphanage, received the proceeds from the exhibition game between the Knicks and the Euroleague team from Israel.
