Lake Show Life called Evan Perlmutter the first paying bandwagoner In NBA history!
When this writer just started writing for this website, admittedly the first target was this guy, Evan Perlmutter. To quit on a team after so much history as a fan and an employee? He was introduced with a little bit of trash talk.
THE FIRST PAYING BANDWAGON FAN IN HISTORY!
Most NBA fans either get fed up and switch teams quietly or follow their favorite player to another team. Then they spend the next decade saying to their friends they weren’t a fan of the team but a certain player (I’m a Kobe fan or I like the Bulls when Jordan was there, now I’m a Sixers fan because of A.I.!).
Evan Perlmutter took his change of allegiance in the national news by way of ESPN’s Ian Begley.
"“A disgruntled New York Knicks fan auctioned off his fanhood for $3,450 and will spend the coming season rooting for the Los Angeles Lakers. Lifelong Knicks fan Evan Perlmutter, 33, put his NBA allegiance up for sale last week on eBay under an auction titled “Infuriated New York Knicks fan has had enough, selling my fanhood.”"
Lifelong Knicks fan Evan Perlmutter actually put his allegiance on eBay under an auction titled “Infuriated New York Knicks fan has had enough, selling my fanhood.”
He was so fed up with the constant disaster that is the New York Knicks, that he sold all of his New York paraphernalia on eBay. Even his price of $1973 had nostalgia. The number was in honor of the last Knicks team that won the NBA title. That team beat the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 that featured the late Wilt Chamberlain and current Los Angeles Clippers consultant, Jerry West.
He made his announcement in an email.
"“I’m off to one of the most decorated [franchises] in all sports, sunny winters, with a destination free agents actually want to go to, Hollywood … and it’s time to strive for greatness,”"
What makes this even richer is that Perlmutter spent four years as an ad salesman at Madison Square Garden. The winning bidder of the Knicks stash was a guy named James Riedel, who dropped $3,450, almost double the asking price.
Here’s where this writer owes Perlmutter an apology. He saw that the light at the end of the Knicks tunnel was an ongoing train.
The New York Knicks, true to form had to issue a statement via the Begley’s ESPN article.
"“We’re sure our millions of loyal Knicks fans won’t mind losing this attention-grabbing gentleman,” a Knicks spokesperson…We remain focused on the upcoming season–with a hard-working team that is proud to represent New York and its dedicated fans.”"
This is how ridiculous this turn of events got.
According to eBay as told to ESPN, Devin Wenig, eBay’s CEO, almost joined the bid on the auction to force Perlmutter to stay with the New York Knicks. He decided instead to offer four tickets to a game from StubHub for Perlmutter and Riedel.
The game? The Lakers’ home game versus the Knicks. By the way, the Knicks won both games and swept the Lakers last year.