The legendary rocker and the native of Indiana John Mellencamp apologized on Thursday “on behalf of most of the Hoosiers” for the “poor and poor sports spirit” that was exhibited during the victory at the Pacers' house over the New York Knicks in game 4 of the conference ends this two days before.
Although the member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame did not call any specific fan of Indiana's sports in the statement he published in X hours before game 5, Mellencamp seemed to have a particular person in mind: the popular personality of ESPN Pat Mcafee.
“I was ashamed when someone, in whose direction I don't 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 audience booed these people. I would say that it was not Hoosier's hospitality. It can be said that it is a poor and poor sports spirit.”
Hours after Mellencamp published his statement, Mcafee published it again in X and identified himself as the one who instigated the fans of the Pacers to behave that way.
“I'm 'someone,” Mcafee wrote.
Mellencamp and McAfee were present on Tuesday in Gainbridge Fieldhouse when the Pacers defeated the Knicks 130-121 to take an advantage of the 3-1 series. Going to the crowd for a time of waiting for the fourth quarter, Mcafee called fans of the famous Knicks Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet, all of whom they attended that night, and encouraged the fans of the Pacers to “send these children of B, back to New York with their ears sounding!”
Stiller addressed the matter later that night in X, saying that he assumed that McAfee was “playing” and that all the fans he met in the sand were “incredible and incredibly great.”
Mellencamp, however, was not happy with mischief.
“I was not proud to be a hoosier, and I have lived here all my life,” the singer wrote once known as Johnny Cougar. “On behalf of most of the Hoosiers, I would like to apologize for our bad behavior. I am sure that the Pacers had nothing to do with this blow.”
The use of Mellencamp of “SmackDown” seems to be a little veiled reference to McAFEE, who is a color commentator and occasional fighter for WWE. “Friday Night SmackDown” is one of the organization's characteristic television programs.
It is not clear why Mellencamp chose to express its disgust as long after the incident occurred. Perhaps he plans to attend Thursday night at Madison Square Garden while his Pacers try to seal their first trip to the NBA finals since 2000.
A person who will not be there is McAfee, despite a friendly invitation from Stiller.
